Tibet is one of the world’s last remaining habitats of nomadic herders, who for centuries have collectively raised livestock and engaged in high-altitude agriculture, acting as sentinels guarding Tibet’s fragile ecology.
Their unique lifestyle has been the subject of many documentaries. BBC, NatGeo and National Geographic have brilliantly showcased the highland nomads of Tibet in documentary form. I especially liked the BBC Studios’ –“The nomadic existence of a Mongolian herding family” and I think this is a great pre-Visit documentary that every wannabe visitor to Tibet should watch before his/her departure.
Tibetan nomads are known for their survival skills at extremely high altitudes and are often compared to the Sherpa mountaineers of Nepal. Yaks are an indispensable part of the nomadic herding community and visitors are amazed by the women’s intricate embroidery skills as they weave magical fabrics – blankets, rugs, warm clothes… from the Yak wool.
Every time the nomads move to a new place, their enduring faith in Tibetan Buddhism comes into play; and they request the services of a wizened Lama who after immense research will recommend the most auspicious day to begin the journey!
Visitors who would like to date the Tibetan nomads should time their visit to coincide with the grazing season (April – October), when the nomads set up their tents. The typical feature of the nomad tents is a cooking stove in the center, butter candles and Buddhist scriptures on a makeshift altar.
Visitors are treated as honored guests and the discerning guests are served portions of Yak Butter Tea or Barley Wine.
The Kailash Manasarovar Region:
The incredible, breathtaking Mount Kailash, considered one of the most sacred mountains by Hindus, dates back 30 million years. Mount Kailash is 6,675 meters high and ancient Hindus believe it to be the abode of Lord Shiva and his holy consort Mata Parvati. For centuries, Mt.Kailash has enticed and seduced countless pilgrims in search of Nirvana.
The pilgrimage or “Parikarma” to Mount Kailash and the sacred Mansarovar Lake is entirely guided by the Government of Uttrakhand. runs Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN) in collaboration with the Indian Ministry of External Affairs.
To explore Mount Kailash, pilgrims have to undertake a 53 km hike. In ancient Indian and Buddhist religious texts such as the Puranas, this region is referred to as the center of planet Earth. NASA scientists have recognized the existence of seven different forms of light emanating from Mount Kailash and attribute this phenomenon to the magnetic energy present here.
Reference of Mt.Kailash can also be found in Jain religious text – Astapad and Bonpa Buddhist text of – Yungdruk Gu-Tseg. The peak of Mt.Kailash is called Polma Pass.
Mansarovar Lake or “Mapamm Yumtso” in Tibetan parlance, on the other hand, it is in close proximity to Mount Kailash (30 km) and this revered freshwater lake draws its sustenance from the icy glaciers of Mount Kailash. Manasarovar has water in its purest form available on planet Earth. This lake is also the origin of four of Asia’s largest rivers: Brahmaputra, Sutlej, Indus and Karnali.
Significance of the new route:
The new route to the Mount Kailash Mansarovar region is of great importance for India, both spiritually and geostrategically. Spiritually, India will once again reach the contemporary world with the eternal messages of the ancient Vedas, Upanishads, Ramayana and Mahabharata, that “The world is one family”; that weapons and missiles alone cannot solve territorial disputes between countries. A properly prepared infrastructure plan aimed at improving the nation’s connectivity in communications, transportation, roads and railways can also bring lasting peace in the most volatile places, thereby deceiving the monstrous tendencies of the adversary country.
Government of India’s pursuit “Geostrategic tourism” in the border areas and promoting tourism in the “Conflict zone” has the potential to change the geopolitical equations of the region from an amphitheater of war to a tourist paradise.
Once and for all, the new mountain road via (Devbhumi) Uttrakhand’s Pithoragarh district will ensure that most of the pilgrimage to Mount Kailash Manasarovar Yatra will be undertaken within the territory of India, which was not the case earlier.
Visitors and pilgrims to Tibet can now look forward to creating immersive Trans Himalayan experiences. We live in an age where destinations need to entertain, excite and psychologically influence consumer mindsets through experiences that are immersive; And Tibet seems to be on track in its quest to create something unique “Adventure and spiritual tourism” image in the highly competitive global tourism industry
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