Learn from Experiences

Experiences of Dr Nita Jagad…

Ever since I read about a trip to Kailash Mansarovar yatra, in my first year of MBBS in 1980, I had a desire to visit this place and witness the beauty personally. I did a lot of research about the tour back then and was very keen about the trip, but somehow it did not materialize.

I had plans to visit the USA in June 2018 with a few friends and sisters. One of my sisters Bhavna, decided to back out and join the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra with her family. That’s when my long awaited wish reappeared stronger than ever. Along with my other sister Karuna, we decided to join them and I am so thankful for having made this decision. My dream journey began as soon as we booked the tour in October 2017. The preparations started since then.

Preparations before the trip

The first step was to be physically fit and improve my stamina. Four months prior, I started walking daily for two hours in Sanjay Gandhi National Park. The second step was to get a medical checkup done for myself. I being a doctor, prepared a medical kit for prevention and management of altitude sickness and any untoward medical emergency if it happens to any one of us; and the third step was to shop for warm clothes and accessories. I was so excited about the fact that I am going to visit my dream destination, that all packing was done a week prior to the day of travel.

Reaching Kathmandu – 20th June 2018

We were a group of 22 travelers. On 20^th June 2018 morning we flew to Kathmandu a bustling city at the height of around 4,593 ft/ 1,400 m situated amongst mighty mountains. We visited the famous Pashupatinath Temple and the Buddha Neelkanth Temple in the evening and collectively offered puja to Lord Shiva.
On 21^st June 2018 morning, we were off to Lhasa by Air China flight. Lhasa is an administrative capital of Tibet. Lhasa means the place of the Gods. It’s a very beautiful city with a systematic town planning managed by the Chinese Government. Lhasa is surrounded by gorgeous mountains and is situated at the height of 11,975 ft / 3,650 m above sea level and is one of the few highest cities in the world.

We stayed two nights in Lhasa for acclimatization. On 22^nd June 2018 while in Lhasa, we visited the Potala Palace. Our tour guide Mr Kelsang explained that this is a UNESCO World Heritage site that was home to the Dalai Lama until the 14th Dalai Lama, who came to India during the 1959 Tibetan Uprising. It has a White Palace, which used to be the administrative headquarters and a Red Palace, which is the spiritual headquarters and its construction dates back to 7^th century when the King of Tibet named Songtsen Gampo built this palace.

The 5^th Dalai Lama who was a spiritual and political head of Tibet added many floors to its construction in 1645. After that, every Dalai Lama added their Shrines to the Palace. At present, it is a 13 story building, that stands 110 meters tall, covers an area of 1,30,000 sq meters and has 432 steps to reach the top. It was a difficult climb due to high altitude.

The palace has which includes a giant size statue of the present Buddha (Shakya Muni) and the future Buddha (Maitreyi Buddha) in it. Its walls are made of straws to absorb strong winds. The curtains of the palace are made of Yak hair to keep the interiors cool during summers and warm during winters. It took 45 years to build its interiors and furnishings.

The Red Palace was built sometime between 1690 and 1694. Some portions of the Potala Palace were damaged twice, once in 1959 at the time of the Tibetan Uprising against the Chinese and in 1966 during the Cultural Revolution. The restoration work was done between 1989 and 1994. The statues inside the palace are huge and tall, and the walls are painted with traditional Tibetan art. The ancient religious books on Buddhism are preserved in large glass cupboards.

Gateway to Mount Everest – Shigatse – 23rd June 2018

On 23rd June 2018 early morning, we were off to Shigatse by bus. Shigatse is a place of the Panchen Lama, a spiritual leader in Tibet. Shigatse is also called The Gateway to Mount Everest and it is situated at a height of 3843 m/ 12608.27 ft above sea level. It’s the second largest city in Tibet with a very systematic modern development.

It was a beautiful six-hour road journey through the mountains. On the way, we saw traditional Tibetan villages, people in traditional Tibetan attire, sheep and yak grazing, scenic mountains, river streams and lakes. I was totally awestruck with the naïve beauty of the place and wondered how unsafe it would be to be travelling during bad weather.

Upon reaching Shigatse we visited the Tomb Monastery also known as the Tashilhunpo Monastery. It was built in the 1440s and most of it was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. Even today, it is the largest functioning religious institution in Tibet. There are a total of four shrines, has large photos of 9^th, 10^th, and 11^th Panchen Lamas, and to the extreme left is a chapel of Jampa which houses a 26-meter statue of Jumpa( Maitreya) the Future Buddha, carved in 1914.

Then there is a Victory Chapel, Tomb of the 10^th Panchen Lama, Tomb of the 4^th Panchen Lama, Kelsang Temple, Tomb of the 5^th to ninth Panchen Lamas. I noticed, that there were seven bowls filled with water kept in the chapel. Our guide Kelsang told us that in ancient years many scholars from Tibet went to India for studies. But due to the distance and the harsh weather, many died on the way. Only seven returned to Tibet. The seven glass bowls represent the seven scholars. In the chapels, I also saw stunning Mandala paintings across the ceilings. We were lucky to witness the assembly of monks and their spiritual question-answer session in the Tibetan language in the Monastery hall.

Happy land – Saga – 24th June 2018

On 24^th June 2018, we travelled from Shigatse to Saga, which was a 10-hour journey by bus. Saga is situated at a height of 4487 m/ 14721.13 ft above sea level. It’s an army town. Saga means happy land. Here the houses are painted in bright colors. We rested at night for acclimatization at Saga.

Lake Mansarovar – 25^th June 2018

On 25^th June 2018 morning, we left from Saga to reach Lake Mansarovar by evening and drove along the shores. Mansarovar is fed by the Kailash Glaciers. Situated at a height of 4,60m/ 15091.86 ft, the lake is round in shape and stretches to 320-410 sq kms.

It is the highest freshwater lake in the world nestled at the foothills of Mount Kailash. The Sutlej, Sindhu, Brahmaputra, Indus and Ghaghara Rivers flow near Lake Manasarovar. The first site of Lake Mansarovar and Mount Kailash was so mesmerizing that most of us became emotional, a few cried like a child and I know for the fact that the feeling was too overwhelming. It’s one of the most beautiful places in the world I have visited. I sat in front of the Lake to fill all the beauty in my eyes and heart to carry it with me forever.