Thaindian News

Kathmandu, June 10 (IANS) With the death of six Indian pilgrims during the gruelling overland pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and the Mansarovar lake in Tibet, Nepal’s concerned tourism board Wednesday issued a travel advisory for travellers, asking them to get acclimatised first.
“(Some travellers) face difficulties due to their age, health and (lack of)acclimatisation,” the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) said in a press statement Wednesday.

“The highest place to cross while circum-ambulating Mt Kailash is the Dolma La pass, which is 5,636 m. Since people are prone to altitude sickness above 3,000 m, it’s necessary to take precautions,” it warned.

The NTB is recommending acclimatisation as the “best and most effective precaution” to avoid casualties.

Among Kailash pilgrims, the Nepal route has become popular due to its natural landscape, which helps gradual acclimatisation. The NTB has advised travellers to spend a few days in Nepali high-altitude pilgrimage sites like Muktinath and Gosaikund before proceeding to Kailash.

While Mt Kailash rises 6,638 m above sea level, the nearby Mansarovar lake lies at 4,556 m. They are held sacred by Hindus, Buddhists and Jains alike.

From Nepal, the major entry points to the Kailash-Mansarovar area are Kodari and Hilsa. However, only Kodari has a motorable road till the sacred mountain.

The distance between Kodari and Kailash is approximately 800 km and requires at least five days.

This year, however, the overland journey was lengthened, first due to a highway blockade in north Nepal and then a standoff between local people and domestic airlines, which caused flights to be disrupted.