From time bending to yin-yang lakes: The mysteries and secrets of Mount Kailash

Mount Kailash, famous for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, has forever been a holy site not just for Hindus, but also for Buddhist, Jains, and people of other religions. It is the divine abode of the Gods and the supreme Gurus, and is unclimbed and untouched by most of humanity. For some people trying to scale the Kailash parvat is a sign of disrespect to the Gods, and for others just doing the Kailash Mansarovar yatra is like living a 1000 positive lives. Many people believe that Mount Kailash is not just a natural formation but an ancient energy center housing the divine.

For Indian pilgrims, visiting Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar has always been challenging as it falls in the Tibet region, and devotees needed special permit from the Chinese government to visit. According to a TOI report from 2024, "The Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra has been suspended since 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the Chinese side's non-renewal of arrangements". But with recent talks between the diplomats of the two countries, Indian devotees are eyeing a chance to visit Mount Kailash again, after a wait of years. And as the chance seems renewed, and you’d like to know more about Kailash parvat, here we mention 7 unique mysteries and secrets of the mountain.

In the Mount Kailash region, there are two lakes, both unique and divine in nature. One is the famous Mansarovar, also known as the Lake of the Gods, and there is a ‘Rakshas Tal’ or the lake of Asuras. The Mansarovar lake is considered one of the holiest lakes in Hinduism and Buddhism, and is believed to have been created by the Gods themselves to bathe before performing rituals. Devotees and pilgrims who visit Mount Kailash also take a dip in this lake. And then there is the Rakshas Tal, in a crescent moon shape, and a saltwater lake. It is popularly said that Rakshas tal was created by Ravan, and unlike Mansarovar, its water is salty and lifeless.Some people also call Mansarovar and Rakshas tal as the Yin-Yang of nature.

The Kailash Parvat is huge and grand to say the least, but it is not as big and tall as Everest, K2, and other great peaks. And yet, no human has been able to climb Mount Everest in the last few decades. Why? Well, some believe it is forbidden to set foot on Lord Shiva’s home and thus even the greatest mountaineers try not to climb Kailash parvat out of respect. But some climbers who tried to scale the mountain are said to have experienced mysterious situations why they climbed for a certain time but found themselves in the base location all over again.

Many spiritual traditions claim that Mount Kailash is the axis mundi! Which means it is the cosmic center of the world and has the power to influence the spiritual pursuits of people around the world. Some people also believe that Mount Kailash is the peak that connects heaven and earth, and the pyramid on top is actually a pillar that connects the two.

One of the most famous legends about the Mount Kailash is about a lone monk who scaled the peak, meditated there, and returned back unharmed and completely normal. It is said that a Buddhist saint named Milarepa is the only person to have ever climbed Mount Kailash and came back to tell people about his experiences on top. It is believed that when Milrepa reached the top of the mountain he quickly realised that the peak was not meant for human presence and came down after paying his respects.

For people of different religions, Mount Kailash is the abode of their supreme deities. And for Hindus, Kailash parvat is the abode of Lord Shiva. Many people believe that Lord Shiva resides in the Kailash Parvat with Maa Parvati and Lord Ganesha, and that his miracles over there are felt by people when performing the Kailash Mansarovar yatra.

One of the most bizarre mysteries about Mount Kailash is the alleged time distortion that some people claim of. It is said that trekkers who go to Mount Kailash experience that 12 hours over there feel like two weeks, and their hair and nails grow unusually fast during the pilgrimage. Many also claim that the days pass unusually fast or slow near the mountain.

Off late, for Indian devotees who wanted to have a 'darshan' of Kailash parvat, special flights (chartered flights) used to operate from Nepalgunj Airport, and gave people an aerial view of Mount Kailash, among other peaks, and the Mansarovar.