Mt.Kailash

Mount Kailash are part of the Himalayas in Tibet. 

It lies near the source of some of the longest rivers in Asia: the Indus River, the Sutlej River (a major tributary of the Indus River), the Brahmaputra River, and theKarnali River (a tributary of the Ganges River). It is considered a sacred place in four religions: Bön, Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism. In Hinduism,it is considered to be the abode of Lord Shiva anda place of eternal bliss. The mountain lies near Lake Manasarowar and Lake Rakshastal in Tibet.According to Hinduism, Lord Shiva, the destroyer of evil and sorrow, resides at the summit of

mountain named Kailāśā, where he sits in a state

of perpetual meditation along with his wife Pārvatī,

the daughter of Himalaya. Mt. kailash

Kailash east face

According to one description in the Vishnu Purana,

Mount Kailash is the center of the world, its four faces

are made of crystal, ruby, gold, and lapis lazuli. It is the pillar of the world and the center of the world mandala; and is located at the heart of six mountain ranges symbolizing a lotus.The four rivers flowing from

Kailash then flow to the four quarters of the world and divide the world into four regions. In fact the Indus, Brahmaputra, Sutlej (a major Indus tributary) and theKarnali (a major Ganges tributary) all rise near the mountain,making it the hydrographic nexus of South Asia.The Ganges River also formed in this mountain.

Kailash north face

The largest and most important rock-cut temple,

Kailash Temple at Ellora, Maharashtra is named after 

Mount Kailash. Many of its sculptures and reliefs depicts

episodes relating to Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati,

including Ravana's tale. (Ravana was a devotee of Lord Shiva.

Kailash south face

Ramayana does not document Ravan shaking Kailasa 

mountain.) Ravana's mother had fallen ill. As they were great Lord Shiva devotees, he had attempted to carry the temple on his back to bring it closer to his mother. Shiva, being stunned by his boldness, had blessed him with immortality as Ravana had passed Lord Shiva's test of devotion.

Kailash west face

Every year, thousands make a pilgrimage to Kailash, 

following a tradition going back thousands of years.

Pilgrims of several religions believe that circumambulating Mount Kailash on foot is a holy ritual that will bring good fortune. The peregrination is made in a clockwise direction by Hindus and Buddhists. Followers of the Jain and Bönpo religions 

circumambulate the mountain in a counterclockwise direction. The path around Mount Kailash is 52 km (32 mi) long. Walking around the holy mountain—a part of its official  park—has to be done on foot, pony or yak, taking some three days of trekking starting from a height of around 15,000 ft (4,600 m) past the Tarboche (flagpole) to cross the Drölma pass 18,200 ft (5,500 m), and encamping for two nights en route. First, near the meadow of Dirapuk gompa, some 2 to 3 km (1.2 to 1.9 mi) before the pass and

second, after crossing the pass and going downhill as far as possible (viewing Gauri Kund in the distance).