Inspired by a book published my Ms. ANJU PODDAR from. Hyderabad we came to understand that it was possible for those who could not trek could do this trip. Ms.Poddar had done the trip from Lhasa in Tibet using four wheel drive Pajero and Prado cars all the way up to the point from where travelers started the circumambulation of Holy Mount Kailash on foot.

We planned this trip for July 2002 and our group consisted of fourteen persons of which one was using a pace maker and a few were above Sixty years of age. We were fortunate that all of us could do the circumambulation of Mount Kailash either entirely on foot or using Yaks for part of the way.

Our trip was organized by a travel agent based in Kathmandu who had an excellent agent in Lhasa to handle all the logistics, documentation, support staff and food supplies as well as tents. This Travel Agent was SHANGRI-LA Holidays, Lazimpat, Kathmandu (shanghol@mos.com.np : 9771415283)

We flew from Kathmandu to Lhasa and stayed in Lhasa for 3 days and three nights so as to acclimatize to the low oxygen and altitude of 11500 feet. We also visited the Potala Palace and several other monasteries in and around Lhasa. One can also fly from Bangkok to Lhasa.

Then we started our road journey on the Pajero . Except for the journey from Lhasa to Gyantse and Gyantse to Shigatse the rest of the travel was on not on roads. We drove on dusty plains and had to protect ourselves with masks. The total distance travelled was about 1250 kms and it took six days to reach Mansarovar Lake where we camped for two days. We climbed from 11500 feet to 15000 feet in this journey. Except for one night when we stayed at SAGA all other nights we stayed in Tents and temperatures would drop to about minus four even in July. We were travelling in five Pajero and the support staff with supplies travelled in a Chinese truck. At several places the Pajero and the fully laden truck fjorded across rivers.

The circumambulation part required two overnight stops. The toughest part was the climb to Dormala which is at 18500 feet. All guides will insist that we complete this part of the trek before 2 pm because after that the weather can turn bad. Also coming down from the 18500 feet altitude is a severe test of the knees and ankle.

Now I understand that there a proper metaled road from Lhasa all the way to Darchen from where we begin the circumambulation on foot. At all places Lodges and hotels are available .

We took Tibetan medicine to cope with the low Oxygen and high altitude and fortunately none of us had to use the Oxygen even once.

It was our view that this is a trip where one has to surrender to the Grace of Lord Shiva and perform the journey on the faith that Lord Shiva will protect you and help in completing the journey. This is not a trip that can be successfully done with a motive of sight seeing.