Where is Mount Kailash Located and How Can You Reach?

Mount Kailash, one of the holiest mountains in the world holds a great significance to four religions. Besides it, what many people wonder is Mount Kailash location. 

People are curious about Mount Kailash is in which country. So in this article, we will explain in detail where Mount Kailash is located and how you can get to Mount Kailash.

Where is Mount Kailash located? 

Mount Kailash (6,638 meters or 21,778) is located in the far western region of Tibet, China in Ngari Prefecture. It is located adjacent to the mouths of the four major Asian rivers: the Indus, Sutlej, Brahmaputra, and Karnali. 

Kailash Mountain is remote and arid. The place is near Lake Manasarovar and Lake Rakshastal, and high plateaus surround it, which makes it spiritually and geographically unique.

The mountain belongs to the Trans-Himalayan ridge, known also as the Gangdise range, located parallel to the Himalayas. The terrain of this range is rocky, unlike the snow-covered mountains of the central Himalayas. 

This is because, due to the perfect pyramid form and sharp symmetry, Mount Kailash amazes visitors and pilgrims.

The Kailash Range is a smaller range of the trans-Himalayas, which extends across western Tibet and forms a natural boundary between Tibet and the states of Nepal and India. 

It is also extremely important to Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Bon people, who believe that Mount Kailash is a kind of spiritual centre of harmony and energy.

Geographical Place and Co-ordinates of Mount Kailash  

Kailash Mountain is located a distant high-altitude part of the Trans Himalayas, in western Tibet, China. The Latitude and longitude of Mount Kailash are approximately 31.0675° N latitude and 81.3119° E longitude. 

It is a mountain located to the north of the Lake Manasarovar and the Lake Rakshastal. These are holy lakes that are important to religious pilgrims and contribute to the aesthetic charm of the locality. 

Mount Kailash is also close to the outlets of four major rivers, namely, the Indus, Sutlej, Brahmaputra (Yarlung Tsangpo), and Karnali (a tributary of the Ganges). They are rivers formed near the mountain, and thereby, constitute an important hydrological marker in Asia.

The landscape around Kailash is humpy with spectacular plateaus, dry valleys. There are impressive geological structures that add to the mystic and spiritual importance of the community. 

Regarding proximity to the border, Mount Kailash is close to the Nepal/Tibet border, with the Humla district of Nepal to the south. It is also fairly near Uttarakhand, India (in the region of Kumaon), and not very far from Ladakh, India. 

It has been a route of pilgrims and hikers from other countries due to its strategic location.  

Mount Kailash Height and Altitude

The altitude of Mount Kailash is about 6,638 meters (21,778 feet) above sea level.

The Kailash Kora, the holy circuit of the mountain, tops on Dolma La Pass, some 5,650 meters (18,536 feet), which gives the broad views of Mount Kailash and the adjacent ranges.

The elevation of the Kailash trek goes up slowly, with some low valleys and high passes in between to ensure acclimatization by the travelling parties.

Such a gradual ascension is designed to control the risks of high-altitude sickness and provide pilgrims with a chance to explore the harsh beauty of the Tibetan plateau.

Mount Kailash Trekking Routes 

There are various trekking and travel routes to Mount Kailash, including Nepal and Tibet. Visitors select routes according to time, convenience, and religious value.  

The trek itself is a matter of sanctity, which is why most visitors stop when doing both sightseeing and trekking at the related lakes and monasteries.  When done with right preparation the Yatra can be done hassle free.

Trekking routes to Kailash from Nepal 

There are various trekking routes to Kailash from Nepal. While not all routes are given accessed to these routes, so we have listed the major routes to Kailash from Nepal:

Classic Kailash Yatra Route: Overland Via Kathmandu

The most classic route for the Mount Kailash Mansarovar Yatra from Nepal is the overland route of China border via Kathmandu. It can be either done from Rasuwagadhi or Tatopani Border of Nepal to China.

We need to always check on the weather since, the route of these gets washed away with flood sometimes. Most of the pilgrims finds this the most perfect itinerary and route for the Yatra.

Himalayan Masters provide the 15 days Kailash Mansarovar Yatra itinerary to help you explore better.

Helicopter flight Simikot – Hilsa – Purang

Helicopter to Kailash is the quickest and most used path taken by pilgrims. The pilgrims fly first to Kathmandu and then to Simikot, a small Nepalese town in a district called Humla.

The flight time of Simikot to Hilsa is 15-25 minutes. This itinerary takes around 10-12 days to complete the Kailash Kora.

From Simikot, a swift helicopter flight will put you on the Nepal side of the Himalaya Mountain on the Nepal-Tibet border town of Hilsa. At Hilsa, you will enter Tibet and proceed by road to Purang, the chief town of Tibet bordering the Kailash.

This is a preferred trail because one has little time, is old, or simply needs a faster, shorter trip without having to walk long distances. 

Combinations Flight + Road via Lhasa (China Entry through Nepal) 

The flight between Kathmandu and Lhasa (the capital) and subsequent road trip to Mount Kailash is the other popular choice. The time is around 1 hours 25 minutes.

Even this combined itinerary will also take more than 10 days to complete the Kailash Yatra.

This is a path that can visit Tibet sites in between, such as major monasteries and the city of Lhasa, as well as the beautiful Tibetan scenery. 

Upon arrival in Lhasa, pilgrims go up the mountains on roads and tracks through lonely sects, mountain passes, and expansive deserts to a base camp in Purang, at Mount Kailash. 

The route is more scenic and will feel more integrative of Tibetan culture and landscapes than the more direct helicopter path. 

Routes to Kailash Yatra from India

Mount Kailash is often approached from India over the Uttarakhand (Kumaon) region or Ladakh, both of which depend on the points of approach and mode of transport. Individuals normally must use terrestrial routes containing links to the Tibetan border.

Via Uttarakhand (Pithoragarh – Lipulekh Pass – Purang)

And here is the ancient pilgrimage path of the Hindu faithful. Pilgrims begin at Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, and will test their road skills by driving towards Lipulekh Pass, the principal frontier between India and Tibet. 

The road leads, starting at Lipulekh, to Purang, the Tibetan town at the feet of Mount Kailash.

The highway is also frequently used by those using this shortcut in making the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra to factors like the road, which provides scenery and culture at the same time.

The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra from Lipulekh Pass takes around 22 days to complete.

Through Sikkim (Highway of Nathula Pass Route)

The alternative route is through Sikkim through the Nathula Pass, also leading to Tibet. This road is not used much, and it offers a great experience of the eastern Tibet plateau.

Those who travel to Gangtok in Sikkim first arrive and pass through the Nathula Pass to reach Tibet. Like the Uttarakhand path, this is a journey planned by the government and must be planned beforehand.

This route to Kailash from Nathula Pass also takes around 22-23 days to complete.

To Lhasa, Tibet (Direct Chinese Route)  

When in Asia, the traveler gets into Tibet directly, it starts with the flight to Lhasa Gonggar Airport (major cities in China, Chengdu, Beijing, Shanghai, etc.)  

Travelers leave Lhasa by road to Shigatse- Saga- Mansarovar- Darchen, the base of Mount Kailash. 

This is a possibly 4-5 day taxi ride overland through Tibet, with a view to enjoying the large faces of Tibet, mountain villages, and high plateaus en route. 

Helicopter Tour to Mount Kailash 

It is technically possible to have a helicopter tour to the mountain Kailash. But it depends on regulations and the permits that have been issued by the Tibetan authorities. 

Mount Kailash is visited as an activity for sightseeing and pilgrimage with chartered helicopters, some of them operating between Kashgar in China and Kailash.

From Nepal few airlines offer Kailash Darshan flight from Nepalgunj. The best time for the Kailash yatra is before and after the monsoon seasons.

Such tours are often costly and need prior reservation, and the tourist should discuss his/her trip with authorities, travel agencies, or the local authorities to ensure availability. 

Helicopter tours also provide a faster and spectacular sightseeing experience of the mountain by bypassing the extensive road or walking trails yet still enabling pilgrims to enjoy the spiritual ambiance of Mount Kailash. 

Mount Kailash Parikrama Route Map  

The Kora, known as Mount Kailash Parikrama, is around 52km (32 miles). The Kora begins and ends at Darchen, the frontier town of Mount Kailash.  

That pilgrims traverse a route passing through various landmarks, such as Dirapuk monastery, Zutrulpuk monastery, and traverse the Dolma La Pass at 5,650 m, the highest point on the Kora.

The path is difficult because of the high elevation, but it is thought to be a rewarding one spiritually. 

FAQs

Is Mount Kailash in India? 

No, Mount Kailash is not located in India. Tibet is in China, close to the Nepalese and Indian borders.

What country is the place of Mount Kailash?

Mount Kailash sits on the territory of China (Autonomous Region of Tibet).

Is Mount Kailash in China?

Yes, Mount Kailash is in China (Tibet, an autonomous region of China).

What is the location of Mount Kailash is? 

The Trans-Himalayan (Gangdise) range, of which Mount Kailash is a part, is a part of the larger Himalayan system. 

How close the mountain of Kailash is to the city of Lhasa? 

The Mount Kailash is 1000 kms to Lhasa, and can be approached either by road or air to the neighboring towns. 

How do we get to Mount Kailash as quickly as possible? 

Helicopter tour of Simikot (Nepal) to Hilsa, followed by road to Purang and Darchen, is generally the quickest route, without the prolonged overland journeys. 

What is the nearest Indian state to Mount Kailash? 

Uttarakhand is the nearest Indian state, and from the Lipulekh Pass route is the Pithoragarh district.  

Author

Himalayan Masters

Himalayan Masters has been established by travel and trekking experts with several years of experience. Our consultants have travelled extensively and have in-depth knowledge of the region you will be traveling in.