One mountain, several names
Mount Kailash rises in the far west of the Tibetan plateau, in Ngari, at roughly 6,600 metres. It is a distinctive, snow-capped peak that stands apart from the surrounding ranges, and it is revered by several religions at once. Hindus know it as Kailasa. Tibetan Buddhists usually call it Kang Rinpoche, sometimes translated as “precious snow jewel”. Jain tradition links the area to Ashtapada, and followers of Bon regard it as sacred as well, using their own name for the mountain.
This article compares the Hindu and Buddhist understandings and looks at how pilgrims from both traditions share the mountain. Tibetan Buddhist sources are taken up at more length in a companion article, and the multi-religious picture is also described in the overview of Mount Kailash sacred to four religions.
The Hindu view
In Hindu tradition, Kailasa is the abode of Shiva and his consort Parvati. Texts and popular devotion describe the mountain as a cosmic centre and a place of deep spiritual power. Lake Manasarovar, nearby, is associated with Brahma in tradition, and bathing there is considered purifying by many pilgrims. The wider region is also traditionally linked with the Himalayan river sources of several great rivers, a further reason the area is felt to be sacred.
For many Hindus, a journey to Kailash is among the most demanding and meritorious pilgrimages. Many pilgrims from India make the journey along specific routes and under arrangements that have changed over the years. Others hold the mountain in devotion without ever going.
The Buddhist view
Tibetan Buddhists see Kailash through different stories. Within Vajrayana tradition the mountain is regarded as the dwelling of Chakrasamvara (Demchok in Tibetan) and his consort Vajravarahi (Dorje Phagmo), a deity pair of the tantric tradition. In this understanding the mountain is a mandala, a sacred diagram of an awakened realm. Details of tantric practice are not public teaching, and this article keeps to the general point.
Stories about the teacher Milarepa are also tied to the mountain. In the tradition, he is said to have contested a Bon practitioner, Naro Bonchung, in a display of power, and the mountain was the stage. Different tellings vary, and the story is best taken as devotional narrative rather than history. It is told in more detail in the companion article on Kailash in Tibetan Buddhism.
Where the stories overlap and differ
Both traditions agree on several things: that the mountain is exceptional, that it should not be climbed, and that walking around it carries great merit. They differ in what they believe the mountain is. For Hindu devotees, it is Shiva’s seat. For Buddhists, it is the dwelling of an awakened deity and a stage for the triumph of the Buddhist teachings. These accounts coexist at the mountain, and it is not the place of an outside writer to rank them.
It helps to keep in mind that traditions have borrowed from and responded to each other across history. Scholars debate how various stories developed, and pilgrims themselves are often more interested in devotion than in comparison.
The shared circuit
The main pilgrimage is the kora around the mountain, roughly 50 kilometres in length, which typically takes about three days on foot, though some pilgrims take longer and some complete it faster. The route crosses a high pass at over 5,600 metres. The practice is described in the article on the Kailash kora.
Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims walk clockwise, while Bon followers walk in the opposite direction. Pilgrims commonly describe the walk as bringing merit, and some believe that repeated circuits strengthen this. Such beliefs are matters of faith and not claims this article can verify.
Climbing the mountain is not considered appropriate in any of the traditions concerned, and it is not generally permitted.
Sharing it respectfully
On the circuit, pilgrims of different faiths may walk the same path, spin the same wheels and pass the same shrines. Some practical points for respect:
- Follow the direction of travel of each community; do not obstruct pilgrims who are prostrating.
- Do not leave litter, and do not disturb piles of stones, offerings or prayer flags.
- Ask before photographing devotees.
- Avoid taking sides in discussion about whose mountain it is.
Visitors who are not followers of either tradition are covered in the advice for non-Buddhist visitors.
Practical cautions
This is one of the most remote and demanding pilgrimages in the Himalayas. The altitude is extreme, services are basic, and weather can turn quickly. Altitude illness can be serious, so read about altitude sickness awareness, and seek medical advice before planning. Permit systems and the rules for foreign and Indian pilgrims have changed over time; check current official sources and government travel advice, and do not treat anything here as current.