Before we left Delhi several committees are formed like food, pony and porter, luggage etc. Food was by far the most important committee especially in Tibet. We had to carry ration from India for use in Tibet for almost nine days whereas Cooks were hired and utensils were provided in Tibet to carry for the rest of the Parikrama and stay at Mansarovar. That day was spent in some last minutes shopping and planning for Kailash Parikrama.

Here the days are hot and bright with strong UV rays can burn your face, especially if you are without hat, and we found almost everybody wearing a Cap there. The nights are chilly with winds blowing like a storm. I got a Matrix sim with me and it activated as soon as I crossed the border and worked everywhere in Tibet, except for three days during Kailash Parikrama.

I am staying with Priyanshu, Anurag with Shri Ram, Vaibhav with Shastriji and Gupaji; I guess with Soniji or Vivek. Guptaji occasionally pays visit to our room and looks somewhat anxious having difficulty in finding his favorite brand of pan masala but satisfied that somehow he managed to got it from that Indian market, though different brand, but Pan Masala nonetheless.

Out of 47-48 yatris, almost 5-6 are women, including our L.O. and they all shown great courage and strength coming so far as almost for half of the yatra route nobody could use ponies due to difficult terrain and some of them were really very difficult treks. Even at 63, Shastriji shown great courage and only opted for pony for the last day Navidhang trek.

Today is the eleventh day of our trek and on this day we will leave... for what we have come for,"Kailash.” It also happens to be Monday, his day. Two buses are arranged to take us some 100 kms to Darchen. The road is excellent, we just passed the cemetry of Jorawar Singh, the views are great just like Leh and Laddakh. The bus drives almost at 100km/hr.

En route to Darchen, after an hour or so, we get our very first darshan of Mount Kailash and everybody instantaneously stands up in respect and the bus reverberates with the chants of Har-Har Mahadev and Om Namah Shivay. The view is simply divine and breathtaking.

The bus stops by the Lake Rakshas Tal, a magnificent and splendid lake overlooking Kailash and separated from Mansarovar by just a thin stretch of land and derives its name from Ravana. It’s believed that Ravana meditated on its shore to seek Shiva's blessings.

While the Mansarovar is linked to the Sun and Light, the Rakshas Tal is compared to the moon and darkness of Night. The view of Kailash from this lake is distant but very clear. Some Yatris like to carry its water and some just like to pray silently in front of his holiest of abodes. With Kailash in front, Rakshas Tal in between and a snow capped Sumeru behind, the sight was simply a paradise.

Guptaji was among the fellows who chose to bring its water while others were busy taking shots. It’s somewhat deep down and takes quite an effort to bring water from there. The Kailash is clearly visible from here in its entire splendor and one can

see the small mountains surround it from all sides like a Lotus flower. This experience was simply divine. In the mean time Guptaji and fellows are back with water and we are back in the bus, tasting it he says, "khara.”He also offered it to me and Priyanshu to taste but we couldn’t tell the exact taste.