Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ity, explaining why Tibetans are always very eager to circumambulate it. There are five
Buddhist monasteries along the way. Horses and guides (both cost at least ¥180 per day)
can be hired in Hor Qu, the town on the northeastern side of the lake, and at Chiu Monas-
tery.
Due to the elevation (averaging 4600m) this is a moderately difficult trek. May, June
and September are the best months for the four- or five-day trek; July and August are also
good, save for the hordes of gnats that infest the shores. A tent and stove are required and
you should be prepared for any kind of weather at any time.
The best place to start the walk is at
Chiu Monastery
on the northwest corner of the
lake. Go in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction, depending on whether you
more closely relate to the Buddhists and Hindus or the Bönpos. If walking in a clockwise
direction you will reach
Langbona Monastery
in about four hours. From Langbona, the
pilgrims trail cuts inland to avoid lagoons that form along the north shore of Manasarovar.
Look for cairns, prayer flags and other signs of pilgrim activity that herald the way. Do not
make the mistake of hugging the lakeshore unless you are up for an icy-cold swim or have
a raft in tow. It's about four hours from Langbona to Hor Qu.
Seralung Monastery
, on the east side of Lake Manasarovar, is approximately three
hours beyond Hor Qu and a good place to camp and experience Tibetan religious life. Four
or five more hours brings you to
Trugo Monastery
on the southern flank of the lake.
Camp well away from the monastery to avoid the hordes of Indian pilgrims that have be-
come a regular feature of the travel scene in recent years. You can make it back to Chiu
Monastery via Gossul Monastery in nine to 10 hours of walking from Trugo Monastery.
On either side of Gossul Monastery are caves where one can shelter and get a feel for the
meditator's way of life that once ruled in Tibet.
Everest Advance Base Camps
Walking in the shadow of iconic Mt Everest is mentally exhilarating and physically chal-
lenging. By following in the footsteps of great explorers one also gets a feeling for the his-
tory of the region. Underlying this more recent history is the mountain's primordial aspect,
a holy land sheltering the powerful long-life goddess, Miyo Langsangma. Now that the
track to Tingri has become a major traffic artery, the focus of trekking in the region has
switched to the advance base camps of Mt Everest.
