Mount Kailash in Tibet, believed to be the abode of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, is sacred to four religions - Hinduism, Jainism, Bon, and Sikhism - and out of reverence, climbing the peak is prohibited.
Despite standing at 6,656m, well below the world's highest peaks, no confirmed successful summit of Kailash has ever been recorded, and many believers hold that the mountain simply cannot be climbed. Its unusually symmetrical, pyramid-like shape has led some to speculate it may not be a purely natural formation, though this remains an unverified theory rather than an established scientific finding.
In Hindu cosmology, Kailash is considered the physical embodiment of the mythical Mount Meru, believed to be the axis of the universe and the point where earth connects with heaven. Four major rivers of Asia - the Indus, Sutlej, Brahmaputra, and Karnali (a tributary of the Ganges) - all originate from the Kailash-Mansarovar region.
Nearby, the twin lakes of Mansarovar and Rakshastal present a striking contrast: Mansarovar is one of the highest freshwater lakes in the world and teems with life, while Rakshastal is a salt lake, largely devoid of aquatic life, associated in legend with the demon king Ravana. Gauri Kund, near Mansarovar, is traditionally considered the birthplace of Lord Ganesha, said to be the spot where Goddess Parvati shaped him from soap lather while bathing.
Some pilgrims and visitors describe the region as having southern ridge rock and ice formations that, from certain angles, resemble the sacred symbol Om - one of the many striking natural features that add to the mountain's mystique. Out of respect for its sanctity, helicopter flights over Mount Kailash are not permitted.