Mount Kailash, together with nearby Lake Mansarovar, forms Kailash Mansarovar - one of the most revered yet least-visited Hindu pilgrimage sites in the world. Standing at 6,638 metres in Tibet, Mount Kailash is believed to be the abode of Lord Shiva and Devi Parvati, and is considered the centre of the universe in both Hinduism and Tibetan Buddhism.
Significance: It is believed that Shiva lived an ascetic life on Kailash after Sati's death, regaining interest in the world only after she was reborn as Parvati and married him again - making Kailash a symbol of their blissful domestic life. Mansarovar Lake, one of the highest freshwater lakes in the world, is said to have been created by the mind of Lord Brahma. Four major rivers of Asia originate from this region: the Sutlej, Brahmaputra, Indus, and Karnali.
Nearby Rakshas Tal, in contrast, is a salt lake associated with Ravana, who is said to have performed penance there after being denied access to Mansarovar - its Tibetan name means "the dark lake of poison".
The Pilgrimage: The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, one of the most arduous pilgrimages in the world, involves a ritual dip in Mansarovar Lake and circumambulating the sacred peak - known as the Kailash Parikrama. It is forbidden to climb Mount Kailash, both by Chinese law and by tradition, since it is believed no one can successfully do so. Multiple routes exist via Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Nepal, though since Kailash lies in China-administered Tibet, visas and permits are required and only group travel is permitted.