Day 01 : Ujjain
Meet on arrival at Indore airport/railway station or Ujjain railway station and transfer to Ujjain hotel. Afternoon visit the Mahakaleshwar Temple and later a short tour of Ujjain city, visiting the Ghats of the sacred river Shipra and Kal Bhairon Temple. Evening is free for leisure activities. Overnight stay at Ujjain.

Ujjain
Ujjain, situated on the shores of the river Shipra is one of the sacred cities of the Hindu religion at par with Varnasi, Gaya and Haridwar.

It is home to the famous and holy Mahakaleswar Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, and is among the 12 jyotirlingas. Among the 12 Jyotirlingas, the Mahakal Jyotirlinga is believed to be swayambhu, meaning born of itself. The idol in the temple is known as Dakshinamurti, facing the south. The prasada in the temple can be re-offered unlike other temples.

Ujjain is one of the four sites of the Kumbha Mela held here every four years, the others being Nashik, Haridwar and Prayag (Allahabad).

Day 02 : Ujjain – Omkareshwar – Maheshwar by road (140 km/3-4 Hrs and 70 km/2 Hrs)
Morning, proceed to Omkareshwar Temple situated on an island in the Narmada River. The temple can be reached by ferry from the banks of the river. Later drive to Maheshwar for overnight stay.

Omkareshwar Temple
Omkareshwar Temple is on an island called Mandhata or Shivapuri in the river Narmada. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is one of the 12 jyotirlingas. The shape of the island is said to be like the Hindu Om symbol. There are two temples here, the Omkareshwar and the Amareshwar.

Maheshwar
Maheshwar, situated on the banks of the river Narmada is a glorious city from a very old time. Maheshwar's temples and massive fort-complex presents an unusual charm of architectural grandeur. The carved pendant balconies with elevated spires and the intricately worked doorways give a discerning look to the temples of Maheshwar. The literal meaning of the term Maheshwar means abode of Lord Mahesh, which shows this temple city’s close connection with the Lord Shiva. It is well known as a famous centre of handloom weaving and famous for its distinctive hand-woven saris now referred to as Maheshwari saris.

Day 03 : Maheshwar – Indore by road ( 91km/2-3 hrs)
Morning, a sightseeing of Maheshwar, visiting the fort, Ghats, temples and saree weaving centres of the Maheshwar. Later drive to Indore. On arrival at Indore, check into the hotel. Later a short orientation tour of Indore is carried out. Overnight stay at Indore.

Indore
Indore was planned and built by Rani Ahilya Bai Holkar. Ahilya Bai was one of the foremost Maratha personalities and an extraordinary woman ruler of India. Today, Indore is a throbbing, vibrant city coloured by its brave past. Of interest here are numerous monuments associated with the Holkars. The City of Indore is now known as Mini Mumbai and is famous for its Namkeen and eateries.

Rajwada
Rajwada, this 200 year old seven-storey historic palace of the Holkars is built in a mixture of Muslim, Maratha and French styles. Even today it stands as a mute witness to the bygone splendour of the Holkar rulers. Kanch Mandir, the walls, ceiling, floor, pillars, doors are entirely inlaid with glass creating a stunning kaleidoscope of reflections. Lal Baugh Palace, the current residence of a direct descendent of the Holkars. Exquisitely constructed with great detailing, it reflects the royal taste of the Holkars. Bada Ganpati, this temple houses perhaps the largest Ganesh idol in the world. It was built in 1875.

Day 04 : Indore
Drop to the airport or railway station

Mt.Kailash
Standing alone at 22,000 feet (6750 m) in all its glory, towering over all else, in a place where the sky and earth meet lies the abode of the gods – Mt.Kailash.


Spiritually, Kailash is the earthly manifestation of mythic Mount Meru or Sumeru , the great mountain and spiritual center of the universe in Hindu, Buddhist and Jain cosmology around which the whole creation revolves. The only heavenly dwelling that can be visited by mortal men. Geographically, Kailash is a small part of the Himalayas above the south western plateau of Tibet. Known as Kang Rimpoche or precious jewel of snow by the Tibetians, this majestic snow clad peak is one of the world’s most sacred places while also being the least visited. This is due to the fact that no planes, trains or buses journey anywhere near the region and even with rugged over-land vehicles the trip entails weeks of difficult, often dangerous travel. Nevertheless, undaunted by physical discomforts, the pilgrims of the Buddhist, Hindu, Jain and Tibetan Bön faiths come to Kailash to complete ritual walks around the base of the mountain and attain release from the clutches of ignorance and delusion. Though the hardest, this is also the most rewarding pilgrimage in the world.

Mansarovar
Near Mt.Kailash, at a height of 4558 m , lies a beautiful, emerald green and highly sacred (but very cold) Lake of Consciousness and Enlightenment, Mansarovar. The word Mansarovar is derived from the Sanskrit word "Man" meaning mind and "Sarovar" meaning lake or body of water. Most of the year, the lake is frozen and melts only during spring. The lake is a source for natural fresh water and is believed to possess healing properties. Buddhists believe that Kailash and Mansarovar are the father and mother of the earth. Hindus believe that a bath in the river cleanses one from the sins of a hundred births. Legend has it that the gods bathe every morning in the lake between 3 am and 5 am and this time is called Brahmamuhurta. Whatever one’s belief, a short plunge in the lake is a “must-do” activity on the pilgrimage.

Rakshas Tal
East of Mansarovar lies Rakshas Tal, also called Ravan Kund. Ravana is said to have done penance here to invoke Shiva. According to legend, Shiva offered himself as a lingam (or a phallus) subject to the condition that Ravana could not keep Him down on earth anywhere on the way back to Lanka. En-route, Ravana, wanting to relieve himself handed the idol to Ganesha, who was in the guise of a Brahmin lad, and who set the idol down on the ground being unable to hold it for long. Thus the lingam in the form of Kailash remained in its original place.

The purpose of the pilgrimage
The pilgrimage is a 53 km ritual circumambulation of the sacred mountain and lake and is known as parikrama in Sanskrit or Kora in Tibetan. The parikrama is done either on foot, horses or yaks. In Tibetan Buddhist tradition, circumambulation of Kailash and Manasarovar in the Year of the Horse, especially during Sagadawa, brings far greater merit than at any other time. The next Year of the Horse is 2014.

Parikrama Route
Kailash
The 53 km can be completed comfortably in 3 days from Darchen base camp.

Day 01 : Arrive Darchen base camp
A windblown settlement on Kailash’s southern slope at 5180m.

Day 02 : Dhira Puk to Drolma Pass
The second day of the trek is the most tiring as one ascends from Dhira Puk, to the 5750m high snow clad Drolma Pass. At Dhira Puk, we get the closest view of Mt.Kailash, especially its southern "Sapphire" face, which is also known as "Stairway to Heaven", because its brownish red base is halved by a vertical slash. One should attempt walking the entire distance including the trek up the Drolma, only if one is extremely fit physically.

Day 03 : Drolma Pass and Descent
Crossing the pass is spiritually likened to a transition from one life to another. The pilgrims who pass this route have their bodies transformed into a celestial state. The descent from Drolma Pass is steep and the route thereafter on a plain level.

Mansarovar
The Mansarovar parikrama is longer than the Kailash pilgrimage at 75 km, but it is completely on the plains. The pilgrimage starts at Hore, a small settlement around the lake, moves inwards to Chugu; known for a monastery with the Buddha statue, continues 35 km and ends at Zaidi. Pilgrims may pay their obeisance here through a sacrificial fire to mark the completion of the yatra.

Essential information
Weather
Best time to visit: May to September
Daytime Temperature: 15 to 20 degrees Celsius. Windy afternoons.
Night time Temperature: 0 to -8 degree Celsius. Expect rain and snow.

Food and Accommodation
Food is simple and vegetarian. The night halts are organized in basic lodges, guest houses and in tents on camping sites along the way. Food, fuel and camping equipment are usually carried by the organizers during the trip.

Physical Fitness and Suggestions
A major portion of the journey is done with minimal comforts and with 8 to 10 hours of rigorous travel in a day. Due to high altitude, prime physical fitness and mental toughness are required as is frequent supplementing of liquids such as juice and energy drinks. Those with poor health conditions should seek a doctor's approval before embarking on this journey. The medical facilities in Tibet are minimal and one must bring their own emergency first-aid kits.

Clothes for both warm and cold weather are essential. Film-rolls, personal toiletry items including sunscreen lotion should also be carried. A scarf or dust mask to protect the eyes and nose as well as sunglasses is recommended. A detailed list will be provided upon registration.

In this inaccessible region, landslides and other impediments occur with reasonable frequency. For most of the year a pilgrim should be prepared to wade across small and large streams in the vicinity of Mansarovar. Most trips to Kailash Mansarovar are planned to arrive during the full moon period to give all pilgrims a complete and unhindered view of the holy mountain.