Kinnaur Kailash (6,050m): A Complete Guide to the Sacred Peak of Himachal

Kinnaur Kailash is a border tribal district of Himachal Pradesh of Northern State of India. It lies 250 km away from Shimla and is located on the Hindustan Tibet Road. Also, it is bounded by Tibet on the east, Garhwal Himalaya trek on the south, Spiti Valley on the north, and Kullu on the west. The Sutlej River , which rises on the southern slopes of the Kailash Parvat region near Mansarovar in Tibet flows through the Kinnaur valley which provides charm to the area. Kinnaur Kailash is in between the three largest mountain valleys like Zanskar, Himalayan , and Dhauladhar. Mount Kinnaur Kailash dominates all these according to its height. Its height is around (6050 meters) which is the peak.

The Kinnaur Kailash locally called Kinner Kailash has a height of 6050 meters and is famous as one of the most challenging treks in the Indian Himalayan region. Also, in the most scenic and outmost regions of Himachal, located close to the Indo-Tibetan border, Kinnaur is home to the sacred Mt. Kinner Kailash, one among Panch Kailash sites. It is considered a sacred site by both Hindu and Buddhist Kinnauris. Considered to be one of the mythical abodes of Lord Shiva, Kinnaur holds a great religious significance for devotees of Lord Shiva as Mt.Kinner Kailash is the area that claims of housing a 79 ft. tall Shiv Linga that fluctuates its color for every moment. This is one of the mythical abodes of Lord Shiva and the circuit around the whole range fascinates many pilgrims every year. Due to the valley's closeness to Tibet , one can find a unique combination of Hinduism and Buddhism cultures. The pagoda style of architecture and monasteries are common in this area. Also, while trekking you will see nature's beautiful creations, hanging glaciers, apple orchards, stones, high hills, and many more things which will really be an adventure. Sometimes big water streams come over to you and you will feel like heaven.

Overview & Highlights

Location	Kinnaur district, Himachal Pradesh
Altitude	6,050 meters / 19,850 ft
Duration	6-7 days

Total Trek Distance	36 km / 22.4 miles
Difficulty	Hard
Best time	May - June, September - October

The Two Faces of the Expedition

Depending on what you want to do, the Kinnaur Kailash experience can be two different things.

1. The Shivling Yatra, which is also called The Direct Ascent

This is a tough climb from the Sutlej River valley. You start in Tangling village. The trail goes up and up over big rocks and narrow paths. You will cross Parvati Kund, a lake that's very high up and made of ice. Then you get to the bottom of the Shivling rock. The air is very thin. The ground is not very stable so this is one of the hardest treks in India that people do for spiritual reasons.

2. The Parikrama, which is also called The High-Altitude Circuit

If you want to see the Himalayas, Parikrama is the way to go. This route goes around the Kinnaur Kailash mountains. You will go through the Charang Village, which's a very remote place and has a very old monastery that is over 900 years old. Then you will cross the Charang La Pass, which's over 5,000 meters high. The Kinnaur Kailash experience ends in the village of Chitkul which is the last village in India, on the old Silk Road that people used to trade on. The Kinnaur Kailash experience is amazing. The Parikrama is a big part of it.

The Kinnaur Kailash Trek is a mix of spiritual experience and mountain challenge. If you like the story of Lord Shiva or love trekking at altitude this trek is very exciting. Scaling Kinnaur Kailash is an adventure in the high mountains. Your days start early. You wake up in the dark and cold and you can see your breath in the light of your headlamp. You walk on rocks and ice. It makes a nice sound.

When you move between the camps you learn to work together as a team. You help each other on paths, adjust your backpacks or share a hot cup of tea in a small tent while mist covers the mountain. These are the moments that create friendships. You learn to understand the weather, respect the quietness of the peaks and find a strength in yourself that you did not know you had.

This adventure pushes you to your limits. It also gives you a special kind of peace that you can only find when you are thousands of feet above the rest of the world.