What made me take up The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra

My introduction–

My name is Dr.Sangamitra Khose born in 1972 .I am an oral surgeon by profession.I belong to a Tamil Brahmin Iyer family and married into a Maharashtrian family.I got married to Dr.Suhrud Khose in 1996 .We have 2 kids ,one son and one daughter both in professional college now.

My purpose of writing this blog is to share what made me take up this Yatra,my experience during The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and also to give my perspective on the same.Also it can act as a source of information to someone who wishes to go on this Yatra.

It was New Year’s Eve 31st December 2017 …Suhrud and me were on our way to Venky’s party.

Suhrud was in one of his best moods,stress free after finishing his opd and pretty much satisfied at everything being settled in the hospital…when I just happened to say We are entering 2018 and I want to so do the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra this year …I expected Suhrud to say “Lets see ” as he always does but to my surprise he said,”Why don’t you start researching on which group you wanna go with and go ahead with the booking “.

And thus 2017 ended on this positive note and 2018 started with a new hope and something to look forward to.

The next few days went on my researching the net and dropping mails to various travel agencies to which I got instant replies …the comparison of rates,reviews of the travel agencies and talking to a few people who have done this Yatra helped me centre in on Kailash Journeys Private Limited and I finally paid my booking amount of INR Fifteen Thousand on the 17th of January 2018.

I had mixed feelings and that also brought me down to why I wanted to go to Kailash Mansarovar…a Yatra not easy to take up because of its difficult proximity,travel time of Yatra being almost two weeks,the high altitude which one needs to be acclimatised to and most importantly the calling from HIM which will want you to do anything and everything possible to make the Yatra happen .

And this took me back to the blackest day of my life so far,22nd September 2014,the day I lost everything,my guiding force,the very reason of my existence…Dad,my hero,my first love ,my God ….Someone who lived a life of example,someone who saw only the good in every situation,someone who was a textbook of knowledge,the one I loved the most in my life.

A true devotee of Lord Shiva ,he followed and lived his life the Shivatva way,thoroughly practising the Shaiva Siddhantham.He was conscious and aware even 5 minutes before his death,he rubbed Vibhuti (ash)on himself and kept chanting Aum Namah Shivaya continuously.He had told me he will die on a Monday ,which he did …He had told me it will be Pradosham on that day and it was .His face was glowing when in the midst of all the ICU sounds,he whispered to me saying he had lead a content and fulfilling life and he is now ready to go…

It was indeed the most difficult moment for me but I decided he needed to be free of all suffering,the pain,the needle pricks,the tubes running all over his body….I wanted him to stop dying like this everyday…I let him go but at that moment made a promise to myself that I shall set him fully free at the place he belongs to,which was none other than the divine abode of Lord Shiva,Mount Kailash!!

I was his first child and he gave me an upbringing in which he believed in me and not the society…never differentiated between me and my brother,he made me a confident,educated and independent young lady and was always proud of anything and everything I did.

He was my pillar of strength and has a major contribution to the person I am today.Dad and me ❤️❤️

It took me 4 years to decide and take up the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra as then I was mentally peaceful that both Akash and Ashna have entered professional college and are now pretty much independent.

I chose the Full moon batch in the month of August which coincided with Nariyal Poornima so as to witness the moon in its full glory at Lake Mansarovar…also supposed to be the night when one can witness the divine lights which descend down from the sky into the holy waters of the Mansarovar..symbolically said that Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati descend down for their bath at the auspicious time called Brahma muhurtam.I was really excited as I found a slot in this batch and settled in for it…so my travel dates were from 17th August to 31st August 2018.

I intended to do the Parikrama of Mount Kailash which is a 3 day long trek in unpredictable weather conditions over a varied and difficult terrain covering 52 kms also known as the Outer Kora.

This required immense physical and mental fitness as the highest point of the trek was supposed to be close to 19,000 ft above sea level at Dolma La pass.

HOW I STARTED MY PREPARATION FOR THE YATRA

I first made a chart with pictures of Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar and along with that wrote down my goals for the next 8 months which included my fitness regime…Zumba sessions three times a week ,a regular 5km walk on the days ,I didn’t go for Zumba and climbing steps everyday…as I lived on the sixth floor,I put a target of climbing six floors,six times at a stretch…all this for physical fitness but what was more important was the mental fitness…the endurance level which will help you push yourself further when your physical body is tired…so I decided to meditate on HIS name the most powerful mantra as far as I think so…AUM NAMAH SHIVAYA…regular chanting and prayers really helped as so many factors have to fall in place for such a Yatra to happen successfully. Here I will also mention the importance of doing Pranayama ten minutes in the morning and again ten minutes in the evening…it helps you control your breath and increases the lung capacity.My diet along with intermittent fasting helped me immensely.

So this was my schedule for the next eight months which I can say I was pretty much regular and sincere with though there were days when one thing or the other was skipped as there were other aspects which needed more attention,but I did manage to get back on track regularly.

I have been very fortunate to trek in the Sahyadri range with an amazing group of youngsters who made an adventure sports company called EIGHTY DEGREE ADVENTURE SPORTS.The core team included Sharath Raj,Ashish Cheepa,Harshad Bane ,Shyamal Sawant,Subharajan Pillai and Vinod MG. I must say I learnt a lot from these guys and each one of them have inspired ,motivated and supported me in ways which have been extremely helpful for me during my Kailash Parikrama.

From left—Vinod,Ashish,me ,Sharath (Team EDAS)

Trekking the Sahyadris gave me the true taste of what I can expect in an alpine region and prepared me physically and mentally to push my limits.

Days were passing by and in the month of April 2018,my father in law had a relapse of Multiple myeloma after being in remission for almost 12 years…it shook me up and I prayed hard for his well being and also coz I could have never left for such a Yatra when things at home are not in peace and harmony…I just left it to the Almighty saying if HE wants me to complete this Yatra ,HE will do the needful…Thankfully enough my father in law responded to treatment and was stable in around 2 weeks time…he then called me one day to meet him and then said,”I want you to go ahead with this Yatra no matter what …it will be a matter of pride for me and our entire family once you complete the Yatra successfully and come back “.My father in law and myself

My belief in HIM was again reinforced that day that if HE wants you to come to HIS abode,HE will also do the needful.

I was just 45 days away from my travel date somewhere in the first week of July 2018,when Suhrud said he is jittery about sending me all alone on such a long and tedious Yatra and he would rather come with me as well. One part of me was overwhelmed with the care and concern from a husband who is not very expressive about his feelings and emotions…but the other more important aspect was I felt this was my individual journey where I wanted to go alone with no strings attached…a journey which I felt I needed to turn inwards and explore those aspects of me which I haven’t done before….a journey I wanted to spend fulfilling the promise I made to my dad on his dying day that I would go to Mount Kailash ,set him free and pray for his soul to rest in peace . It was a difficult task to explain to Suhrud why I wanted to go alone …when both Akash and Ashna intervened saying “Dad,this is mom’s thing…let her go alone…She needs her ME time after handling professional and personal responsibilities all these years.She lost Patti (my mom)in 2009 to ovarian cancer ,she hasn’t even mourned her death properly as we were small and she just kept herself strong for us and for Thatha (my dad). Let’s all join hands as one unit and give her ,her space.”

It doesn’t take me long to tear up ,the emotional person I am,but that day ,I realised I was mom to the two most beautiful souls,God has gifted me with …now standing tall and mature in front of me and giving me that timely confidence and support .

I did my packing taking advice from my sister from another mother,Punita who had taken the Yatra the previous year through Isha foundation and Sadguru.

She advised me on how to dress up in layers at the high altitude and even helped me with making 7 sets of clothing packed in ziplock bags which I could easily manage without a hassle during the everyday unpacking and packing schedule during the travel.GOD bless her !!From left—Me with Punita

THE DAY I LEFT FOR THE YATRA

Day 1

Finally the day dawned,the morning which I have been eagerly waiting for…after a sleepless night,lots of thoughts crowding my mind,excitement on one end ,anxiety on the other,an unknown fear on the third and the feeling of leaving behind my lifelines and going to such a far off place for the very first time was overwhelming. I decided to go with the flow and not think too much.

My flight from Pune to Delhi was at 5.20 am on the 17th August,day after my darling Ashna turned 18 years of age.Suhrud,Akash and Ashna had come to see me off at the airport…I asked for a selfie with them to post on social media,just to show the world that when you have the support of your lifelines,every dream of yours can become a realityMy lifelines—Suhrud Akash and Ashna seeing me off at Pune airport

Soon messages,best wishes and blessings started pouring in from all quarters in the form of phone calls,watsapp messages,Facebook messages…felt blessed indeed !!

I reached DELHI at 7.30 am and my onward flight to Kathmandu was at 11.45 am …So took the interlink bus from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3, got done with immigration formalities and had a relaxed breakfast in the airport lounge. As I was awaiting my boarding announcement,I saw other travel groups like Satyam travels ,Temple tours to name a few…what caught my attention was that there were varied age groups and many of them were over the age of 65 years and above.

I was slightly intrigued with how the travel companies promote the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra …many questions crowded my mind when I saw many of these Yatris finding it difficult to even walk a small distance…I was hoping from within that these people have researched about the altitude,weather conditions and come prepared for the same.

I reached Kathmandu at 1.30 pm ,picked up my luggage and moved out of the airport looking for a placard saying KAILASH JOURNEYS …a volunteer from their agency was supposed to pick me up .I was relieved to see a guy holding the placard I was looking for ,I walked upto him and he introduced himself as Ranjit Shresta and told me to wait near the tempo traveller he pointed to…he also said there is a lady already waiting and belongs to my batch of yatris.

As soon as I reached the tempo traveller,I saw a lady around 65 years of age,wearing a silk Kanjeevaram saree,a diamond nose ring on the right nostril which reminded me of my mom,a very typical Tamil Brahmin feature…She wore the rope chain with the M shaped thali around her neck,a big maroon bindi and a very nervous look on her face…I instantly had a feeling that the least I could do was start talking to her in my original mother tongue Tamil…All thanks to my TamBrahm roots. I greeted her in Tamil and introduced myself telling her I am in her batch as well …she was super thrilled and went to the extent of telling me that Lord Shiva has sent her a customised daughter who will sail her through the entire Yatra…she was extremely warm and asked me to share the hotel room with her as she had a language problem and knew only broken Hindi and a bit of English …so I knew I have to play interpreter as well when need be.From left—Me with Usha Amma

We had checked into Hotel Le Himalaya in Kathmandu which was home for the next 2 days .By that evening other Yatris from our batch started pouring in …Raj Uncle from the US ,Kumar Anna and his wife Vimla from HongKong ,Shaila and her husband Basavraj also from Pune,Manoj Bhaisaheb and his brother from DELHI along with their respective wives and 6 youngsters from Assam ,Lakshmi Didi and her husband from Kathmandu itself,Jagruti from Melbourne…these people were my family for the next 15 days.At Hotel Le Himalaya

We had a briefing by the Sherpas who were accompanying us in the Yatra that evening and we were given a rough idea of how things may be during the entire Yatra…we were also given our backpacks,duffel bags with matching numbers and and a fleece layered rain jacket.

All of us then had dinner at the hotel restaurant and retired for the day.

I made a video call to Suhrud and the kids updating them about all the happenings of that day .I thanked the Lord for a good start to the whole Yatra and prayed for well being of all.

Day 2

We all met for breakfast at the restaurant and then the sightseeing tour at Kathmandu was arranged which included the ever divine Pashupatinath temple,the Jalnarayan temple and one of the Shakthi peeths.I had been looking forward to the Darshan at Pashupatinath temple,it’s a four faced Shivling,known to be very powerful and one can feel the divine energy of Bholenath in the premises of the temple.

The river Ganga was flowing just behind the temple and what I witnessed there just gave me a full circle of life…at one Ghat,a 12 day old infant was brought there for the naming ceremony and sprinkling of the holy water on his body …a little away from him there was a newly married couple who came to have their first darshan together after marriage…at the opposite side of this Ghat,there was the cremation of a dead body happening …it is said that those cremated out there required only one third the amount of wood to burn the whole physical dead body than what is usually required in other cremation grounds. There was a bridge connecting both banks of the river and there were kids who were playfully diving down into the river …Such was the power of that temple…life explained just in one glance,different people,different emotions but all merging into HIS divine arms .

Our whole group then visited the age old Jalnarayan temple and the Shakthi peeth and returned back to our hotel for lunch. The evening was left free for us to shop at Thamel market ,then pack our things into the duffel bag given to us and then rest well to take on the strenuous bus journey to reach Nepal border the next day.When I started to pack ,I noticed my roommate Usha Amma (that’s what she wanted me to call her),had come with only heavy silk sarees and one salwar kurta which she said she will wear on the day of the Parikrama….In the name of woollens,she was only carrying a sweater and 2pairs of socks …She also told me she will do the Parikrama of 52 kms wearing sandals that she used every day…now I decided that I need to tell her that she is not well equipped with enough woollen clothing and that she needs to dress in layers to combat that cold in such a high altitude.

She was not very receptive and somewhere I felt I can’t do much if the person is not ready to hear me out.As her tour agent from Chennai had not forewarned her enough and she has been ignorant about reading the Things to carry list ,she will soon learn it the hard way.

Day 3

We left the hotel after having a good breakfast …the bus journey to Syabrubesi (our halting place for that night) was extremely strenuous…narrow mountain roads with hairpin bends ,it was a nail biting experience for all of us but chanting Aum Namah Shivaya in groups lightened the atmosphere…we encountered two landslides on the way where we had to alight from the bus ,cross over the patch on foot,our luggage was carried by the local villagers for whom this was a source of daily income …then we had to board another bus after waiting for a while…this bus came from the village which was around 40 kms from the landslide area. We stopped enroute for a simple Nepali lunch at a small village and continued with our journey.We reached Syabrubesi,a small village where our night Stay was planned…the entire village was on the mountain slopes and we stayed at one of the Homestay lodges there…facilities were primitive,power supply was interrupted and hence scarcity of water as well .Many of my co travellers had started getting into the complaining mode but I decided to just go with the flow…After all it is not easy to go to HIS abode,all this is a test of ones patience,endurance and how much one can get out of their comfort zone and make peace with what is available.Syabrubesi

On this note ,I thanked God for one more day which had brought me closer to HIS home and thus retired for the night.At SyabrubesiWith Vimla and Usha AmmaWith Jagruti

Day 4

We were crossing the Nepal border and entering China border on foot on that day.We had travelled to a place called Rasuwagudi and then had to walk 2-3 kms to reach the land immigration side of Nepal and then crossed over a footbridge over the river and reached the China side for immigration formalities thus seeking entry into their country.Nepal -China border

There was a total change in the infrastructure of the road on the China side which evidently showed the economy difference between Nepal and China.

We were instructed by our Tibetan guide that we should not have any pictures of the Dalai Lama on our smart phones or any religious books which could kick a controversy during immigration.Each and every thing from my backpack was pulled out and checked .I felt like they were making sure I wasn’t an Indian spy.

The whole process took around 4-5 hours which I felt was unnecessary and they could have sped up the whole procedure though it was a group visa.

We were finally seated in the Tibetan coach which was taking us to Kyrong county,our halt for that night.There was a distinct fall in temperature and I guess it was around 15 degrees Celsius. I put on my fleece jacket and saw all other travellers doing the same except Usha Amma who said she is fine.

We reached Kyrong County ,checked into our hotels and food for the Yatris was arranged in a different tent around 500 metres walk from the hotel.It was around 10 degrees by the time we all left for dinner and on insistence from my end,Usha Amma wore her sweater.She had started having a headache by then and was advised to start half a tablet of Diamox in the morning and night to help acclimatisation by our Sherpa guide.At Kyrong with Sandeep Sherpa bhai

We went to have dinner in the tent and I had the opportunity to meet Mr.Balmukund Vairagi from Udaipur Rajasthan who was there with his team of chefs and helpers only to cook and serve food to the Yatris at an altitude of about 13,000 feet above sea level.

I was floored by his simplicity,his smiling face ,hands joint to greet every Yatri with a Namaste and individually making an effort to see that everyone is fed well .The food given to us was simple home made Dal Kichadi ,kadhi ,roti and sabji and sheera .Balmukund ji was put up in Kyrong for 4 months only to do this Tirth seva…I felt souls like him ,are already blessed by Lord Shiva for the noble service they are doing for the Yatris.with Balmukund Vairagi and other chefs

By the next morning,Usha Amma was down with a slight cold and me along with Kumar Anna and Vilma’s support insisted that she needs to buy some more warm clothes in Kyrong as we were only going to gain more altitude thereafter and temperatures will drop further.

Usha Amma was now a bit shaken with her health…Jagruti who was closer to Usha Amma’s stature offered to lend her a pair of thermals and we helped her buy a fleece pant and woollen cap for a much costlier fare than what we could have got in India or Nepal…All this when one doesn’t research well about the weather and altitude before taking up a Yatra of this kind.We also convinced her to buy sports shoes which she will need during Parikrama…she said she wasn’t comfortable but Kumar Anna told her she will get used to it slowly .With Kumar Anna

Day 5

Day 5 was a rest day at Kyrong for the Yatris and by this time ,we were a good group,Jagruti,Raj uncle,Kumar Anna,Vimla,Shaila and Basavraj.

We all went on a small trek exploring the beautiful and scenic hills around Kyrong.During this time I bonded extremely well with Raj Uncle who was 72 yrs of age but looked almost 12-15 years younger because of the fitness he maintained.He was also a textbook of knowledge,an ace photographer and a very refined gentleman…I learnt so much from him just by the way he conducted himself during the whole Yatra.Many of my pictures are so well taken all credits to Raj Uncle.

That evening,we got a heartbreaking news from the Tibetan guide about a landslide which has washed off the road which we were supposed to take the next day on the way to Saga and so we may be put up in Kyrong for a day more until repairs of that road are complete.

Now this would definitely hamper with our timetable of witnessing the full moon on Lake Mansarovar on the 26th August after completing the Parikrama.Everyone was hecked up with this and I again decided that if HE has got me this far,HE will give me everything I deserve when I reach HIS abode. The main rule I decided to follow for myself was that I WILL GO WITH THE FLOW …

Day 6

We all used this extra day to explore the monastery at Kyrong County,visited the local shops and in the process I made friends with all 6 guys from Assam …the youngest Dhanbhai was 24 yrs of age…felt I was interacting with my son Akash…Dharmesh Bhai,an International Kung fu player and master ,Kishenbhai ,a school teacher,Unmesh Bhai and Utpal Bhai had their own businesses and Bishnu Bhai the oldest of them all ,who owned a timber mart in Gauhati ,Assam.All these guys were such simple and pure souls,who have traveled in all means of transport to reach Kathmandu and join in for the Yatra. All of them called me Didi and they always used to occupy the last few seats in the Tibetan buses where there used to be a war for the seats in the front.Very accommodating and full of life …I learnt a lot from them as well .When you travel and meet new people ,you grow and learn so much .

This extra day was a boon to Usha Amma who rested well for 2 whole days and looked much fitter to take the travel ahead .

Th Tibetan guide was unsure even late that night when we asked him when are we leaving the next morning,my heart sank ,as now we may be really delayed on schedule and hope the Parikrama is not aborted by the Sherpas because of lack of time as we all have to abide by the limited days allotted in the group visa and cannot extend our stay in Tibet beyond that date .

I could hardly sleep,I had updated everything to Suhrud and asked him to pray that my Yatra resumes and things fall back in place…I was still thinking and re- thinking when my watsapp msg tone beeped …It said Message from Sakhi Shaila…Let me first introduce her out here…Shaila is my beautician who I visit for my regular eyebrow trimming and haircuts. She is close to 10 years older than me but we shared a unique sisterhood bond and she is one woman who has been through a very huge family business loss but bounced back just because of her positive attitude,ever smiling nature ,immense faith in the Almighty and of course her sincere and hard work…She has been a pillar to her family during her tough times,running a simple parlour SAKHI BEAUTY PARLOUR ,just on the basis of a beautician course that she had done as a hobby….that hobby which actually brought food to her table .

I have always looked up to her…she is also a Shiva Bhakt like me and our connect got even stronger .She had in many ways lived my dream of completing my Kailash Mansarovar Yatra successfully and so when her message came in that night,I felt positive vibes…I immediately updated her with the land slide scenario and expressed my concern of how our schedule can be affected…She very positively told me,”Go to sleep now,you have to resume your Yatra tomorrow morning by 10 am”…within 10 mins of her message,there was a lot of excitement in the hotel corridor…the Tibetan guide gave us the news that we continue our onward journey in the morning post breakfast…this gave me goosebumps,Shaila had just told me the same ten minutes back …my perception—It was actually HIM conveying to me that everything is taken care of and we are proceeding with the Yatra…HE chose Shaila as a medium to convey this because of the bond we share and again our common connect—HIM !!

Day 7

We all resumed our onward journey to Saga …our next halt and on that way we were going to gain height upto 15,000 ft above sea level…We were above the tree line by now…crossing the vast Tibetan plateaus filled with silt …our bus along with many other buses got badly stuck into the silt and had to be pulled out with the help of JCB cranes .We were told to get off the bus so that it’s easier to pull the bus out of the silt.

The Brahmaputra river was flowing in its full force and we crossed this river as part of our journey. We stopped and were given packed lunch which we all had sitting in the open plateau…with nothing around for miles together.

Going for a bio break in such a region was a challenge and we used to go in groups of three ladies…2 to hold a shawl and the third will relieve herself…then we alternate.

I must say ,one more learning of this Yatra is that you only need to train your mind to accept and adjust…it’s all a matter of psychological manipulation.Lunch enroute Saga

After lunch ,as we continued with our journey,many of us started getting severe headaches and nausea.

I too witnessed a mild headache and immediately started on my first ever dose of tablet Diamox which helped me acclamatise easily.

I felt like throwing up once which I did and then felt completely fine after that.

One more Co -Yatri Keshav from Bangalore had a black out episode and he soon revived in a couple of minutes…Dhan Bhai was constantly throwing up every now and then…Usha Amma and Vimla also had throbbing headache.So every traveler was reacting in someway or the other to the gain in altitude.Most of them were extremely tired by the time we reached Saga.

In Saga,we were accommodated 4-5 travellers in one room…each one supporting the other…some reluctant about not getting a twin sharing room but finally everyone adjusted thinking of how close we were now to our main destination…Lake Mansarovar the next day and Mount Kailash,a day after that.

Day 8

It was raining in Saga on and off and even the day temperatures were between 6 degrees to 7 degrees Celcius…All of us were well layered up and we started our journey to Darchen ,our final halt before taking on the trek to Mount Kailash…

By then I had started loosing appetite also a sign of mountain sickness…I mainly survived on dry fruits and apple and warm water which I had filled my flask with . Sucking on citric candies like Mango bite,orange and grape flavoured ones helped combat nausea and also keeping the euastasian tubes between ear and mouth patent.

I had also kept cotton plugs in my ears and covered my face with a bandana to avoid the chill air hitting the face.

We were slowly reaching Lake Mansarovar by afternoon and then our Parikrama around Lake Mansarovar was planned for that evening by the local buses …It took a good 3 hours to complete the entire Parikrama around Lake Mansarovar…just a few Kilometres before we reached Lake Mansarovar,we came across another smaller lake called the Rakshas Taal …very surprisingly,the waters in this Taal were very turbulent and it is also said that the taste of that water is extremely salty. Mythology says that it was the Lake where the demons used to have their bath .

We then reached Lake Mansarovar…many local Tibetans were selling 1 litre,2 litre and 5 litre cans for the pilgrims to carry back the holy water from Lake Mansarovar…we embarked on our Parikrama around the lake and then the bus halted in between for us to get a feel of the water and pay our respects to the divine Lake.

It was an emotional moment indeed …reaching this point which is supposed to be the Lake where Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi have their bath. I touched the water ,it was chilling …I sprinkled the holy water on my head ,my eyes and face …the holy dip in the waters of Lake Mansarovar was planned after we completed the Kailash Parikrama as we didn’t want to risk our health before the Mount Kailash Parikrama.

The waters of Lake Mansarovar were so calm and serene and had a sweet taste in complete contrast to the waters at Rakshas Taal .

We witnessed the sunset at Lake Mansarovar and actually the South face of the Mount Kailash can be seen from Lake Mansarovar but to our bad luck because of the fog,we didn’t get that view. As I said ,HE decides what we are destined to get .

After the Lake Mansarovar Parikrama,the bus dropped us to our lodge in Darchen …we were at a height of around 15,500 ft above sea level…What floored me was we got wi-fi range at that lodge and I immediately video called Suhrud..I told him that I shall be starting the Kailash Parikrama the next day and will be out of touch for the next 3 days till I finish Parikrama and reach Saga.I asked him and the kids to pray that my health,will power,physical energy and HIS wish are all in Sync for me to fulfill the promise I made to myself and my dad .

Thats when I heard the words from my gold hearted husband…The words which kept ringing in my ears at every difficult step during the Parikrama…IF ANYONE CAN DO IT, ITS YOU…JUST GO AHEAD AND FULFILL YOUR PURPOSE…YOU ARE THE BEST DAUGHTER I KNOW…WHEREVER DAD IS ,HE IS GONNA BE PROUD OF YOU !!

I teared up on hearing this and he said ,”I don’t want to make you emotionally weak but every word I said is true. Now go rest well and all the best.My best wishes and prayers are with you .”

I spoke to both the kids and felt energised and motivated. I missed them and was proud of them for managing things at home in my absence.

I packed for the next day ,a small backpack with my water bladder,a pair of change over clothes,extra socks ,rain jacket and pant and a few basic toiletries and medicines.

It was biting cold and with a lot of excitement and anxiety,I managed to sleep for a few hours .

We got up at 5 am Tibetan time and fortunately we got some hot water to freshen up and get ready for the big day ahead….25 th August 2018 .

Our oxygen levels and pulse were checked just before we left our lodge after breakfast by bus to the starting point of The Kailash Parikrama,the Yam Dwar.

Many of the pilgrims had booked porters and ponies to off load their backpacks and also to do the Parikrama sitting on the pony.

My view–I had decided that I will do the Parikrama by foot and not sitting atop a pony and in the process making another soul bear my body weight . If my health permits ,I will proceed only on foot or else will hire the ambulance to come back to base camp. All this is for Day 1 of Parikrama,a total of 12 kms gaining gradual ascent to a height of 17,000 ft above level where one can witness the glory of the North face of Mount Kailash.

We reached Yam Dwar and were told to pray at that place …I saw people leaving behind old clothes,some left their cut nails ,some left a part of their cut hair symbolically saying that I leave behind myself to enter HIS abode …the heaven called Mount Kailash.

I decided to pray and in my prayers,I asked HIM to empty my cup ,make me forget who I am,my ego in the process leaving behind all negative thoughts as I enter the Yam Dwar and thus gain entry into HIS ABODE and send me back filled with positivity and refine my soul to an extent that I am an asset to the world in such a way that my first identity is that I am a Shiva devotee .

I was now on the other side of the Yam Dwar all ready to start my Day 1 of Parikrama…I wore my knee supports which I always wear when am trekking and with the help of my trekking pole took my first step shouting out Ganapathi Bappa Morya as HIS son Is the Pratham Pujya ( first deity to be worshipped before starting any event or Puja )and Vignaharata (one who dissolves all obstacles) .

Raj Uncle shot a small video of my feelings at that moment and I thanked God to have brought me so close to my purpose and asked HIM to continue blessing me .

We all started with our trek …each and every one with their own pace …the first few minutes of any trek is taxing on the physical body…once the body heats up ,its easier to gain momentum but its best to go in a steady pace which you are comfortable with …Initially I was with the others but once I was comfortable ,I gained momentum and I moved ahead …I had the Assam guys for company as our pace matched up …for most parts of the trek ,I preferred being all by myself chanting HIS name and praying for dad ‘s soul to rest in peace.

The weather was very unpredictable…spurts of rain ,very windy and some parts had hail storms…the weather was very bad throughout and it was extremely cold inspite of our bodies being warmed up while trekking.With Raj uncle in the following pic—m

We trekked for almost 6 kms when we got a hazy darshan of the West side of Mount Kailash.

There was something definitely unique to that place,no matter how the weather or terrain was,the vibrations that I felt can’t be expressed on paper…one has to experience it for his own self…

As I kept walking,my mind was crowded with thoughts of my childhood,my most precious moments with my dad…I hazily remember how I used to get up early in the morning and go and sit on his lap when he used to be at his study…I was probably 6 years of age then …dad always involved me in a lot of games like dog and the bone which we played in our small living room in Mumbai…he used to tell me a lot of stories sometimes mythological,sometimes plain life experiences…I remember my first interactive conversation with him when I was 10 years old ,we had lost a close relative and it shook me up …he told me ,what is born has to go one day…what matters is how you lead your life in between…do things that please your soul,be kind and compassionate to everyone around you and no matter what ,allot a little time in the day for prayer and also to reflect on your doings in the entire day and see how much you can improvise on yourself for the next day …small and simple teachings which had so much depth …as I kept growing,I got clarity on every word he said.

I was Infact wondering how all these thoughts came to me there during the Parikrama and felt probably it was HIS way of making me feel ,dad is with me every moment.

I encountered so many yatris during day 1 of Parikrama…some were returning back after seeking darshan of the North face of Mount Kailash at Dirapuk …some were on their way towards Dirapuk just like me …when I saw a Tibetan woman doing the Parikrama going down on her fours,saluting the path ahead with hands joined,getting up and again going down on her fours …I was shocked and shaken up to see how she was managing to do this in that weather and terrain…Hats off to such devotion…as I proceeded further,I saw many more Tibetans doing the same…I then quickly shot a video of one of them .They take close to 7-12 days to do the Parikrama till the North face in this manner.

I finally reached Dirapuk after trekking for close to 5 and a half hours …it was biting cold and the temperature was -5 degrees Celsius .

My Assam friends also reached almost at the same time…Dhan Bhai and Dharmesh Bhai were having high fever and shivering.

Once I reached the mud house which one of the locals at Dirapuk allotted to us,I noticed it was a 15 bed sharing mud house…I put my things on one bed and removed my rain jacket…it was so cold ,I wrapped myself in the thick blanket which was kept on the bed…now the cold start getting on to me as well as my body had cooled down after the trek. That’s when I decided sitting in one place won’t help,I moved out and I was standing right in front of the North face of Mount Kailash but as the weather was so bad ,HE was covered in full mist and I could catch a glimpse of only the lower one -third of Mount Kailash …I was hoping and praying that the weather clears out before sunset so that I could get a better darshan.Mount Kailash covered in mist

But it was not meant to be …

The view of Mount Kailash that I got …only the lower one -third was visible,the rest covered with mist .

My perception—in this life of mine ,I was probably destined to only see HIS feet …even that made be feel blessed. The yatris I had met in Kyrong ,who were on their return journey showed me pictures of the divine Mount Kailash in full glory and even pictures when the golden rays of the sun which bathed the apex of the Mount Kailash.This is a pic shared with me by a Yatri who witnessed sun bathed Golden Kailash a couple of days before I was there.

But as we all know,the weather out there changes in minutes so can’t compare what yatris a couple of days before witnessed.

By evening 6 pm…almost all my Co travellers reached Dirapuk ,some on pony,Raj uncle ,Kumar Anna and Vimla trekked on foot but they were all pretty much in a bad shape …extremely shaken by the weather and the terrain…that’s when I realised ,apart from the Assam guys,nobody really came prepared for the Parikrama.

Most of the yatris from my group were shivering with high fever ,some had nausea and headache.Almost 20 out of the 32 yatris decided to head back the next morning to base camp in Darchen and rest in order to witness the full moon the next night at Lake Mansarovar.

Kumar Anna tried to convince me as well that I shouldn’t risk continuing the Parikrama in that weather and I decided that whatever HE wishes for me,I will accept gracefully. By God’s grace my health was good apart from a bit tiredness due to depleted oxygen levels as now we were at a height of 17,000 ft above sea level…I had a light dinner that night of Dal kichadi and kadhi and slept with the positive feeling that HE will give me a signal as to what I am supposed to do.

Our Sherpa guides came to check our Pulse and oxygen levels and told us that those who intend to continue and complete the full Parikrama should be up by 4am and be ready to leave by 4.45 am for Day 2 of Parikrama in which one will reach the highest point of the Outer Kora,the Dolma La Pass and then descend down to Zhuthulphuk and then continue back to the base camp in Darchen.

I slept quite well that night wearing 5 layers of clothing and then with two blankets over me.

Day 9

My alarm was set for 4am Tibetan time but my body clock woke me up even before the alarm rang…I got up fresh and was fully confident to continue with the Parikrama…I had some warm water from the flask I had filled the previous night,freshened up in the open ,it was biting cold but something from within told it was going to be the BEST day of my life so far.

I went back to the mud house ,dressed up in 6 layers of clothing including the rain jacket,gloves,two layers of socks ,my knee supports,trekking pole and my waist pouch…the rest of the things ,Vimla offered to carry back with her to Darchen base camp.Day 2—4.45 am as I left to continue my ascent to Dolma La Pass

Keshav from Bangalore was ready to come with me,Laxmi Didi and her husband were ready and the six Assam guys had already started the trek half an hour earlier .Jagruti joined in but within a few steps of ascent,she was breathless and the Sherpa guide decided to send her back.

The ascent on Day 2 to Dolma La Pass was extremely steep and we were gaining altitude of almost 2000 ft in the next couple of hours…as we were ascending, it started snowing and all of us got scattered as per the pace we were comfortable with .We had people from other groups and other guides were all there guiding through the path ahead…It was a pretty narrow path ,the deep valley on one side and the rocky terrain on the other.

Some yatris continued the Parikrama sitting on the pony but in most places they had to get off the pony in terrain where even pony can slip and again get on to the pony,where terrain was a bit better.

As I was gaining altitude,my breathing was heavier and I had to compulsorily stop after every 4-5 steps…

(Now as I am writing this ,I have goosebumps on me ,have already started tearing up and I swear by God that there is no exaggeration in my further narration of what I am going to express about my experience.)

MY CONNECT WITH HIM

I kept walking step by step,it was snowing heavily and I could hardly look up straight…i experienced my first ever snowfall …that too in Mount Kailash. It was better to take each step with caution…as I kept walking I could see a few people ahead of me and also a few a little distance behind me …All of a sudden ,I don’t know for how long that feeling lasted but I could not see anyone ahead of me neither was anyone behind me…I initially thought the people ahead have probably gained momentum but what about the people behind me…I could clearly see the winding paths of the trail I had trekked up so far but not a soul in sight…for those few moments,I felt I was all alone out there…I panicked…my breathing was heavy and I prayed to HIM saying…I DONT KNOW WHAT YOUR PLAN IS …IF YOU WISH TO ABSORB ME RIGHT THERE,IT MUST BE THE BEST PLACE FOR ME TO LEAVE MY PHYSICAL BODY …BUT PLEASE TAKE CARE OF MY NEAR AND DEAR ONES WITH WHOSE SUPPORT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COME HERE…Saying this ,I thought I was going to die there as my breathing was extremely heavy…when suddenly I heard a sound behind me,my breathing normalised and I thought some Yatri has caught up with my pace…I turned back and saw no one…I continued walking ahead,my breathing almost normal when I heard the sound of someone walking behind me again…I turned again to find no one and my inner voice said…NOTHING WILL HAPPEN TO YOU,FULFILL YOUR PURPOSE…I AM RIGHT HERE TAKING CARE OF YOU IN MY OWN ABODE…

I instantly broke down to tears,crying myself out …within a few seconds I could see so many yatris trekking ahead of me …when I turned back I could see people behind me as well …What happened in those few seconds or minutes ,I have only tried to put down on paper though the vibrations I felt and what actually happened,I can never explain in words.I WAS BLESSED !!

Science may have a lot of explanations to what I experienced,right from brain oedema leading to hallucinations,all a part of high altitude syndrome.

My perception—There is definitely a power higher and beyond science and I would like to believe that IT WAS THE CONNECT HE WANTED TO GIVE ME IN HIS VERY ABODE.

The winds blowing out there also sounded like the Dhamroo being played in all octaves…people say the formation of the mountains out there is such that this sound is created by the winds.

My perception–I would like to believe HE IS PLAYING THE DHAMROO…Period.

This experience or my tryst with the divine gave me a different energy to continue with my Parikrama…I was just a few metres away from the highest point of the Parikrama,the DOLMA LA PASS almost 19,000 ft above sea level …nothing mattered anymore,I felt immense strength within me,the heavy snowfall ,the winds blowing furiously around and there I reached the point where I had promised to set my father free …

Though his ashes were immersed in the river Godavari in Nasik immediately on the third day after his physical body was cremated, for me,his actual cremation happened on 26th August 2018 when I ,his eldest child symbolically cremated him at that place which is considered to be the most holy point in the Parikrama of Mount Kailash.I set him free from my mind and prayed for his soul to rest in peace at the place where he was destined for Moksha .Dolma La Pass …Rest in peace,Dad !!

I felt totally light after that ,I of course couldn’t wait much at that point as if we stop walking,one can freeze in that weather.

I continued with tears in my eyes but a sense of immense satisfaction at fulfilling the promise I made to dad and to myself. I decided to immerse his photo in Lake Mansarovar after my holy dip.

My descend down from Dolma La Pass started and within a few miles ,I witnessed the Gauri Kund where Goddess Parvathi had her bath and where Lord Ganesh was born .Gauri Kund

The beauty of Gauri Kund is actually difficult to capture in any camera,the aquamarine blue water in the midst of total black and white snow covered mountains is truly mesmerising. There were a few frozen water bodies on the descent path which gave me an experience of walking on frozen ice.It was slippery and each step had to be taken with care.

The entire descent path was close to 10 kms which was totally rocky and alpine.Even people who ascended on pony have no choice but to descend on foot.The whole path was treacherous but what sailed me through was my experience of trekking in the Sahyadri.

The path seemed to be never ending and that’s when I thought of Vinod ,my trek lead and now a co team member of Eighty Degree Adventure Sports…No matter how much of the trail is left,he would always say ,JUST A FEW MINUTES MORE …I kept repeating his words in my head ,as now my physical body was tired and I was emotionally drained as well …but I had my will power to sail me through…it’s all about programming the mind.With Vinod

I also understood what Sharath,my trekking guru from Team EDAS meant when he said…I STARTED TREKKING AS A BOY AND THE MOUNTAINS MADE ME A MAN…Truly there is no better teacher than the mountains.with Sharath

I finally completed my descent by 4 pm that evening after trekking for 11hours at a stretch …I ate only dates which kept me going and drank sips of warm water.

I finally had reached the tea house at Zhulthulphuk and from there completed the Parikrama in toto after resting a bit in the tea house.Laxmi Didi and her husband also managed to complete the Parikrama reaching an hour later than me …my Assam friends were ahead of me and finally only 9 of us completed the entire Parikrama of the Outer Kora .

There was a vehicle waiting at Darchen base camp to take us to Lake Mansarovar to join the other Yatris from our group who had returned back from Dirapuk and we were all supposed to witness the Full moon in Lake Mansarovar that night.

As I reached the mud house in Lake Mansarovar,I saw Raj uncle was fast asleep in one of the beds in the dorm…Kumar Anna just entered within a few minutes and the way he greeted me was like I have achieved the impossible and now back amongst them…Slowly all the other yatris came and crowded around me to ask me my experience of day 2 Parikrama and they all praised me sky high for completing the Parikrama in toto…

This was when I thought of Ashish,my other trekking guru from Team EDAS who I have again looked up to for his trekking skills and his discipline.When he was wishing me for my Yatra,he told me ,WHEN YOU ARE TIRED AND WANT TO GIVE UP,JUST THINK OF WHAT YOU WILL ACHIEVE ON SUMMIT AND ALSO WHEN YOU FINISH THE ENTIRE PARIKRAMA…I understood what he meant when I saw the respect,awe and admiration in the eyes of all my co -yatris who also told me I am differently blessed to have had the courage to go ahead and complete my Parikrama under those weather conditions in which many other travel companies had in fact completely called off the Day 2 Parikrama and returned back from Dirapuk to base camp.with Ashish

I had an immense sense of satisfaction and happiness to have completed my purpose of this Yatra …I then had a little dinner as I felt I was having mild fever after the days stress …I took a Paracetamol tablet and decided to sleep for a few hours ,before pitching ourselves on the banks of Mansarovar Lake to witness the divine lights.

We had decided to go to the Mansarovar Lake by 12.30 am and stay awake the whole night awaiting the view of the divine lights.

I got up by 12.15 am ,no fever and all fresh to go to Mansarovar Lake .I was wondering how my body was adjusting to all the erratic conditions ,I was putting it through but I guess the adrenaline rush and level of excitement was so high during the whole Yatra,and of course HIS will which kept me fit and healthy so far.

We all left for Lake Mansarovar and witnessed the full moon intermittently as it was playing hide and seek with us coz of the clouds…but the beauty of that moon and proximity which we felt we were with it was something one has to experience on his own.Full moon at Lake Mansarovar on 26th August 2018

It was biting cold and we had wrapped ourselves well in warm clothing as we sat on the banks of the lake.Thats when we all started sharing our individual experiences of what each one felt during the course of the Parikrama and on witnessing the North face of Mount Kailash.

I was surprised to note that each of us had a connect with HIM in different ways…Raj uncle who is very practical and tries to put reason to everything,also being a historian who came to Mount Kailash mainly to see the structure and not holding much of a spiritual vision to it,said there was a point on day 2 when he was standing right there in front of North face of Mount Kailash he teared up without reason and till now he couldn’t put an explanation to it…He said he felt a different vibration.

Vimla also felt the same at one point when she was taking Darshan of the Mount Kailash in Dirapuk.Ushaamma was not able to handle the cold and decided to stay indoors in the mud house but she said there were many touching moments which she felt as well .

As we kept chatting,we saw many white swans in the water playing and fluttering their wings…Now it was almost 4am Tibetan time and many people who were at the Lake started leaving back to the mud houses where they were accommodated giving up on the fact that they were not destined to see the divine lights that night.

Our group which had Raj uncle,Kumar anna ,Vimla,Shaila ,Basavraj and me were the only few who continued waiting….And yesss…at sharp 4.30 am Tibetan time,we saw an orange light appearing right from the direction from where one can see the South face (Asthapad) of Mount Kailash …we felt it coming closer and closer to us…as it came closer,I felt it was flame shaped…It danced around in the water for a few seconds and vanished into the water…OMG…what an unbelievable sight !!

Again Science May have its own explanation…

But my perception—Since it was a single orange light ,HE probably descended down that night in HIS ARDHANARESHWAR form (Half man and half woman —Shiva with HIS Shakthi) to have HIS bath in Lake Mansarovar.I FELT BLESSED FOR THE SECOND TIME on 27th August 2018 .

We were all speechless for a few moments after we saw what just happened…nobody could express anything as we were all choked with emotion and we decided ,it’s best to keep silent and try to digest what we witnessed.

We all silently walked back to our mud house .I lay in my bed but couldn’t sleep thinking of everything that I went through in the last 2 days. All I could do was keep chanting HIS name which kept my nerves calm.I lay in bed for an hour or so and decided to go and take my holy dip in Lake Mansarovar.

Day 10

From that very year,directly having a bath in Lake Mansarovar was banned by the Chinese government and so now they install tents on the bank of the lake where one has to fill his /her bucket with water from the lake and have their holy bath.

I too did the same ,in that chilling weather and then went back to my accommodation,wore my warm clothing and then went to have some hot tea and breakfast.

Once done with breakfast,we had some time before we started back on our return journey to Saga. That’s when I took my dad’s passport size photo to the bank of Lake Mansarovar…prayed once more that his soul rests in peace in HIS abode and immersed his photo in the holy waters of Lake Mansarovar.It was again a soul quenching moment and I finally thanked God for helping me fulfill my purpose.

I was on my own for a while chanting HIS name and reflected back to how the concept of this whole Yatra was seeded within me and finally bore fruit on that day with me thanking HIM for making all this happen.

Our Sherpa guides then announced that we head towards our buses to kick start our return journey…I looked one last time at the direction where South face of Mount Kailash was supposed to be visible but coz of the mist ,I couldn’t see anything.I made peace with myself for all the positive things I got during the Parikrama and witnessing the divine light and told myself ONE GETS EXACTLY WHAT HE DECIDES.

I left Lake Mansarovar with a happy feeling with a prayer that HE keeps me close to HIM always!!Our group who managed to complete the entire Parikrama on foot

Our return journey back to Saga was pretty uneventful …I Infact slept through the entire journey as all the tiredness of the previous 2 days finally took a toll .I was seated next to Raj uncle and he had to literally wake me up whenever the bus stopped for a bio break or when we halted to have our packed lunch.

We reached Saga by evening 4 pm and checked in to the same hotel where we stayed during our onward journey.I finally got network after 3 days and made my call to Suhrud.I could sense the relief in his voice when he heard me and he also told me that I sounded very tired and slightly breathless.

I told him I was fine ,just needed to rest .I was still very tired ,so just grabbed a dinner …I was still having loss of appetite and saw to it I ate fruits and dates which kept me going strong.Good quality Apples were always available throughout the Yatra,Infact our buses were loaded with boxes of apples as I guess the Sherpas know that it is comfort food for the Yatris.

I slept like a log that night and as again we had to resume our return journey to Kyrong County the next day .

Day 11

We all got up and again after breakfast boarded our bus to leave for Kyrong from Saga.By now most of my co travellers were sick of traveling in the bus and discussions of other means of reaching Kathmandu had started amongst them.

I kept myself away from all this as I always felt when one is mentally tired or sick of the process,traveling ahead will be more of a pain .My principle was WHAT STARTS HAS TO COMPLETE ITS CYCLE ,TO END !!

And the universe played its game to further test everyone’s patience when all our buses were put on a halt midway between Saga and Kyrong County for close to 8 hours due to some ongoing technical work for betterment of the overland route…this came as a surprise to the Tibetan guides as well ,as the plan was to reach Kyrong by mid afternoon and have a late lunch in Kyrong.

Now we were not even given packed lunch ,drinking water was also slowly getting over…

The Sherpas then sprung to action,they went to the nearby Tibetan village and with the help of those people made poha (puffed rice) for all the Yatris .I guess they carried these things as emergency raw materials which could be used when in a situation like this.Goes without saying,there was not much taste in the poha but I appreciate the fact that we were not left hungry.

Of course everyone in the bus still had their supply of dry snacks and somehow we pulled through those few hours. Finally we were given a green signal to start moving by around 4 pm and it was close to 11.30 pm when we reached Kyrong County…this was the longest and most mentally taxing day for most of the travellers.

We were told that dinner was kept ready at the tent in Kyrong by none other than Balmukund ji and his team .I personally went and thanked him for catering to us that late .Again with that same smile on his face he told me it’s his pleasure.

As I kept chatting with Balmukund ji,,he also gave me the sad news of the death of a 63 year old woman in Lake Mansarovar mud house the day after we had left from there. He also told me about a 70 year old man from another travel company getting a paralytic stroke in the hotel room in Kyrong….Both these incidents shook me up further and strengthened my view about creating an awareness about this Yatra to the best of my ability.

He heard me out and my experience during the Parikrama and said,DIDI,YOU ARE A SPECIAL SOUL…I HAVE NOT MET MANY PEOPLE LIKE YOU …YOU ARE INDEED BLESSED…PEOPLE HARDLY NOTICE THE EFFORTS WE TAKE TO MAKE THINGS COMFORTABLE FOR THE YATRIS AT THIS ALTITUDE…THANK YOU FOR APPRECIATING US

Those words from him made me feel so special and again I thanked my parents for the values they had imbibed in me since childhood.

After such a late dinner,as we went back to the hotel to retire for the night,there was more bad news awaiting us in the lobby when we were told by the Tibetan guide and the Sherpas that there has been a huge landslide somewhere between Syabrubesi and Kathmandu…so after immigration formalities the next day on both sides of the China-Nepal border,there will be an indefinite wait for the repairs to happen and the journey to continue.

with Lakshmi Didi…a bond I will treasure for a lifetime

My noble friends from Assam

We were given an alternative that we can be airlifted from Syabrubesi to Kathmandu,one helicopter ride for 6 people costing INR 90,000.Instantly there was a huge buzz amongst everyone and most of us opted to be airlifted.I decided to go with the crowd as we had to instantly pay INR 15,000 per head and form groups of 6 each so that our Sherpas convey this to our travel company and they can go ahead with the booking . The travel company had taken in writing from us that any extra expenses towards unexpected situations and calamities will be borne by us on an individual basis.

Fortunately most of us were carrying enough cash to sail through such an emergency situation. After all this our group of 6 had,Kumar Anna,Vimla,Shaila,Basavraj,Usha Amma and me…since we were the first ones to pay our ride from Syabrubesi to Kathmandu was booked first.

Raj uncle,Jagruti and Keshav’s family from Bangalore were on the second ride.

Such groups were formed and that night by the time we returned to our rooms,it was almost 2.30 am.My Assam friends said they can’t afford the helicopter ride and so they had no choice but to wait for the repairs to go through and then reach Kathmandu by bus.

Day 12

The next morning,wake up call was 7.30 am,we finished with our breakfast,said a final goodbye t Balmukund ji and left for the border.

It was again a good 2 hours by the time immigration and exit from China border took place and we were on the Nepal side …I decided to get in touch with Suhrud only after I reached Kathmandu safe and sound .After exiting China and entering Nepal

We had our lunch at Syabrubesi in one of the Homestays and then proceeded to an open field supposed to be the helipad.

The helicopter soon flew in …and the 6 in my group got in to leave for Kathmandu…it was my first ever flight in an helicopter…I enjoyed it thoroughly and we reached Kathmandu airport in a matter of 40 minutes…the same journey which was so nail biting on road when we were traveling from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi for close to eleven hours.After getting airlifted at Syabrubesi and a safe landing at Kathmandu airport

Kailash journeys had sent us a vehicle to pick us up from the airport and reach our hotel Le Himalaya .

As I entered that hotel lobby,I was in wi-fi range and immediately decided to call Suhrud.When I just opened watsapp there were close to 70 messages and calls from my husband as he had got the news of us being stranded between Saga and Kyrong the previous day and also about the landslide between Syabrubesi and Kathmandu….all thanks to the news channels who exaggerate every bit of news to no limit.

I video called him just to show him that I have reached safe grounds and back in Kathmandu. He was so relieved to see me and said there were panic calls about my safety from so many relatives and friends.

I told him ,news gets hyped to a major extent and getting stranded at any point during the Kailash Yatra is pretty much normal as the overland route is still not fully ready and there is work going on for its betterment.

We all checked into our rooms and decided to meet up in the evening for a small celebration and shopping in Thamel market to carry back souvenirs and gifts for our loved ones .

Day 13

I still had a buffer day in a Kathmandu.Shaila ,Basavraj and Raj uncle decided to go for some sightseeing but I decided to just rest and chill in the hotel and go for some local shopping. Usha Amma left early in the morning,I helped her to get some packed breakfast from the hotel restaurant and went to see her off at the lobby where the vehicle to drop her to the airport was arranged.

Needless to say ,we had an emotional parting as we shared a mother- daughter bond in those 15 days and she said..LORD SHIVA HAS CUSTOMISED A DAUGHTER FOR ME WHOM I WAS DESTINED TO MEET IN THIS YATRA…I too had tears in my eyes…

Everyone in the group started leaving as per their return flight schedules…Kumar anna,Vimla and me were the ones who left only the next day.Each and every parting was emotional and full of promises to stay in touch .Indeed ,it’s miraculous to see how every one from different places,different backgrounds,different age groups…all bound together because of HIM !!

Day 14

My flight from Kathmandu to Delhi was at 12.45pm and as I reached the Kathmandu airport,there was a delay of my flight by almost 3 hours .i reached DELHI by 6 pm and my flight from DELHI to Pune was scheduled at 9.30 pm.

That was the last leg of my entire Yatra and once in DELHI,I was in full connectivity on mobile .It is always a relief to be back in ones own country.

My flight to Pune was on time and now I was filled with excitement to be back home amongst the people who matter the most.

I landed in Pune airport at 11.15 pm,picked up my luggage from the conveyor belt and rushed to the exit.

I saw my lifelines standing at the exit of the airport…Ashna and Akash came running to hug me,Suhrud gave a bouquet of red roses and I could sense how much we all had missed each other…I WAS FINALLY BACK HOME .

What a Yatra it was …my life can now only be divided into two parts— Me before the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and Me after the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.

It was a total mind bath,a learning experience in every way.

2018 will always be that special year in my life when HE gave me the chance to fulfill my purpose.I will always thank Lord Shiva for giving me this life in which I could experience this magic.

I stood in front of DAD’s framed photograph on reaching home and I felt him smiling back at me with pride and satiety.