Ngari Mount Kailash Tips: Best Time to Visit, General Numbers, Features, Transportation, Post Offices, Banks, Hospital and Preparation Tips – China Travel Agency, China Tours 2019

Mount Kailash Travel Tips

Mount Kailash travel tips provide some considerations when traveling at Mount Kailash, which can help you to prepare a trip.

General Numbers in Tibet

Fire: 119
Police: 110
Ambulance: 120
Weather Broadcast: 121
Area code of Ngari: 0897
Consumer Complaint: 12315
Local Phone Number Inquiries: 114
Tourist complaint Center: 0891-6833476
Long-distance Phone Number Inquiries: 113

Features of Mount Kailash

Religions

Mount Kailash is the holy mountain of many religions. Known as Giluosha Mountain(吉罗娑山) in Sanskrit, the northern foot of Mount Kailash is the birthplace of the Shiquan River, the upper reaches of the Indus River. It is said that Bonismo originated from the mountain, which Hinduism regards it as the residence of Shiva, and the center of the world; Jainism regards the mountain as the place where its ancestor enlightened, and Tibetan Buddhism regards it as the residence of Chakrasamvara(胜乐金刚), representing boundless happiness. There is a constant flow of believers from home and abroad doing Mount Kailash Kora all the year round.

Mount Kailash Kora

One of the most popular attractions of Mount Kailash is the 52-kilometer Kora route around the mountain. The route is popular among Tibetans and tourists, and it attracts tens of thousands of people to experience in Ngari of western Tibet. Meantime, the Kora route around Mount Kailash is also one of the most difficult routes in Tibet, which can take about three days to complete if you walk at a normal pace. However, some people in Tibet will complete this long kora route in a short day to gain more merit on their journey towards enlightenment.

There are actually two Kora routes around Mount Kailash, inner route and outer route. The outer route is a common route for tourists and pilgrims, because it surrounds the whole mountain in a large circle, beginning and ending in the village of Darchen. Although the outer kora route around the mountain has been a difficult road, the inner kora route is even more difficult to walk.

Best Time to Visit Mount Kailash

The best time is from April to October, especially April to June and September to October with more sunny days and warmer weather, while there is a rainy period in July and August. Even so, you should pay attention to the weather before you go and during your visit. Remember that do not expose your skin, or you'll be vulnerable to intense sun burns during the daytime.

Also, Don't miss the Saga Dawa Festival hold on April 15 in the Tibetan Calendar, which usually falls on May or June of Solar Calendar. It is one of the holiest festivals of Tibetan Buddhists. During the festival, Tibetans will gather together in this area of Mount Kailash to celebrate the most important annual festival there.

Transportation

Ngari Gunsa Airport is 4274 meters above sea level. If you don't have a plateau tourism experience, it is recommended that you do not fly to Ngari directly. For the first time, people who travel to Tibet are vulnerable to altitude sickness in such a high place. And railway and long-distance bus to Ngari are not available, so driving is the best choice to Mount Kailash, Ngari. Located in the west part of Tibet, in the Ngari Prefecture, it is a long journey to drive to Mount Kailash. Generally speaking, it takes at least 4 days departing from Lhasa to Mount Kailash in Ngari, and usually longer.

Preparation Tips

1. Bring multiple layers of long-sleeved, warm clothing with you so you will be prepared no matter the temperature. The temperature at night is much lower than it is during the day even during the summer, so some cold weather gears like hat, gloves, scarf and thick winter coat are needed.

2. Due to high altitude and strong solar radiation, you had better bring sunglasses, hat, sun cream and other sunscreen products with you to avoid any direct exposure to the sun.

3. Before you go to Lhasa in China, you need to arrange your travel with the travel agency and let them help you get related permits. For foreign tourists to Tibet, it is necessary to hold a Tibet Travel Permit issued by Tibet Tourism Bureau. This permit is applied by your travel agency. You need Tibet Travel Permit to board a flight or train, and it is always needed when you are travelling in Tibet. Foreigners can travel to the unopened areas in Tibet with a Alien's travel permit issued by the Local public security bureau. Another necessary permit is a border pass, which you need if you plan to go to any area near the Nepal border, such as Mount Everest and Mount Kailash, or to leave Tibet to enter Nepal. Finally, to enter Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar, visitors must also obtain military permit to travel to certain areas of the military exclusion zone in Ngari. It should be noted that only travel agency can apply the necessary permits for foreign tourists, and the Tibet Tourism Bureau does not accept individual applications for the Tibet Travel Permit.

4. You should bring much more things, including warm clothes (even in summer), tents, sleeping bags, waterproof mattresses, some high-calorie foods like chocolate, water, some medicines like cold medicines and Rhodiola, etc. Because accommodation conditions and food supplies at Mount Kailash are very limited.

5. Trekking at Mount Kailash is popular among tourists. What you should pack for circumambulating the Mount Kailash includes Quick-drying underwear and socks, Sweaters/pull-overs, Jackets, Fleece, Trekking Shoes, gloves, backpack, trekking poles, sleeping bags, Toiletries, medicines, moisture and sunscreen products, sunhat and sunglasses, high-calorie food, flashlight and rain gears, etc.

Post Offices

Mount Kailash is located in the north of Burang County, the southwest of Tibet. The postal code of Burang County is 859500. Here below are several post offices and expresses in Burang County.

1. China Post Office(Burang County Branch)中国邮政普兰县邮政局
Address: Provincial Road, Burang County, Ngari阿里地区普兰县207省道

2. China Post Office(Baga Township Branch)中国邮政普兰县巴嘎乡邮政局
Address: Baga Township, Burang County, Ngari阿里地区普兰县巴嘎乡
Tel: 13308975222/15348979988

3. Cainiao Yizhan菜鸟驿站
Address: Bilin North Road, Burang County, Ngari(Near People's Government of Burang County)阿里地区普兰县比林北路(普兰镇人民政府附近)
Tel: 4001787878