This pilgrimage is for about 2 – 6 days.

If you are coming here from srinagar then take the state highway all the way to chandanwari going via anantnag and paghalgam. You can even make a trip to amarnath from the Jammu nh1 A to khanabal through udhampur.

With the beautiful culture here in India, as Kashmir struggles for its survival, all these are part of the great amarnath yatra.  The usually regular pilgrims who come through this route pass through enchanting places. Going upward to meet the amazing greatness and glory of their god.

According to legends, on a pilgrimage, the person perceives with a mind the image of lord Shiva and his eternal splendor.

Hence Shiva is known as the deathless lord and the absolute power of the universe.

Even though there may not the best the amenities, the trek is still amazing with fourteen thousand feet that has to be reached to go to the ice lingam.

According to geographic studies this is a stalagmite which is an ice formation going upwards from the ground.

Here you will also find the swayambu lingam. This is a sight that never fails to move, and touch the lives of the pilgrims who come here.

Around the lingam, there are many stories attached of priests, monks, pilgrims, security personal, pony men, travel agents, shop keeps and devotees.

Later on at this point, every yatri gives testimonial on how this yatra has affected their; lives and a brief about what they presently feel.

There is a strong connection between the Himalayan peaks and the lord Shiva; kailash describes the Himalayas as the laughter of Shiva.

When you are inside the amarnath cave, a pure ice mound is formed where water trickles down drop by drop in a slow uniform rhythm from the top till down.

The source of this water is said to be the holiest of holies, the ramekin lake. This lake is situated right above the cave.  This mound on its formation looks like a lingam. This lingam rises to its full height on a full moon.  According to the local monks, the shiv ling is responsible for how the phases of the moon changes.

During the month of shravan which is around august it is most auspicious to for this pilgrimage during this time.

It is believed that it was this place where Shiva narrated the entire amar kasha, which is the story of immortality. His narration was the parvathi. Who was his then consort.

This is s sight that has been an inspiration to many artists and filmmakers, photographers and painters.

There are pilgrimages which go all the way to sarvovar, crossing many different landscapes. This terrain can sometimes be inhospitable. Make sure you have the right kind of equipment and training which you could get from the local trainers and touring agents.  For the trek you have to be physically fit, if you have injuries or a weak heart then coming to this part of the mountain should be avoided.   Check the weather listings and ask around at the authorities if there are any upcoming storms in the region.

If you complete the yatras, it is believed that after crossing these parikramas, you will be filled with a strong spiritual peace for the rest of your life.

Even people who just go here casually feel like the have experienced something magical and life changing. A lot of unexplainable and extra ordinary occurrences have happened that makes these people feel like they feel spiritually elevated, calm and in control of everything around them.

The feeling is according to them, quite empowering!!

Go join the fellow yatris and find out what preparations they are doing.  There is a general itinerary and the yatra is schedules for about eighteen days or sometimes even less.  The whole journey along with going up the mountain would take about twenty five days.

On the first and second day of the yatra:

The journey begins at Kathmandu. Takes about two days to get your visa formalities sorted out so if possible get it done proactively before the start of the journey. Then you purchase all the equipment and supplies that you would need.  There are tour operators who can arrange for trips to walk to many Hindu and Buddhist religious sites.

The swayambunath and the pashupatinath temples, the baudha stupa and the cities of patan and bhaktapur. There is also a hanuman dhoka palace of the Nepal royals.

One of the nicest things here are the many restaurants in the region with the speciality international cuisines.

Mount Ararat is a snow-capped, dormant volcanic cone in Turkey. It has two peaks: Greater Ararat (the tallest peak in Turkey, with an elevation of 5,137m/16,854ft) and Lesser Ararat (with an elevation of 3,896m/12,782ft).

Its summit is located 10 miles west of the Iranian and 20 miles south of the Armenian border. The Nakhchivan ex-clave of Azerbaijan is also in proximity to the mountain. The Ararat plain runs along its northwest to western side.

Mount Ararat in Judea-Christian tradition is associated with the “Mountains of Ararat” where according to the book of Genesis, Noah’s ark came to rest. It also plays a significant role in Armenian nationalism.

The Bible says that Noah’s ark landed on the Mountains of Ararat. This does not refer to any specific mountain or peak, but rather a mountain range within the region of Ararat. which was the name of an ancient Proto-Armenian kingdom also known as Urartu.

A wealth of experts have come to visit the region and have found out many similarities between Noah’s Ark and what they found here :

• The structure is exactly the length as noted in biblical description, 515 feet or 300 Egyptian cubits.
• It contains petrified wood, as proven by lab analysis.
• Contains high-tech metal alloy fittings, i.e aluminum metal and titanium metal was found in the fittings which are MAN-MADE metals!
• Vertical rib timbers on its sides, comprising the skeletal superstructure of a boat.Regular patterns of horizontal and vertical deck support beams are also seen on the deck of the ark.
• Huge anchor stones were found near the ark and in the village Kazan, 15 miles away, which hung off the rear of the ark to steady its ride.

The area was first designated as a National Park, and then it was upgraded to the status of a National Treasure. The government has built a visitors’ center overlooking the site and issued official tourist brochures so people of all races can come and see the ark!

So let go of all your worldly worries and travel to Mt. Ararat, where its soothing and peaceful. If you would like to, then get your family along as well. With wonderful sightseeing in turkey, the sacred Ararat is worth a visit !!

Its fame is spread far and wide such that it was judge against Mount Fuji of Japan on the basis of its permanent magnificence and holy significance. Worshipped by the Native Americans living in the area, the mountain is believed to be the hub of creation from which other creatures on the planet came into existence. Besides this ancient identity, it has also obtained the followers of the New Age according to whom the mountain is a centre of magical power.

Ancient Significance

Inhabited at least from 2500 B.C, Mount Shasta was a protective frontier for four Native American folks – the Shasta, Modoc, Ajumawi/Atsuwegi, and Wintu. For them, it was the mountain that was first created by the Great Spirit by letting down ice and snow from a hole located in the heaven. He used the mountain to step on the planet and subsequently created trees, streams by asking the sun to melt the ice, birds by breathing on the leaves, fishes by breaking and throwing small twigs into streams, and animals by throwing branches.

The Great Spirit lived on the mountain itself from where once his daughter fell and was brought up by the bears. Then, she married to one of their tribe and first humans were born. As a punishment, the Great Spirit slammed the bear so that he could not walk on four legs and sprinkled the children across the globe.

Even today, the descendents carry out ancient rituals among which the Wintus call the spirit through ritual dances to ensure permanent run of the sacred springs.

New Age Beliefs

Mount Shasta is now regarded as a holy centre of harmony and peace. By some of the groups, it is said to have been a UFO landing spot, a centre of magic crystals, and one of the Seven Holy Mountains of the Planet. In the 20th century, the Rosicrucians proclaimed it to be the abode of the Lemurians who are spiritually uplifted humans such that they can alter themselves into anything. Detailed as tall and graceful with bigger heads and larger foreheads, Lemurians were the original inhabitants of Lemuria, a hypothetically lost continent off the Pacific coast due to volcanic explosion.

In 1930, Guy Ballard shared that he greeted the Ascended Master St. Germaine on Mount Shasta’s slopes, a group of people who are spiritually advanced.

Activities

• Trekking:
  A highway is used to climb the Mt. Shasta’s slopes and only half of the aspirants reach the peak. The trekking provides some spectacular views along with the four waterfalls namely, Whitney, Coquette, Mud Creek and Ash Creek. The Mount Shasta Ski Park has 1,400 vertical feet of descent that is experienced by chair lifts.
• Mount Shasta City:
  Located at 3,500 feet, this is the head office of New Age religious movements. There are many study centers where you can discover mystical teachings about the mountain along with bountiful shops of crystals and other New Age items.

Noteworthy remains of an early church and its stunning Byzantine mosaics have been found during the excavations by the Franciscans. On this dug site, a plain, but contemporary shield is built in honor of Moses. In 2000, Pope John Paul II came on his pilgrimage here and planted an olive tree as a sign of peace besides the Byzantine chapel.

Mount Nebo Attractions

• Modern Sculpture:
  Made by an Italian artist on the summit’s base, this symbolizes the staff of Moses and words of Jesus in John 3: “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up.”
• Memorial Church of Moses:
  This is the modern baptist church edifice holding the excavated triple-apse Byzantine basilica and ancient mosaic floors.
• Old Baptistery:
  Located within the church’s entrance to the left, this possesses one of the most charming ancient mosaics in the nation. According to the Greek inscription, the baptistery and the mosaic were built in August 531 A.D. by three workers during the reign of the bishop, Elias. The mosaic is still in a clean state due to it being piled by another one on it, now hanging on a wall. The underlying mosaic is a big square split into four scenic strips of men and animals. The upper two parts show severe hunting scenes where a shepherd is chasing a lion, a soldier doing so for a lioness, and two horseback hunters conquering a bear and wild boar. The lower parts depict rural scenes – a shepherd observing a goat and sheep in the tree’s shade, an ostrich held by a dark looking man, a boy with the leashes of a zebra, and an animal appearing like a camel but planned to be a giraffe.
• Other Mosaics:
  These can be seen on the side ways of the church among which the most ancient one is a braided cross on the wall at south. You can also see the mosaics of animals belonging to the Church of George in Mukhayyat out of which one is the most primitive exhibit of the Arabic writing in Jordan since 536 A.D.
• New Baptistery:
  Located in the right corner of the church, this was built in 597 A.D. and was once a funerary chapel. Herein, you will come across a small mosaic originally having the greeting as Peace to all. Besides this edifice, a nice mosaic cross is seen on the altar, which was originally in the 4th century church here. Be delighted to view the photo of the Pope praying at the altar.
• Theotokos Chapel:
  Located at the exit door, this is the 7th century edifice built on the site of the three rooms of the monastery. Here, a mosaic of a square shape is seen that might have been a ciborium (vessel for the Eucharist) along with bulls and gazelles. The floor is covered with the mosaics of plants and flowers.

Timings are Apr-Oct

Daily 5 am – 7 pm and Nov-Mar: daily 7 am – 5 pm with cost of ½ JD.

Clearly visible from Tokyo in the west and situated in the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, the mountain is enclosed by five lakes namely, Lake Kawaguchiko, Lake Yamanakako, Lake Saiko, Lake Motosuko, and Lake Shojiko. As compared to other holy mountains, a hike to Mount Fuji is not considered impious. In fact, thousands of pilgrims and visitors trek to the pinnacle even at night to see the magnificent sunrise and natural views. Mount Fuji has a nickname Konohana-Sakuahime, which means “causing the bloom to flower brightly,” due to the pink cherry buds surrounding the snow-clad mountain during spring.

Legend

According to the geologists, Mount Fuji was created 6,00,000 years ago, while the Buddhist tradition says that it emerged from the earth in 286 BC following an earthquake also forming the largest Lake Biwa.

For the Fujikos (a sect in Japan), the mountain is a holy form living with a soul. On the other hand, the Japanese Buddhists consider it a doorway to another world.

Mount Fuji Attractions

The mountain boasts several Shinto shrines, Buddhist temples, and torii gates. The only attraction here is its steep, 8 hours climb to its peak for rewarding views and temples making it a lifetime experience. The official trekking time is July and August when snow has melted.

To ease climbing and provide resting stations, Mount Fuji offers 10 stations out of which the first is at its base and the last is at the peak. At these stations, there are resting huts for the climbers with basic facilities. Until the 5th station at 1400 – 2400 m, paths are paved after which most began their ascend trip to the peak. Here, four 5th stations occupy the different sides of the mountain out of which Kawaguchiko facing Tokyo is well known. These are listed below.

• Kawaguchiko 5th Station (Yamanashi Prefecture):
  Located at 2300 m that is reached after 5-7 hours of ascent, this forms the famous base to the summit. The toll road taking you here is the Fuji Subaru Line taking 2300 Yen. To access the summit, the Yoshidaguchi Trail is taken up. Many mountain huts are found at the trail surrounding the 7th and 8th stations. An overnight stay is available here costing around 5000 Yen per person without meals and with two meals is 7000 Yen per person. Sunrise is seen on this side of the mountain. Note that there are different trails for ascent and descent.
• Subashiri 5th Station (Shizuoka Prefecture):
  Located at 2000 m and accessible after an ascent of 5-8 hours, this is where the Subashiri Trail starts that coincides with the Yoshidaguchi Trail at the 8th station.
• Gotemba 5th Station:
  Located at 1400 m that is reached after 7-10 hours of ascent, this offers the Gotemba Trail to reach the summit. Around the 7th and 8th station, you will find some four huts.
• Fujinomiya 5th Station:
  Located at 2400 m that is reached after 4-7 hours of ascent, this is the most nearby 5th station to the summit that offers the Fujinomiya Trail. This trail is packed with many huts and is easily reachable from the railway stations on the Tokaido Shinkansen Line between Tokyo and Osaka. The toll free road takes you to the Fujinomiya 5th Station.

Tip

Ensure you have proper hiking shoes, clothes, food, water, and flashlight. To overcome altitude sickness, climb slowly and take several breaks.

The holy Pura Besakih is the only temple that welcomes a Hindu of any class. Built in the 10th century, it is a complex holding 22 temples on corresponding edges. The three main temples are devoted to the trinity Hind Gods – Lord Shiva (Perpetuator of Truth), Brahma (Creator of Universe), and Vishnu (Perpetuator of Life). Around these, there are some 18 sanctuaries of different castes. Erected prior to 1000 AD and containing stepped terraces, the temple was once a terraced edifice committed to the dragon god Besakih who is thought to reside on the holy Mount Agung.

Legend

According to the legend, the active volcano, Mount Agung erupted in 1963 whose lava could not damage the Pura Besakih temple by flowing a little away, which is even today regarded as a mystical indication of the gods by the Balinese.

Been a state temple of the Geigel-Kiungkung dynasty in the 15th century, the temple even today is a state temple administered by the provincial and national governments.

Mount Agung Attractions

• Pura Panataran Agung:
  This is the main Meru structure that is reachable via the stairs rising through the divided gate to a myriad of courtyards and brick gateways. This way is along a single axis. This is the symbolic sanctuary where the central shrine is dedicated to the three Hindu Gods dressed up and adorned with flowers. The Pura Panataran Agung hosts white banners for Lord Shiva, Pura Kiduling Kreteg at its right holds red banners for Lord Brahma, and Pura Batu Mddeg at its left sways black banners for Lord Vishnu.
• Other Temples:
  You can just stroll around to see the wonderful carvings of these shrines, as the inner courtyards are not opened for visitors due to its strict reservation for worship. These temples extend on the mountain top very kindly for facilitating a nice walk. If a guide comes to you and guarantees you to take inside the temples, simply refuse as no guide have the authority to do so.
• Festivals:
  In a year, a minimum of 70 festivals are celebrated at the temple complex on Mount Agung. The temple’s anniversary considering all the shrines is celebrated each year according to the 210-day Balinese Wuku calendar system.
• Odalan:
  This is the festival marking the temple’s anniversary held every year during the tenth month of the Balinese calendar, which comes in April. This is the day where you are among the decorations and thousands of people colorfully dressed. This might make it a bit difficult for you to really enjoy roaming around the temple on this day.
• Spectacular Views:
  Hike to the temple point and roam around the temple end to have some breathtaking views of the sere Mount Agung from the top. Go ahead to the northeastern part for the best view.

TIP

Ensure that you have a sarong with you. Hire it or buy if you want visit the temples of Bali. The temple is opened daily from 8 am to 5 pm with admission fee of Rp 7500.

The name of the sacred mountain means “Delicate Eyebrow Mountain” that is given because of the two peaks facing each other appearing as delicate eyebrows. The mountain boasts more than 30 Buddhist temples out of which 10 are literally huge and adaptively ancient. The journey to this mountain in form of a 7 km memorable trek for a full day visit, but there are minibuses and cable cars for those running short of time.

Emei Shan Attractions

• Baoguo Monastery:
  Located at the base since the 16th century, this lamasery offers calm gardens holding rare foliage, a library of sutras, and a big Buddha of ceramic. Behind it, there is a hall with a stone staircase where you can spot the figures of the Eight Immortals, deceiving the Taoist sources of the temple.

• Crouching Tiger Monastery (Fuhu Si):
  Next in the line comes the largest temple of the mountain. Formerly linked with the Taoist martial-arts leader Zhang Sanfeng, now it is a place of Guanyin nunnery. What allures visitors here is the bronze Huayan Pagoda of 7 m height carved with 4700 Buddha images.
• The Qingyin Pavilion:
  Located at the base of the Niuxin Ridge, this is the home of many pavilions, towers, and podiums even from the early 6th century. Because of its site and running streams, it is also known as the Mountain Garden.
• Golden Summit (Jinding):
  After trekking for some hours or sitting in a cable car for some time, you reach this beautiful peak at the highest point. Here, visit the two temples namely, the welcoming Woyun Nunnery and big Huazang Si along with several locks carved with the names of the couples for marking everlasting love. The Huazang Si was discovered in the 1st century that was known as the Puguang Hall and later as the Guangxiang Temple. Even after its many restorations, the temple has retained its original look and feel.
• Four Wonders:
  On Jinding, explore the Buddha’s Halo that are surrounding rings looking like a rainbow moving along your shadow, the Sea of Clouds, the Holy Lamp (Celestial Lights), and the Golden Summit Sunrise.
• Wanfoding (Ten Thousand Buddha Summit):
  Take a monorail from the summit to reach here, which is the real pinnacle of the mountain.

On your way to the Emei Shan mountain on foot, you will find some friendly but pushy monkeys asking for food and snatching the bags. However, they are not harmful. If you do not want all this, then walk with a stick. Mt. Emei is at 130 km from the Shuangliu International Airport and 28 km from the city of Leshan.

Formed with a black rock, the balanced summit appears as a diamond-shaped structure with its four sheer fascias. What is to be noticed here is the manifestation of the ancient sign of good luck here known as swastika naturally formed on its south face where a vertical cut passes intersects its horizontal layers.

Legends

• Hindu Mythology:
  Lord Shiva, the Perpetuator of Truth, dwells at the pinnacle of the mountain named Kailash. Further, it is believed to be the Paradise and spiritual location on Earth. According to the Puranas (Hindu Holy Scriptures), the four faces of this legendary mountain are formed using crystal, ruby, gold, and lapis lazuli – it is the base of the world and is in the center area of six ranges representing a lotus from where four rivers flow to divide the world into four areas. Some beliefs tell that the mountain is Shiva’s linga.
• Tibetan Buddhism:
  Mount Kailash is the residence of the Buddha Demchok (known as Demchog or Chakrasamvara) who stands for the ultimate bliss. Further, it says that here Buddhism displaced Bön as the chief religion of the nation. Legend says that Milarepa, master of Tantric Buddhism, challenged Naro-Bonchung of the Bön community. When the battle did not do well, they agreed to reach the summit of Kailash for the victory. Naro-Bonchung was on his way using a magic drum, while Milarepa’s surprisingly was meditating instead of racing. When Naro-Bonchung was just about to reach, Milarepa rode on the sun rays magically to reach the top and won the contest, which marked the advent of Buddhism in Tibet.
• Jainism:
  Also known as Mount Ashtapada, it marks the site from where their first completely Enlightened Tirthankar (apostle) and founder of principles, Lord Rishabhadev, departed to Moksha after death liberating him completely from the cycles of rebirth.
• Bön:
  The mountain is the home of the sky goddess Sipaimen.

Pilgrimage

• Beliefs and Inspirations:
  Pilgrims believe that walking around the Mount Kailash known as Kailash Kora will free them for their sins and ensure good luck fortune. If walked for 108 times, it will bring them salvation from rebirths. Alternatively, a one walk around and a bathe in the Lake Mansarovar will also ensure salvation. Hindus and Buddhists do so in a clockwise direction, while the Jains and Bon go for counterclockwise.
• Climbing:
  It is not permitted to climb Mount Kailash. According to the legend, all those who have tried to climb have lost their lives and that only the Buddhist champion Milarepa in the 12th century could reach the peak.
• Trip:
  A typical trip takes three days, but some take the merit of completing in a single day in just 15 hours. Facing the rough landscape, high altitudes, and changing climate, the visitors and pilgrims need to be really healthy. A few facilities such as benches, resting places, and refreshment stalls can be seen aiding the pilgrims.
• Route:
  Most pilgrims start from the Darchen city to reach the Dirapuk Monastery on the first night, Zutrulpuk Monastery at the second night via Dolma La Pass, and finally coming back. If you find it difficult to go on foot, hire a yak or porter in Darchen for ¥100 per day.
• Tip:
  Do carry waterproof shoes, tents, and food.

It is surrounded by the small cities of Gotemba to the south, Fujiyoshida to the north and Fujinomiya to the southwest as well as by five lakes. The mountain is part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Given a clear weather, the mountain is visible from Yokohama, Tokyo, and sometimes even from Chiba, Saitama and Lake Hamana. The climate is very cold at the summit and is covered by snow for most part of the year.

Other facts about Mount Fuji:

These are some of the interesting facts about Mt Fuji

• The attractive volcanic cone of Mount Fuji is a popular subject of Japanese art. Hokusai’s 36 Views of Mount Fuji and One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji are some of the popular arts created on Mount Fuji.
• The mountain was believed to be sacred since ancient days and women were barred for women until the advent of the Meiji Era. The ancient samurai used the mountain base as a remote training area.
• Sir Rutherford Alcock was the first foreigner to have climbed the mountain in September 1860. He ascended Mt Fuji in eight hours.
• Lady Fanny Parkes, wife of former British ambassador Sir Harry Parkes, was the first non-Japanese woman to have scaled Mount Fuji in 1867.
• Populist educator Frederick Starr’s Chautauqua had made several ascents to Mount Fuji.
• There was a manned weather station atop Mount Fuji, which was closed down in 2004.
• In March 1966, Flight BOAC 911 had crashed near Mt Fuji killing all people on board.
• Thorough preparation is needed to mount Mt Fuji for one can encounter various kinds of physical difficulties.
• The volcano had last erupted in December 1707. Geologists predict that dormant volcanoes come alive after a span of 300 years. So climbers, keep watch.  Mt Fuji is due for its next show!

Reaching Mt Fuji:

By air:
Mt Fuji Shizuoka Airport is the nearest airport. Tokyo and Narita Airport in Chiba are also closely located.

By rail:
One can reach Fujiyoshida and Gotemba from Tokyo while visitors from western Japan can opt for Fujinomiya (Shin-Fuji).

By road:
The slopes of Mt. Fuji can be reached by Keio express bus that operates between Shinjuku in Tokyo.