Part 5 - Shigatse - Saga - Manasarovar Lake - Mt Kailash

Part 5 - Shigatse - Saga - Manasarovar Lake - Mt Kailash                                                                                                                                                

For the next 1200km there are few cultural attractions to be visited, but a breathtaking scenery to be enjoyed (breathtaking due to beauty and thin air).
After a full day’s journey we will arrive at Saga, on the following day at Manasarovar Lake and at Darchen, the small city at the foot of Mt Kailash. 

Phurbu and Loh, our reliable driver. We stop again before the next checkpoint.

There is a speed limit of 60 km/h on this wonderful and straight road. At the previous checkpoint the police recorded the departure time and the upcoming checkpoint will check the average speed we drove. As few drivers are willing to drive so slowly, they are forced to wait until the clock has caught up with the allowed arrival time - time to relax, take photos, smoke a cigarette ... 

Again driving along Yalung Tsangpo / Brahmaputra




Drampagyang Dzong, an ancient fort


5000 km from Shangai, 2000 km from Kashgar


He has come up from Shanghai on this light motorbike!


Waiting before the Kaga checkpoint


Lunch time in Kaga






Ascending Ka-la Pass, 5000m








View of the mountain range close to the Nepali border. To the very left Mt Xixiabangma (Shisha Pangma), the lowest 8000-metre peak (8013m)




Waiting before the last checkpoint today (Saga)


Our hotel in Saga


The hotel's watchful Lhasa Apso on duty ...


The hotel's Tibetan style restaurant


On the next day from Saga to Manasarovar lake and Darchen,t he start of the Kailash kora - again with perfect weather and stunning scenery ...










View of Nepali/Tibetan Mustang Himal range (6000m)




Another checkpoint ...


... but with the most beautiful toilet in Tibet close by (well, beautiful on the outside)








Nepali/Tibetan Gautam Himal range (6-7000m)


Nepali/Tibetan Kanti Himal range (6-7000m). To the left the tent and lorry of a nomadic family.


Mayum-la pass (5200m)


The first view of the sacred Mount Kailash, 6638m, eastern and southern faces


Barga at Lake Manasarovar


Late lunch




The holy lake Manasarovar with Mt Gurla Mandhata, 7694m




Lake Manasarovar lies at 4,582m above sea level, a relatively high elevation for a large freshwater lake on the mostly saline lake-studded Tibetan Plateau. The lake has important significance for Buddhists, Hindus, Böns and Jains, attracting many pilgrims from Tibet and India every year.  





Mt Kailash, South face


Darchen tourist centre (4680m)


Checkpoint, issuing permits for the kora


Our guesthouse, 'mountain' - yes, 'garden' - no ;)



Preparing for the 3-day Kora around Mt Kailash the next day.

All photos by the author, apart from those marked with 'www', which were taken from various internet sources.