Overview
The world's sacred mountain, Kailash (6714 m), is situated in a remote region of West Tibet that is both high and isolated. Both Buddhists and Hindus travel there to perform pilgrimages. The other two are Ponri Ngaden and Lake Manasarover, and together they make up the group of three pilgrimage sites known as Kangri Tsosum. All are thought to have existed in the ancient Shangshung kingdom, which is where the pre-Buddhist cult Bonpos is regarded with having originated.
Their "soul mountain," also known as Yungdrung Gu Tse, is Mount Kailash (the Nine-Story Swastika Mountain). According to mythology, Tonpa Shenrab, the sect's renowned founder, fell from heaven to earth just here. According to Hinduism, the holy mountain is home to Lord Shiva, who is both the creator and destroyer of life. Mount Kailash, also known as Mt. Kailas, is a magnificent peak in western Tibet's Himalayan ranges. Its Tibetan names are Gang Tise or Gang Rinpoche and Gangdise Shan. Kailash is a sacred mountain for four religions: Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and followers of the native Tibetan religion of Bön. It is the source of some of the longest rivers in Asia. The most significant of the two holy lakes next to the mountain is Lake