Mount Kailash is a place where each rock is shrouded in legend and mystery. This precious gem of everlasting snow is either the centre of the world or the stairway to the heavens according to the Vedic literature. Not just Hinduism, where this place is considered to be the abode of the mighty destroyer of the earth ‘Shiva’ but Mount Kailash is the most sacred spot on Earth in many eastern countries and religions. In fact, some stories suggest that this is where ‘Sambhala’ the ancient city of gods can be found.
Mount Kailash is also an important repository of four mystical long rivers: the river Indus, the river Sutlej, the river Brahmaputra, and the river Karnali. Here are 7 surprising mysteries around Mount Kailash that still remain unsolved.
1. Nobody Has Been Able To Set a Foot On Kailash
This is one thing that has left even the greatest mountaineers of the world paranoid. While numerous people have trekked to the peak of the loftiest Everest that stands at 8,848 meters, Kailash that is 6,638 meters tall has no traces of being conquered. Experts have claimed that the peak changes its destination, blocking the track which misleads the climbers. Trekkers would move in the opposite direction all of a sudden or experience fatal weather conditions, which would force them to descend; many of whom never came back. Every attempt to reach the peak has been unsuccessful till date
2. The Mysterious Manasarovar and Rakshas Tal
Near to the Mount. Kailash lies two astonishing lakes — Manasarovar and Rakshas Tal. Although both these lakes lie adjacent to each other, Lake Manasarovar is a freshwater lake with magnificent swans that remains quite irrespective of the weather conditions whereas the salty Rakshas Tal stays constantly stormy and no animal can be seen around it. Not just this, the Rakshas Tal has a shape of a crescent moon representing the dark devil and the Mansarovar is round-shaped representing the sun.
3. Time Travels Faster Near the Kailash Mountain
It’s believed that the time and direction meet at the Kailash and that’s why the visitors experience time passing quickly. This is not just a thought, people who visit the Kailash experience a rapid growth of hair and nails in just 12 hours, which for average people, occurs in 2 weeks. That’s about 99 percent quicker than the average. Once a group of Siberian climbers crossed a certain point and immediately aged by a few decades. Shockingly, next year, all of the trespassers died naturally due to old age.
4. Kailash is Considered to be the Centre of the World
Many studies carried out by Russian and American scientists believe that the holy peak is the centre of the world and is called the Mundi axis. Isn’t it surprising that the Stonehenge is just about 6 6666 km away from Kailash Mountain, the north pole is also 6666 km away from here and the south pole is 13332 km away. In fact, Kailash is also reported to be connected to several other monuments around the globe. The same is found in the Hindu holy text called Vedas that regards Kailash as the cosmic axis.
5. Kailash is Sacred to All Religions
Hindus believe it to be the abode of great Lord Shiva. The Jains call it Astapada and believe it to be the liberation place of Rishaba, the first of the twenty-four Tirthankaras. Followers of Bon, Tibet’s pre-Buddhist, shamanistic religion believe it to be the seat of the Sky Goddess Sipaimen and call it mountain Tise. Tibetan Buddhists regard it as the dwelling place of Demchog and his consort, Dorje Phagmo, and call it mountain Kang Rimpoche.
Isn’t it surprising? Kailash is a heaven close to the earth for many. As much as it is beautiful, it is also mystical and we’ve shared some spooky facts to go with it. Share it with your friends and let us know that do you think in the comment section below!
