Mount Kailash is an embodiment of faith, spirituality, and hope. It is in the Earth's center, spreading light and wisdom everywhere. Shaped similarly to an Egyptian pyramid, Mount Kailash is not just a mere huge black stone, it is a sacred mountain in Tibet with great spiritual significance. 

The great Kailash has a considerable fondness for the number ‘4’, as Mount Kailash is home to four great religions of this world— Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, and Bon. The four Mount Kailash rivers- Sutlej, Brahmaputra, Karnali, and Indus originate from four different directions of the Kailash Parvat, dividing the world into four parts. In addition to this, Kailash Mansarovar is also famed for its four eminent faces; there is a mystery associated with the appearance of Mount Kailash. Perhaps people have been discussing Shiva’s face on Kailash for quite a long time.

It is widely held that Mount Kailash is the Axis Mundi of the earth, and each of its faces is ideally facing one of the directions completely on the axis. The pilgrims can observe its four faces at the time of the Parikrama (Kora) of Kailash Parvat. According to an epic in the Vishnu Purana, each face of Mount Kailash is made up of different Jewels, and each one depicts four different emotions. Also, there are several mysteries related to the Mount Kailash Shiva face.

If you like to venture into the untold secrets and facts about different holy destinations of India, this blog is an ideal pick for you. Read on to learn the facts about Mount Kailash.

South Face Of Mount Kailash

The South face of Mount Kailash is the backside of this gigantic mountain, on which a spine-like long line passes from the top to the base. According to the Hindu Pilgrims, this long line is considered the spine of Lord Shiva or the third eye of Lord Shiva or Ashtapad (in Jainism). Rakshastal is the point where we get the first glimpse of the holy South face of Mount Kailash. 

After Rakshastal, when we head towards Mansarovar Lake, the South face of Mount Kailash can be spotted right in front of the lake. Yam Dwar is the starting point of Mount Kailash Parikrama. According to Vishnu Dharmottara Puran, Lord Shiva is five-faced, out of which 4 faces are gentle, and the fifth face, which is the South face, is considerably dangerous, and death trembles by looking at Shiva’s face. It is believed that, by worshipping this face of Mount Kailash, one gets protection from untimely death. 

The first day of Kailash Parvat Parikrama is the most auspicious one as Mount Kailash is visible throughout the day. We move from the Mount Kailash South face to the West face of Mount Kailash followed by the North Face of Mount Kailash. The South Face of Mount Kailash is believed to be made up of Lapis Lazuli, and the snow-covered face reflects majesty and splendour.

West Face Of Mount Kailash

On the first day of 10 km (approx.), Mount Kailash Parikrama starts from Yamdwar, where the South face of the Kailash is visible, and we trek towards Dirapuk, where the North face of Mount Kailash is visible. River Karnali flows beside the parikrama route on the first da, from where you can drink the holy, crystal-clear water. As we trek for about 2 to 3 hours and cover a midway distance, the South Face of Mount Kailash turns to the West face of Mount Kailash, and as we move further, the West Face of Mount Kailash is replaced by the North Face of Mount Kailash. It is said that if you meticulously observe this face of the mountain,n you can spot a massive human-like face on its surface. The Bhole Bhakts believe it to be the face of Lord Shiva. The West Face of Mount Kailash is believed to be made up of Ruby. It embraces the aura of compassion and benevolence. 

The Mount Kailash satellite images by NASA have captured all the sides and four faces of Mount Kailash. The images captured and circulated on social media have thrilled netizens as they showcase the shadowy appearance of Shiva on Kailash. 

North Face of Mount Kailash

The North Face of Mount Kailash is the most popular one. The most featured photos of Mount Kailash that are widely seen on websites, magazines, newspapers, etc, are of Mount Kailash's North face. The North Face is visible as you hike to reach Dirapuk on the first day of Mount Kailash Parikrama. When going for Charansparsh, you can get even closer to the North Face. This is one of the most surreal sights of Kailash Mountain as the North Face of Mount Kailash is visible between the two mountains. 

Surprisingly, many tourists have realized the presence of Shiva on Kailash. When the sun's rays fall on the face of Mount Kailash, it shines like gold, hence giving Mt. Kailash the name ‘Golden Kailash’. Similarly, when the moonlight falls on the North face of Kailash Parvat, it’s named ‘Silver Kailash.’ Needless to say, there is a major spiritual significance of Mount Kailash, as it holds deep faith in Lord Shiva’s devotees from around the world.  

East Face Of Mount Kailash

The eastern face of Kailash can be spotted only at a distance and is visible when going for the Inner Parikrama of Mount Kailash. You can also get a glimpse of the eastern face on the second day of the other Parikrama of Mount Kailash when we start from Dirapuk and reach Dolma La Pass- the highest point of Kailash Parikrama and descend towards Gauri Kund. After this point, the view of the eastern face of Mount Kailash starts diminishing and hides behind other mountain peaks. The eastern face of Mount Kailash is believed to be made of crystal and is the most mysterious face of Mount Kailash.

The story that connects Gauri Kund at the East face of Mount Kailash with Hinduism is- the place where Lord Ganesha’s human face fell after receiving a fierce punishment from his father ‘Lord Shiva’, the reason being the little, mighty Ganesha disagreed with letting his father meet Maa Parvati, his mother/the consort to Lord Shiva. You get a chance to explore Dolma La Pass and then Gauri Kund during Parikrama. 

To experience the beauty of these four faces of Mount Kailash, promise yourself the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra at least once in a lifetime. Or you can also fly over the mesmerizing views of Mount Kailash with our special Kailash Mansarovar Aerial Darshan.  

If this blog fascinates you to go for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra from India, reach out to our experts to get the best travel solutions for your Kailash pilgrimage tour package.  Give us a call at +91-8510007751 or write to info@triptotemples.com for a query resolution.