While night travel can be adventurous, it can be a bit risky too. Exploring and travelling after sunset in hilly areas can land you in trouble. This line of thought strikes a chord with the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. Mount Kailash is situated at a height of 6628m on the Tibetan plateau. The region surrounding the yatra is remote with a rocky landscape. 

Well, the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra trek is challenging as compared to other treks. The yatra is a multi-day and long-distance trek. Whether you choose to go via a travel agency or the Ministry Of External Affairs route, little to no travel is recommended during the night. Travelling during the night at Kailash Mansarovar can be treacherous, travel experts weigh in. 

Top 3 Reasons To Avoid Night Travel During Kailash Mansarovar Yatra

Several travellers usually anticipate that night travel is also a part of the yatra. However, that’s not true. Watch out for the key concerns of doing the Kailash Parikrama at night. 

• Rocky And High-Altitude Terrain: 

Kailash Mansarovar Yatra involves a long-distance multi-day treks. The route of trekking is rugged and the surroundings are usually rocky. Travelling at night could be precarious as the regions surrounding Kailash Mansarovar have quite craggy trails. Also, it’s a high-altitude region and one may experience altitude sickness at night. Therefore, it’s recommended to avoid night travel for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. 

• The Weather: 

The temperatures usually drop at night and it can be freezing at night. However, during the daylight, the weather usually remains pleasant. Since the temperatures remain relatively colder at night, it is advisable to avoid Kailash Parvat night circumambulation or trekking at night. 

• A Good Night's Sleep 

Trekking for several days will make you tired, and travellers can relax and rest only at night. A good night’s sleep is very important to overcome travel fatigue. The body needs a good amount of rest after long-distance trekking. Therefore, travellers should avoid travelling or trekking at night.

The Kailash Yatra Parikrama

Mount Kailash Parikrama is a 40 km parikrama. It usually takes 2.5-3 days to complete the parikrama. The parikrama can be done on foot or a pony. The starting point of the Kailash Parvat Parikrama Night Trek is Yamdwar. From Yamdwar, you can get the darshan of Nandi Parvat and Kailash Parvat. 

Day 1: You will travel 10 km from Yamdwar to Dhirapuk. The best view of Mount Kailash is visible from the Dhirapuk. The Kailash appears to be Golden in the morning due to the sunbeams hitting the mountain. 
Day 2: On the 2nd day of the yatra, you will go for a 22 Km trek from Dhirpuk To Zuthulphuk. The overall journey can be divided into 6 km uphill, 6 km downhill, and 10 km of flat terrain alongside the Karnali River.  
Day 3: On the last day, you will cover only 8 km in about 2-3 hours. It is a plain terrain that gets covered in 2 to 3 hours and with this, the Kailash Parikrama will be completed.

Expert Advice On Kailash Parikrama At Night 

A key question that’s frequently put up by the yatris is whether they can do the circumambulation (parikrama) at night. Well, travel experts usually do not recommend the parikrama to be done at night. The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is a high-altitude yatra and the oxygen level remains low. Therefore, doing the Kailash Parvat parikrama on hilly terrains can turn out to be a perilous journey and may even cause health issues. Trekking during the night can make the body restless or may even cause fatigue. The body needs an adequate amount of rest at night after trekking during the daytime. Circumambulating during the daytime allows you to experience a spiritual retreat under the sunbeam. Travel experts usually advise avoiding night travel due to the potential health risks involved during the travel. 

Get in touch with our team for more travel recommendations and expert advice on Kailash Mansarovar Yatra packages.