Nestled at a soaring elevation of 6638 m, Mount Kailash is an enigmatic mountain that has been shrouded in mystery for centuries. Several tourists and scientists have tried to unravel the Mount Kailash mystery. Did you know? Mount Kailash is an unclimbable mountain. The maximum altitude at which one can reach Mount Kailash is the Dolma La Pass which is approximately 18000 ft above sea level. Many travellers have questioned why is Mount Kailash unclimbable.

This snow-towering mountain is believed to be sacred in four religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Bon. As mentioned in Hindu scriptures, this mountain is known as the abode of Lord Shiva. Rishabhanatha—the first Tirthankar of Jains attained salvation at Mount Kailash. Many Buddhist saints also attained enlightenment after meditating here. In Buddhist cosmology, Mount Kailash is known as the ‘Center of the Universe’. It is a cosmic axis connecting Earth with heaven. 

Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is believed to be one of the holiest pilgrimages for Hindus. The devotees of Lord Shiva eagerly wait to visit Kailash Mansarovar for the darshan of the holy Kailash. 

Excited to know about the Kailash mountain facts? Let’s dig a little deep to demystify the secrets of this holy peak. While the mountain continues to be veiled in secrecy, we have pulled together a few points to help you unravel its mysteries and make your travel super-exciting!

Milarepa—The One Who Climbed Mount Kailash 

Has anyone ever climbed the holy mountain? This is the most frequently asked question by the tourists. Interestingly several people have tried to summit Mount Kailash but none of them have been successful except for Milarepa—a Tibetan sage and spiritual poet of the 11th Century. Keep reading to learn about Milarepa’s Kailash story. 

He is known for his preachings on Tibetan Buddhism. Milarepa is the only individual who has climbed the holy peak of Mount Kailash. He was also known as a murderer in his youth and before he began practicing Tibetan Buddhism. With his severe asceticism and renunciation of worldly things, he was able to reach the peaks of Mount Kailash. Milarepa’s Kailash connection was something unusual and many people tried to decode it. 

Many believe that Milarepa’s spiritual practices helped him climb the mountain. His return after climbing the mountain left people flabbergasted. According to a popular legend, Milrapa found secrets that the world should not know due to which he urged people not to climb this holy mountain. He said so because climbing the mountain could disturb the God resting there. Hindus equally believe Mount Kailash to be the abode of Lord Shiva (the God of destruction)  and that’s why no ordinary man can climb it. Since the mountain is considered sacred in four major religions—Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Bon, hence it can’t be climbed. In fact, Mount Kailash has a relatively lower peak than Mt. Everest but has remained unclimbed. 

Anybody who tried climbing this holy mountain either lost their life or never came back. Well, it’s astonishing that countless people have climbed the world’s tallest peak—Mt. Everest but Kailash is climbed only by Milrapa. People even today ask ‘Is Milarepa alive’? What did he feel after returning from Kailash? Another mysterious phenomenon that is commonly experienced by tourists is the unusual growth of hair and nails within a few days. 

Did Anyone Fail To Climb Mount Kailash? 

Many trekkers and mountaineers have tried hard to reach the peak of Mount Kailash. British climbers Hugh Ruttledge and RC Wilson tried to climb Mount Kailash. Ruttledge failed to climb the mountain as a sudden drop in the temperatures led to snow and mists covering the mountain. He was forced to return to the base. A similar kind of situation happened with RC Wilson and he too was unable to climb Mount Kailash. In 1980, the Chinese government asked Reinhold Messner—-the famous mountaineer who had made more than a hundred expeditions to mountains, to climb to this sacred peak. However, he changed his mind at the last moment and decided not to climb the mountain. Since then Government Of China has restricted Mount Kailash climbing. 

Another speculation was that the four scientists who tried to climb Mount Kailash died within two years. The Siberian mountaineers who tried to climb Mount Kailash started growing older too early. They experienced premature greying of hair. The Mount Kailash climbers grew older and died too soon. It is believed that time moves faster in Mount Kailash.

Herbert Tichy—an American journalist and climber asked the local people a question “Who can climb Mount Kailash? The regional leader of Tibet said “Only a man entirely free of sin could climb Kailash. And he wouldn't have to scale the sheer walls of ice to do it – he'd just turn himself into a bird and fly to the summit".

The Bottom Line 

The holy Kailash is an enigmatic mountain with an unclimbed status for centuries. Its uncanny vibe has made it quite popular. Its shape is like a man-made pyramid and even NASA has captured Lord Shiva’s face on Mount Kailash. The pictures taken by NASA  have been doing rounds on social media. The other-worldly and mystical aura of Mount Kailash has made it more surreal. If the mysteries of Mount Kailash fascinate you, keep reading our blogs!