Manimahesh Darshan Yatra - Our Manimahesk Kailash Darshan Experience

Manimahesh or Manimahesh Kailash is one of the 5 Kailash or Kailasa. Kailash is said to be the abode of Lord Shiva. Manimahesh Kailash is also known as Chamba Kailash. Here is the list of all 5 Kailasa (where lord Shiva lives)

1. Kailash Mansarovar
2. Manimahesh Kailash
3. Adi Kailash
4. ShriKhand Kailash
5. Kinner Kailash

I've posted once about Manimahesh Kailash and I plan to post about other 4 abodes of Lord Shiva in future. Last month we planned for Mani Mahesh Yatra and when we checked the yatra schedule there were still one week lest, so we planned immediately and researched online for all the information we can get about the Yatra and this was goind to be first time experience of the Yatra. I even called my friends Govind Chuhan and Rajinder Chauhan who are from Bharmour, Chamba and are the local who trek to Mani Mahesh often. Manimahesh peak is around 26 kilometres from Bharmour.

After taking guidance from friends and the research, we did the necessary shopping. Here is the list of some important items that you must take with you:

• Rain coat
• light woollen cloth like Jacket, woollen socks, cap, gloves etc. You might not need those during the trek but if staying in the way or at Manimahesh lake you'd need those as its cold there and weather keeps changing. Till Bharmour or even Hadsar weather would almost be same as  in the summers or monsoon in any place in India
• Necessary medicines
• Mushaki Kapoor: Keeps some packets of mushaki kapoor in you packets. These are helpful when you might have some problems in breathing. Just open the packet wrap the tablet  in a cloth like handkerchief and take it close to your nose and you'll feel relaxed breathing. Also keep some medication with you if you;ve breathing issues like Bioline, Asthaline etc as recommended by your physician.
• Water bottle: No shortage of water is there just carry a bottle in case you don't mind drinking water from springs or rivers. Also mineral water is available in the way in the tent shop set up by the locals. Though they would cost little above the MRP but it is justified by the hard conditions. No need to worry about food, there are lots of free langar seva in the way till the Manimaesh lake
• Glucose, candies
• Camera - You don't really want to miss to catch the picturesque beauty of this place in your camera.

We even purchased some apples and cucumbers from the locals and Bharmour and trust me those were the juiciest and tastiest fruits I ever had. These fruits energised us on the way.

Now let me tell you about the Manimaesh Kailash Darshan Yarta.

One you've packed your baggage you need to reach Chamba in Himachal Pradesh. Chamba is well connected by Bus route. Nearest railway station in Pathankot which is about 100 km from Chamba. You can take a taxi or bus to reach Chamba.

At Chamba you can visit the Laxmi Narayan temple and famous Chamba Chaugan. Its believed that Lord Shiva stayed at Chaugan some times, before he created Mani Mahesh Kailash to say after his Marriage with Goddess Parvati.

From Chamba you need to reach Bharmour and once again you can take a taxi or bus service to reach Bharmour. It can take from 2- 3 hours to reach Bharmour. Once you reach Bharmour you need to visit Bharmani Mata temple and Chaurasi Temple. MAniMashesh kailash yarta is considered successful only if you visit and seek blessings of Bharmani mata.  Bharmani Matatemple is located at a beautiful place at some height and this place is like the one you have seen in movies. Very picturesque place. There you can take a dip in the lake and then proceed to Chaurasi temple.

At Chuarasi temple (84 temples) you'll find a festival environment. There are various temples like the temple of Lord Shiva,  Nandi Ji, Lakshna Mata, Old Bharmani Mata place, Lord Ganesha, Lord Narsingha, Chitragupta, Dharamraj and the 2 and half steps. Please note that the Dharamraj temple and the Chitragupta temple can be found at Chaurasi only, there is no other temple of both in the world.  Please note that Bharmour is somewhere located very near to Swarg (Heaven), the 2 and half stepa OR dhai paudi, temple of Dharam Raj and Chitragupta are some signals that this place is near to the actual Swarglok. 

From Bharmour, after seeking the blessings of Bharmani Mata, Lord Shiva and Chaurasi temple lords, you need to reach Hadsar, which is again reachable by bus or taxi (many pilgrimage cover this part of journey by foot as well).  From Hadsar the remaining journey of around 13 km is by trek or you can take a pony (horse ride).  Coolie facilities are also available. We decided to trek but we hired a coolie named Lal Singh to carry our luggage.

Please be assured that you get a lathi (stick) as is makes the journey and trekking easier. The path is well maintained and marked, you'll see pilgrimages chanting Jai Shankar, Bhole Shankar and Bhum Bhole etc.

Alongside the path you'll find langar sewa (free food service) by various organisations. Local shopkeepers have also set up tent shops in the way. So you can purchase cold drinks, fruits, tea, water etc. I very much appreciate both the langar seva and local shopkeepers without whom the journey would be very difficult. Thanks to them for providing the night shelter, food and eateries etc. God bless them.

A majority of the journey is along side a small river called Manimahesh Ganga that originates from Manimahesh lake. We make our first night stoppage at Dhancho which is around 6 kilometres from Hadsar. We had the dinner, stayed in the tent shelter.  Since sunsets earlier, we had a god sleep and decided to start our journey early in the morning.

At Dhancho you can find a beautiful waterfall. Its said the Lord Shiva hid here when Bhasmashura was chasing them. Some people also believe that this waterfall is the gateway to the Vaikuthna (abode of Lord Vishnu).  From Dhancho the trekking gets little hard as height increases. There are two routed from Dhancho, one is traditional old route via Bandar Ghati which is a tough to trek. The route is relatively easier and our coolie cum guide recommended to take the easier route.

After a trek of 2-3 kilometres you'll find a place called Shivji ka Gharat (water mill of Lord Shiva). This is a rock where you can hear the voice of water flowing with voice that comes from the water mill (Gharat). Many pilgrimage offer grains here as well.

Going further next major stop is Sundrasi, from Sundrasi there are two routed one by Bharon Ghati and other through the glaciers. One through the glacier is easier one and majority of the pilgrims follow this route. While you take this route make sure not to keep going and not stop for longer duration as oxygen level is less here.

Its from there that you can first get the view of Gauri Kund.  At Gauri Kund only women are permitted to take bath not males. From Gauri Kund the Manimahesh lake is around 1.5 kilometres. We reached at ManiMahesh lake in the evening and first view of the pavitra lake left us speechless. It was a great feeling. Though we're disappointed as the Kailash parvat was hidden behind the clouds. There we booked a tent for overnight stay, changes our clothes etc and they got wet due to rain. Thereafter we spend some time in the shelter of a babaji and warmed our bodies with the wood fire. We spend some 1 hour there and far a moment we get a first look of a small portion of the Manimahesh Kailash.

We wake up early in the morning and many people were already chanting mantras of lord Shiva from aroud 3:30 am. We had a great experience to experience of Kailash Darshan in the early morning. The Darshan of ManiMahesh lake are for moments and cloud keep covering and uncovering the Kailash peak. You can take a dip in the lake offer the prayers and complete the parikrama of the lake.

Kailash Darshan at Manimahesh and the complete Manimahesh Yatra is no doubt one of the best experience of my life. There you forget everything. Its something hard to explain but to cherish forever.

I'm posting some pictures of our Manimahesh Yatra, hope you'll like the pictures. Please feel free to share this posts, add comments etc.  In case you've any questions please feel free to posts your questions and we'll be more than happy to assist in any way we can. Kindly send your questions to info@indiatemples.co.in or visit our site.