KMY-2012: Guide in English

Kailash Manasarovar Yatra 2012 · 1

Information Guide for Yatris - 2012

KAILASH MANASAROVAR

YatraMinistry of External affairs

Government of india

INTRODUCTION 02 a) Eligibility 03 b) applying for the Yatra and selection Process 03 c) Confirmation of Participation by Yatris 05 d) important Documents 06 e) Fees and Expenditure 07 f) Preparations for the Yatra 09

LEGAL 10

STAY IN DELHI 12 a) Day-1: arrival of Yatris in Delhi and accommodation 13 • how to reach Gujarati samaj sadan 14 b) Day-2: Medical Check-up at Dhli and Chinese visa 15 • how to reach Delhi heart and lung institute 16 c) Day-3: Medical tests at itBP hospital 18 • how to reach itBP Base hospital 18 d) Day-4: Briefing session at MEa and indemnity Bond 19

ROUTE OF THE YATRA 22 a) Delhi to lipulekh Pass – table 23 b) route on Chinese side – table 24 c) return Journey – table 25

YATRA SCHEDULE 26 a) Day-1: Delhi to almora 27 b) Day-2: almora to Chaukori 27 c) Day-3: Chaukori to Dharchula 30 d) Day-4: Dharchula to sirkha 32 e) Day-5: sirkha to Gala 33 f) Day-6: Gala to Budhi 34 g) Day-7: Budhi to Gunji 36 h) Day-7 and 8: Gunji 37 i) Day-9: Gunji to navidhang 37 j) Day-10: navidhang to lipulekh 39 k) Day-10: lipulekh to taklakot 41 l) Days-10 and 11 taklakot 41 m) Days-12 to 19: Kailash-Manasarovar Parikramas 43 • Parikrama of Mount Kailash 44 • Parikrama of Manasarovar 48

CONTENTS

GEt rEaDY to sCalE nEw hEiGhts,

ExPlorE BEautY,

ExPEriEnCE sPiritualitY

anD DisCovEr YoursElF

as You rEDisCovEr sErEnitY

anD CoMPosurE.

INTRODUCTION

RETURN JOURNEY 50

LIAISON OFFICER 52

FACILITIES ON THE INDIAN SIDE 54

FACILITIES ON THE CHINESE SIDE 56

OTHER LOGISTICS 58 a) luggage 59 b) hiring Porters and animal transport 59 c) Food 60 d) Medical Facilities 60

HIGH ALTITUDE DISEASES 62 a) high altitude Diseases: signs, symptoms & Diagnosis 63 b) high altitude illness (hai) 63 c) acute Mountain sickness (aMs) 64 d) high altitude Cerebral Edema (haCE) 64 e) high altitude Pulmonary Edema (haPE) 65 f) retinal haemorrhages 66 g) oedema of Face and Peripheral oedema 66 h) Prevention of hai 66

COMMUNICATION FACILITIES 68

PHOTOGRAPHY 70

WEATHER 72

DO’S AND DON’TS FOR THE YATRIS 74 a) Do’s 75 b) Don’ts 77

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 78

ANNEXURES 91 a) annexure-a: Medical tests in Delhi 92 b) annexure-B: useful medicines that may be carried by the Yatris 93 c) annexure-C: Minimum required equipment for the Yatra 96 d) annexure-D: suggested ration scale for both the parikramas 98 e) annexure-E: Food items for consumption - Emergency rations 100

FORMS 101 a) Form-1: indemnity bond 102 b) Form-2: undertaking for Emergency helicopter Evacuation 107 c) Form-3: Consent Form to be filled by the Yatri 109 d) Form-4: Personal particulars of the Yatri 111 e) Form-5: Medical Check-up Form – Part-i & Part-ii 112

CONTACTS: List of Important Contacts 117

Kailash Manasarovar Yatra 2012 · 3 2 · Kailash Manasarovar Yatra 2012

INTRODUCTION

Known for its religious value, cultural significance, physical beauty

and exciting natural environment, Kailash Manasarovar Yatra

(KMY) is undertaken by thousands of people every year. holding

significance for the hindus as the abode of lord shiva, it holds

religious importance also for the Jains and the Buddhists.

lake Manasarovar lies at 4556 metres above sea level and is

the highest freshwater lake in the world. as per hindu theology,

drinking water from the lake cleanses all the sins of the past

hundred lives! however, whether it is the pristine beauty of the

region or its religious significance or the thrilling nature of the

trek through snow covered hilly terrains, challenging weather and

beautiful expanses, KMY is a much sought-after out of the world

experience.

the Ministry of External affairs organizes Kailash Manasarovar

Yatra every year from May to september. a maximum of 960

Yatris (including 16 liaison officers) can participate in the Yatra,

which is undertaken in 16 batches, each led by a liaison officer

who is appointed by the Ministry. the Kailash Manasarovar

Yatra advertisement is published in major national and regional

newspapers in January and February every year. the advertisements

are also placed in all india radio, Doordarshan and a few other tv

INTRODUCTION

channels. the advertisement in newspapers and website links therein

provide information about the eligibility criteria, arduous nature

of the Yatra, risk to person’s life, selection process, comprehensive

medical tests which are mandatory, amount of fees and other

expenditure on the Yatra, and the non-refundable component of

payments. Both the advertisement and the information Guide

for Yatris for the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra are posted on official

website of the Ministry.

Eligibility

an indian citizen, holding a valid indian passport and aged at least

18 years and below 70 years as on 01.01.2012, is eligible to apply for

the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra. those who hold foreign nationalities

are not eligible. Pio/oCi card holders are, thus, ineligible.

Applying for thE yAtrA And SElEction procESS

Eligible applicants can apply online at the Ministry of External

affairs website (http://mea.gov.in) till 05 March 2012. however,

the application will be accepted only after a print-out of the online

application and declaration duly filled in and signed by the applicant,

along with requisite enclosures, are received in the Ministry of

External affairs on or before 12 March 2012. applicants can also

download application forms and submit in person or by post. Duly

filled in and signed application Form – and (1) Declaration; (2)

4 · Kailash Manasarovar Yatra 2012 Kailash Manasarovar Yatra 2012 · 5

two photographs; (3) latest medical test results of tread Mill stress

test (tMt), Blood Pressure and Blood sugar levels for both Fasting

and non-Fasting conditions, conducted by competent medical

doctor(s) and/or health centre(s) of applicant’s choice; and (4)

indian passport photocopies of photo page, family details page and

address page – are required to be sent to the following address on

or before 12 March 2012: attaché (China), China registry (KMY),

room no.255-a, south Block, Ministry of External affairs, new

Delhi-110011. For acknowledgement of receipt, a self-addressed

post card be attached with the application. applicants should send

their applications by speedpost or registered india Post and not by

private couriers. Fees are to be paid after selection.

Yatris are selected and assigned to different batches through a

computer-generated random gender-balanced selection process. a

batch, once allocated through this process, cannot be changed. a

spouse, subject to fulfilling prescribed conditions to qualify for the

Yatra, will automatically be selected for the same batch, provided

he/she has submitted his/her application for the Yatra and this is

clearly indicated in the relevant column of the application form.

after the selected yatris report for the Yatra in new Delhi, they are

required to undergo and qualify thorough medical examinations at

the Delhi heart and lung institute and the itBP Base hospital in

new Delhi. Parameters of medical tests are decided by itBP Base

hospital keeping in mind the requirements of the Yatra.

Yatris are put to another medical test at Gunji, located at an

altitude of 3,220 metres, to assess body reaction to high altitude.

only fit yatris are allowed to proceed further beyond Gunji.

also, to prejudge their fitness for the Yatra, applicants are required

to undergo tests for tread Mill stress test (tMt), Blood Pressure and

Blood sugar for Fasting and non-Fasting conditions at competent

health centres of their choice before applying for the Yatra, and

submit test results with their application forms for the Yatra.

confirmAtion of pArticipAtion by yAtriS

on being informed of selection for the Yatra, each yatri will be

required to

1. Deposit a non-refundable sum of rs.5,000/- directly into one

of the following bank accounts of Kumaon Mandal vikas nigam

limited, 103, indra Prakash Building, 21, Bara Khamba road,

new Delhi - 110001 [tel: 011-41519366, Mobile-9818871227,

Fax: 011-41519366] by demand draft or cheque by a specified

deadline to confirm his/her participation in a particular batch:

• account no.90361010002716, held with syndicate Bank, 21,

Barakhamba road, new Delhi, iFsC Code sYnB0009036, MiCr

Code 110025004. or,

INTRODUCTION


• account no. 3219608669-0, held with state Bank of india,

Janpath Branch, new Delhi, iFsC Code sBin0001639, MiCr

Code 110002017.

2. send his/her confirmation letter, along with a copy of original

bank deposit slip, to: attaché (China), China registry (KMY),

Ministry of External affairs, room no.255-a, south Block, new

Delhi-110011. (tel: 011-2301-4900, Fax: 011-2301-6559,

e-Mail: [email protected]).

3. attach a self-addressed post card to receive an acknowledgement,

if so required.

a yatri, who fails to complete the above steps, will be presumed

not interested in participating in this year’s Yatra, and his/her slot

will be reallocated to another applicant from the reserve list.

importAnt documEntS

a selected applicant must ensure to bring following documents

when he/she reports in new Delhi for the Yatra:

a) ordinary indian passport, valid for at least six months as on

1 september 2012.

b) indemnity Bond, executed on a non-judicial stamp paper of

rs.10/-, or as applicable locally, and authenticated by a First

Class Magistrate or a notary Public. Yatris are required to sign

this indemnity Bond stating that they undertake the Yatra at

their own risk. (ForM-1)

c) Four recent passport size photographs.

d) undertaking for evacuation by helicopter in case of emergency.

(ForM-2)

e) Consent Form for cremation of mortal remains on Chinese side

in case of death there. (ForM-3)

fEES And ExpEnditurE

Each Yatri must carry sufficient funds to cover the following items

of expenditure:

a) rs.27,000/- (inclusive of service tax) to be paid to KMvn. out

of this

• rs.5,000/-, non-refundable, is to be credited directly into the

KMvn account to confirm participation in the Yatra.

• rs.22,000/- towards the balance amount is payable on arrival

in Delhi to begin the Yatra.

b) rs.400/-, or as applicable, in cash towards Chinese visa fee.

INTRODUCTION


c) rs.3,100/-, non-refundable, for medical examinations to be paid

to Delhi heart and lung institute, Panchkuian road, new Delhi,

tel: 011-2353-8351-8, 4299-9999, 4299-9900, Fax: 011-2351-

4489. a list of tests which will be conducted during the medical

examinations is given for reference at annExurE-a.

• rs.2,500/-, non-refundable, would be charged from a yatri who

is required by the medical authorities to undergo a stress Echo

test.

d) hiring porters and animal transport for indian side:

• rs.7,500/- for both ways for a mule/pony.

• rs.6,500/- for both ways for a personal porter.

• the above rates have been fixed by the uttarakhand Government

and are subject to change.

• For the stretch from narayan ashram to lipulekh on the upward

journey, as also from lipulekh Pass on the return journey, yatris

need to decide on hiring ponies and porters at Dharchula itself,

since no ponies or porters are available at the intermediate

camps and that arrangements have to be made in advance.

e) us $751/- (subject to revision) payable in China to Chinese side

for lodging for 12 nights, complete meal charges for four days at

Pulan (taklakot), transportation charges for the entire duration,

including charges for transporting baggage, horse/pony charges

at lipulekh, entry tickets for Kailash and Manasarovar and entry

tickets for Kejia temple.

INTRODUCTION

f) adequate cash to purchase necessary foreign exchange,

if the selected yatri has not already done so. self-paid items for

pilgrims include: horses, porters, pony handlers, etc, used for the

Parikrama. the standard charges are: horse/pony rMB 150 per

day, porter rMB 120 per day, and pony handler rMB 100 per

day; rates are indicative and subject to change. For the Parikrama

the charges are calculated as three-day ride charges. in addition,

a yatri will need some more foreign exchange to cover other

expenditure on the Chinese side, such as food, guide fees, etc.

g) For the Kailash Parikrama in tibet, porters and ponies will have

to be hired at taklakot.

h) Expenditure on adequate equipment, clothing, food stores and

other items of need for the Yatra.

prEpArAtionS for thE yAtrA

Yatris must make adequate preparations for the Yatra.

1. a list of useful medicines that yatris may carry with them is at

annExurE-B.

2. a detailed list of minimum recommended equipment is at

annExurE-C.

3. Yatris may also see advice on food items to be carried along at

annExurE-D and annExurE-E.


without prejudice to the foregoing, all claims, disputes, differences

shall be subject to the jurisdiction of Courts in Delhi only.

Yatra schedule and other information provided in this Guide are

subject to change without prior notice in the event of urgency or

under unforeseen circumstances. the Ministry of External affairs

or any other agency associated with Kailash Manasarovar Yatra

cannot be held responsible in any manner for such changes and no

claim whatsoever can be made against these agencies.

LEGAL


dAy-1Arrival of Yatris in Delhi and Accommodation

Duration of the ‘Yatra proper’ is 27 days. however, before beginning

the ‘Yatra proper’, selected liaison officer and yatris will need to

spend 3-4 days in Delhi to complete various formalities. For the

batch-wise schedule and the Yatra route for this year, yatris may

refer to the itinErarY and the routE MaP.

accommodation for the stay in Delhi for (i) up to 4 days before

the ‘Yatra proper’, and (ii) up to 2 days on return is arranged by

the Government of Delhi at the Gujarati samaj sadan, where each

yatri has to report with his/her selection letter and a valid proof

of identification (passport). however, yatris are free to make their

own arrangements for accommodation and transport in Delhi.

Instructions

1. while in Delhi, liaison officers and yatris will obtain the

Chinese visa and foreign exchange and undergo prescribed

medical examinations. they are required to finalize their travel

plans accordingly.

2. Yatris should arrive in Delhi one day earlier than the day of

medical tests at the Delhi heart and lung institute (Dhli).

3. a bus will be provided by KMvn to ferry yatris to specific places

of need in Delhi.

STAY IN DELHI


How to reach Gujarati Samaj Sadan:

Gujarati samaj sadan, 2, raj niwas Marg, new Delhi – 110054.

(tel: 011-2398-1796, 2398-1797-8, Fax: 011-2398-3066).

Distance:

• 1 km from inter-state Bus terminus, Kashmiri Gate .

• 3.5 km from old Delhi railway station.

• 8 km from new Delhi railway station.

• 12 km from hazrat nizamuddin railway station & sarai Kale

Khan isBt.

• 20 km from anand vihar isBt.

• 22 km from indira Gandhi international airport.

taxis, auto-rickshaws, DtC buses and Delhi Metro are several

options to reach. the nearest Metro station is Civil lines on the

Yellow line (Jehangirpuri to huDa City Centre) and is connected

with new Delhi railway station and old Delhi railway station

(Chandni Chowk Metro station). Yatris arriving by air may also

use Metro airport line to reach new Delhi railway station and

thereafter take Yellow line to reach Civil lines Metro station.

dAy-2Medical Check-up at DHLI and Chinese Visa

A) Medical Check-up at DHLI

Instructions

1. Yatris should arrive in new Delhi a day earlier than the day of

medical check-up at Delhi heart and lung institute (Dhli).

2. Yatris will be required to report at 08:00 a.M. on the specified

day to Dhli, Panchkuian road, new Delhi (tel: 011-4299-

9999,4299-9900,2353-8351-8, Fax: 011-2351-4489) for their

medical tests on EMPtY stoMaCh. samples for the tests will

be taken on this day.

3. Each yatri will be required to pay an amount of rs.3,100/-, in

cash or by credit card, to the hospital for general medical check-

up. in case any yatri is required by the medical authorities to

undergo a further stress Echo test, an additional amount of

rs.2,500/- per yatri would be charged for that particular test.

Both these charges are non-refundable.

4. a recent passport size photograph each will need to be affixed

to the medical forms of yatris.

5. strict medical tests will be conducted at Dhli. Medical reports

from any other hospital and/or other sources will not be

accepted. once a Yatri is declared unfit, he/she will not be

permitted to participate in any other batch during that year.

STAY IN DELHI


How to reach Delhi Heart and Lung Institute

Delhi heart and lung institute, 3 - mm ii, Panchkuian road, new

Delhi - 110055.

telephone nos.4299-9999, 2353-8351-8, 2351-4489.

Distance

• 15 km from indira Gandhi international airport.

• 2 km from new Delhi railway station.

• 10 km from old Delhi railway station.

Yatris desirous of reaching Delhi heart and lung institute on their

own may also avail taxis, auto-rickshaws and DtC Buses. Delhi

Metro connectivity is available and the nearest Metro station to

reach Dhli is Jhandewalan Metro station on the Blue line (Dwarka

sector 21 - noiDa City Centre/vaishali).

B) Chinese Visa

in the morning, KMvn personnel will collect from liaison officer

and yatris of a particular batch their valid indian passports and

visa fees in cash, so that their Chinese visas can be processed while

they are undergoing required medical tests at Delhi heart and lung

institute.

Instructions

1. as Chinese Embassy gives a group visa for the whole batch,

there will be no endorsement on any individual passport. the

passports and the group visa will be returned to the liaison

officer concerned on Day-4.

2. liaison officer must ensure to keep the original group Chinese

visa documents, along with four sets of photocopies, in his

personal custody and carry them along throughout the Yatra,

as the visa is screened en route at several points.

3. if any yatri has not yet obtained the necessary foreign exchange,

he/she may take back his/her passport from the lo on Day-4

to complete the transaction.

STAY IN DELHI


dAy-3Medical Tests at ITBP Hospital

Yatris will be required to report for the final medical check-up at:

itBP Base hospital, tigri Camp

P.o. Madangir, opposite Batra hospital, new Delhi.

tel: 2604-4941/2604-2291, Fax: 2604-6337.

How to reach ITBP Base Hospital

Yatris willing to reach itBP Base hospital situated at tigri Camp, P.o.

Madangir, new Delhi – 110062, on their own may seek directions

to reach Batra hospital, the nearest landmark on the Mehrauli-

Badarpur road. well connected with public transport, the nearest

Metro stations are

• Badarpur Metro station (7 km) on the violet line (Kendriya

sachivalaya to Badarpur); and

• saket (5 km) on the Yellow line (Jehangirpuri to huDa City

Centre).

Instructions

1. once liaison officer and yatris of a particular batch qualify the

medical tests on Day-3, they will receive their Medical reports

from the itBP Base hospital on the same day. they must keep

their Medical reports in their personal custody to carry along

throughout the Yatra, as these are required en route to be

allowed to proceed further.

dAy-4Briefing Session at MEA and Submission of Indemnity Bond

Yatris are required to report at 1000 hours in Meeting room no.1,

Ground Floor, C-Block, Jawaharlal nehru Bhawan, Ministry of

External affairs, 23-D Janpath, new Delhi-110011, for a briefing

session on the Yatra.

Instructions

1. Each yatri must bring along –

a. cash or a draft worth rs.22,000/- payable to “Kumaon Mandal

vikas nigam limited”;

b. indemnity Bond. (ForM-1)

c. undertaking for evacuation by helicopter in emergency.

(ForM-2)

d. Consent Form. (ForM-3)

STAY IN DELHI

20 · Kailash Manasarovar Yatra 2012

Formats of these forms are given in this Guide. the money and

these duly completed documents will be collected from yatris

before the briefing begins. the liaison officer concerned will

return the passports to the yatris during the briefing.

2. Yatris may arrange required foreign exchange and indemnity

Bond from their home town subject to the guidelines of

the reserve Bank of india (rBi) and as per ForM-1 of this

information Guide, respectively.

3. Yatris are strongly advised to take life insurance policy before

undertaking the Yatra.

4. the Ministry of External affairs will also issue instructions

to the Central Bank of india branch at hotel ashoka, 50-B,

Chanakyapuri, new Delhi-110021, tel: 011-2410-1848, to

enable yatris to collect their due foreign exchange, if they so

desire. this branch is open 24 hours. Yatris must carry cash, as

personal cheques are not accepted.

STAY IN DELHI


Day From To DistanceKm

Height Metres

Mode of Transport

1 Delhi almora 370 1890 aC coach

2 almora Chaukori 145 2010 Coach

3 Chaukori Dharchula 180 908 Bus

4 Dharchula sirkha 60 2560 lv 54 km; trek 6 km

5 sirkha Gala 16 2440 trek

6 Gala Budhi 18 2680 trek

7 Budhi Gunji 17 3220 trek

8 Gunji halt -- 3220 --

9 Gunji navidhang 19 4246 trek

10 navidhang lipulekh

lipulekhtaklakot

07 19

5334 4112

trek 7 km; Bus 19 km.

11 taklakot halt -- 4112 --

dElhi to lipulEkh pASSROUTE OF THE YATRA


ROUTE OF THE YATRA

Kailash Parikrama

Day From to Distance Km

heightMetres

Mode of transport

12 taklakot Darchen 140 5182 Bus

13 Darchen Deraphuk (via Yamdwar)

14 4890 Bus 10 km; trek 4 km

14 Deraphuk Zongzerbu (via Dolma Pass)

19 5670 trek

15 Zongzerbu Darchen 12 5182 trek 4 km; Bus 8 km

Manasarovar Parikrama

Day From to Distance Km

heightMetres

Mode of transport

16 Darchen Qihu 42 4750 Bus

17 Qihu Qugu (via hore)

85 4600 Bus

18 Qugu Qihu 10 4750 Bus

19 Qihu taklakot 182 4112 Bus

routE on chinESE SidE rEturn JournEy

having completed both Parikramas, the batch of yatris will return

to taklakot.

Day From To Distance Km

Mode of Transport

20-21 taklakot halt -- --

22 taklakot Kalapani 36 Bus 15 km; trek 21 km

23 Kalapani Budhi 26 trek

24 Budhi Gala 18 trek

25 Gala Dharchula 76 trek 22 km; lv 54 km

26 Dharchula Jageshwar 185 Bus

27 Jageshwar new Delhi 410 Bus


dAy-1Delhi to Almora

From new Delhi, yatris are taken in an air-conditioned coach

to almora, a small town in the foothills of the himalayas in the

Kumaon hills of uttarakhand. KMvn will make arrangements for

night halt on arrival in almora.

Instructions:

1. as the departure from new Delhi is planned early morning by

0600 hours, yatris need to ensure that their baggage is packed

and ready by 0500 hours.

2. this is an ideal day for Yatris to get to know each other. For

smooth and successful completion of the Yatra, it is essential

to develop good understanding among yatris and also to

familiarize with each other’s strengths and weaknesses.

dAy-2Almora to Chaukori

after breakfast at almora, yatris leave for Kausani enroute Chaukori.

the 55 km drive to Kausani traverse through the serpentine roads

offering splendid views of mountain peaks and famed flora of

Kumaon region of uttrakhand. after the lunch at Kausani the yatra

proceeds towards the destination of the day, Chaukori, covering

YATRA SCHEDULE


a distance of 90 km. the region boasts of unspoilt nature, a land

bestowed with natural abundance, fruit orchards, and the jungles

of Pines, oaks and rhododendrons. Chaukori is a tiny hill station in

the Pithoragarh district set among the lofty peaks of the western

himalayan range. the Mahakali river, running along its eastern

boundary, forms the indo-nepal international border.

Chaukori’s elevation is 2010 metres with a spectacular view of the

snowy peaks of nanda Devi and Panchachuli peaks.

Instructions:

1. lunch is provided to the yatris at Kausani

2. Yatris who are prone to motion sickness are advised to take

proper medication at Pithoragarh itself.

3. if time permits, yatris may visit tea gardens nearby while

enjoying the beauty of the snow-capped himalayan ranges.

4. Dinner and night halt are arranged at KMvn Guest house.

YATRA SCHEDULE


YATRA SCHEDULE

dAy-3 Chaukori to Dharchula

after early breakfast, yatris leave Chaukori for Dharchula. Enroute,

yatris pay obeisance at the Patal Bhuvaneshwar, a limestone cave

temple, 42 km from Chaukori. legend and folklore have it that

this underground cave enshrines lord shiva and thirty three crore

Gods. the cave is 160 metres long and 90 feet deep from the

point of entrance. limestone rock formations have created various

spectacular stalactite and stalagmite figures of various hues and

forms. this cave has a narrow tunnel-like opening which leads to

a number of caves. the cave is fully electrically illuminated. there

is a folklore that the Pandava brothers passed their time here

during banishment. it is also believed that this cave is internally

connected to the four abodes (Char Dham). the motorable road

ends half a kilometer away from the cave entrance. Yatris have

to descend nearly 100 steps into this narrow cave, to reach the

sanctum sanctorum, which gives an overwhelming feeling that one

is entering the centre of the earth.

after darshan and puja at Patal Bhuvaneshwar, the Yatra proceeds

to Didihat, located at a distance of 52 km, where arrangements for

lunch are made. Didihat offers picturesque views of verdant valley

surrounded by attractive ridges and a panoramic view of several

snow clad himalayan peaks, including Pachachuli Peaks.

thereafter, yatris head towards the indo-tibetan Border Police

(itBP) Camp headquarters at Merthi, just 6 km away. Yatris

are extended a traditional welcome by the locals and the itBP

personnel. a comprehensive briefing on various aspects of the Yatra

is conducted by the itBP.

the town of Dharchula, located on the bank of river Kali, with

nepal just across the river, is the last big town enroute Kailash

Manasarovar.

Instructions:

1. Yatris will have early breakfast at Chaukori.

2. Yatris visit Patal Bhuvaneshwar, a limestone cave temple.

3. lunch will be served at Didihat.

4. Yatris must pay serious attention to the itBP briefing at Merthi

and follow the guidelines for their own safety.

5. try to leave Merthi early to reach Dharchula by late afternoon.

6. at Dharchula, yatris can make last-minute purchases, as it

provides a comparatively large selection of goods at reasonable

prices during further course of the journey.

7. at Dharchula, baggage restrictions will come into operation.

Each Yatri will be required to carry 5 kg of common foodstuff

for the batch to be consumed on the Chinese side. as the total

baggage weight is limited to 25 kg, each yatri is required to

ensure that his/her personal luggage does not exceed 20 kg.


YATRA SCHEDULE

8. at Dharchula, yatris would need to decide on hiring ponies and/

or personal porters for the entire trip on the indian side up

to the tibetan border and back, since no ponies or porters are

available at the intermediate camps and that arrangements

have to be made in advance. interested yatris need to indicate

their requirements to the liaison officer in advance, so that

necessary arrangements can be made for the entire batch, in

coordination with the KMvn officials. For the indian side, it

should cost rs.7,500/- each for both ways for hiring a mule/

pony; and rs.6,500/- each for both ways to hire a personal

porter. these rates have been fixed by the uttarakhand

Government and are subject to change.

9. Yatris who are prone to motion sickness are advised to take

proper medication at Pithoragarh itself.

dAy-4Dharchula to Sirkha

it will be a 54 km journey by bus from Dharchula to narayan swami

ashram, via tawaghat and Pangu, and then 6 km trek to KMvn

camp in sirkha. tawaghat is the place where Dhauliganga and

Kaliganga meet. Pangu lies in Chaudas valley of Dharchula tehsil

and is the first village enroute Kailash-Manasarovar. a fine view

of Khela and surroundings is seen from this place. one can also

view the himalayan peaks in nepal region. situated on the Kailash

Manasarovar route, narayan swami ashram was established by

shri narayan swami Ji in 1936. the ashram, which took 10 years to

construct, is known for its picturesque, scenic and the mesmerizing

beauty all over the world.

Instructions:

1. trekking would start from narayan swami ashram where pony

and porter arrangements would also become effective up to the

lipulekh Pass. if the road after Pangu is found not motorable,

the trekking would start from Pangu itself with pony and porter

arrangements.

dAy-5Sirkha to Gala

sirkha is at a distance of 16 km from Gala. there are a few shops

available in sirkha. after about 2 km, the road descends to samuri

(2316 metres) from where a steep stony ascent begins through

thick forest to rungling or samuriya-Dhar (3048 metres). this is

followed by a steep descent to the stream simkhola-gad from

where a gentle slope will lead yatris to the KMvn camp in village

Gala.


YATRA SCHEDULE

Instructions:

1. this journey consists of steep stony ascent followed by a steep

descent so Yatris should be cautious.

dAy-6Gala to Budhi

the day begins with a strenuous 18 km downhill trek to Budhi.

on an average, the trek takes about 7 to 12 hours depending on

the fitness levels of yatris. the most arduous part of the track is

the first 7 to 8 km until lakhanpur. the route downhill is rocky

and narrow and must be traversed on foot. steps have been carved

out of the rock here to make the track somewhat comfortable.

after lakhanpur, the track takes a more or less level course, along

the river Kali, which is a beautiful stretch. this stretch, possibly,

is also the riskiest portion of the entire yatra, as yatris have to

negotiate extremely narrow path alongside the fast flowing river

Kali. Yatris may need to exercise extreme caution and even desist

from photography, etc, while traversing through the stretch along

the river and focus on personal safety. along the way, as yatris

may have to cross through some waterfalls, raincoats may be kept

handy. the village of lamari is on this route which is a good place

to rest and enjoy a hot cup of tea.

on way to lamari, a curving trail will earlier take yatris to Malpa,

the site of the tragic landslide of 1998 where the rubble still covers

a part of the camp. KMvn will provide lunch for the yatris at

Malpa.

the last stretch of the trail is across a quaint bridge which leads

into the camp at Budhi. once yatris have recouped sufficiently,

they may visit the old flourmill (Gharat) run on hydel power, which

supplies the local village with fine atta.

Instructions:

1. the stretch along the river Kali, possibly, is the riskiest portion

of the entire yatra. Yatris may need to exercise extreme caution

and totally focus on personal safety.

2. Yatris are advised to even desist from photography, etc, while

traversing through the stretch along the river and focus on

personal safety only.


dAy-7Budhi to Gunji

after an overnight stay at Budhi, yatris will begin one of the most

scenic treks on the indian side of the journey with a steep climb of

5 km. Just as yatris feel the strain, the path levels out and winds its

way through the spectacular valley of Chialekh.

the sights of special importance in the valley include its profusion

of rare mountain flowers – cobra flowers, irises, may apple flower,

kasturi, kamal, etc – and the glacier. Yatris will walk through a

beautiful green meadow on way to Garbyang, also known as the

sinking village, with quaint houses having carved doors and newel

posts. the approach to Gunji is through a thicket of aromatic trees,

which exudes the local incense. Yatris will also have the pleasure

of seeing the confluence of the Kali and the tinker rivers with the

tinker hurtling away into nepal.

Instructions:

1. Being wet and slippery, this is a dangerous stretch of the Yatra.

Yatris may need to exercise extreme caution and focus on

personal safety.

YATRA SCHEDULE

dAyS-7 & 8Gunji

Yatris will have a halt of two nights at Gunji. the itBP medical

team will test yatris there to gauge their fitness to be able to move

forward.

Instructions:

1. only those of the yatris, who are found fit for the Yatra at this

stage, will be allowed to continue the pilgrimage. those who

fail this test will come back from Gunji itself, with the next

returning batch of yatris, forfeiting all charges levied earlier by

KMvn.

2. at Gunji, yatris can also avail of banking facilities at the state

Bank of india branch there.

dAy-9 Gunji to Navidhang

this trek along the Kali is done in stages with itBP jawans guiding

yatris every step of the way. the route from Gunji climbs higher and

elevates in a gradual manner with vegetation changes. as yatris

get closer to Kalapani, they will pass a mountain which has sage


‘vyasa’s cave’. according to hindu legend, this is the cave where

sage vyasa performed penance for years. a flag posted by the itBP

is indicative of the entrance to the cave. the itBP has built a hydel

project over the river Kali, which supplies power for the Kalapani

camp. the stretch from Kalapani to navidhang is an uphill climb.

as yatris move to the upper reaches of the himalayas, the Kali will

be left far below. the 9 km stretch takes yatris above the tree line

revealing the face of the mountains. During the flowering season,

the route itself is like a carpet of flowers in shades of yellow, purple,

pink and white.

it is from the camp at navidhang that yatris can view the unique

phenomenon, of ‘om’. the mountain on the eastern side, om Parvat,

has patterns on the snow, which resemble a naturally formed ‘om’,

a rare sight since the mountain is usually wreathed in clouds.

Instructions:

1. From Gunji, the itBP team, and its doctors, will escort yatris up

to the tibetan border from where the Chinese authorities will

take over.

2. at Kalapani, yatris find an emigration checkpoint, where yatris’

documents, including passports, are verified before they move

towards the border.

YATRA SCHEDULE

3. the stretch from Kalapani to navidhang is an uphill climb and

is subject to brisk winds and, thus, yatris are strictly advised to

wear proper clothes and keep their heads covered.

dAy-10 Navidhang to Lipulekh

this is the last stretch in india before yatris cross over to the tibetan

side. this is a treacherous walk at the best of times and more so

if the weather conditions are not propitious at the narrow pass,

which is at 16,500 feet. the crossing of the pass is a finely timed

affair with the new batch of yatris crossing into tibet meeting the

batch of yatris returning to india after completing the Parikramas.

it is here that the batch has to show a high spirit of cooperation

to ensure that each member is able to cross this difficult stretch

across ice and snow successfully. itBP personnel will, of course, be

present to render required assistance to yatris. at the lipulekh Pass

yatris will leave india behind and begin their journey into tibet.

the guides provided by the Chinese Government will meet yatris

at the lipulekh Pass.


Instructions:

1. Yatris have to leave the camp as early as 0300 hours so as to

meet the returning batch around 0700 hours at the pass.

2. the crossing must be completed between 0700 hours and 0900

hours, the time when the weather conditions are generally

favourable.

3. Yatris must take care to avoid succumbing to high altitude

tiredness, as the winds are bitter and the atmosphere is rare

with low level of oxygen. Even a half-hour halt can be difficult

to withstand.

4. the entire batch has to show a high spirit of cooperation here

to ensure that each member is able to cross this difficult stretch

across ice and snow successfully.

5. it is advisable that yatris may keep small bits of camphor or

smelling salts to relieve spells of discomfort.

YATRA SCHEDULE

dAy-10 Lipulekh to Taklakot

the terrain here is very barren, with hardly any vegetation in sight.

after yatris have successfully crossed the lipulekh Pass, the Chinese

authorities take over and the descent into tibet begins. (note: the

time difference between india and tibet is plus 2 ½ hours). Yatris

will have to walk for an hour and a half after which ponies will be

made available. after a journey of about 4 km on the ponies, yatris

will travel in buses to taklakot.

Instructions:

1. as there are no metalled roads here, the bus ride is a bone-

rattling one through streams and rocky paths.

dAyS-10 & 11 Taklakot

taklakot (Purang) is an old trading town. it has several market

places, Gompas and Buddhist temples. Yatris will be put up in a guest

house with basic facilities. hot water for bathing will be available

for about 2 hours at a time which will be communicated to yatris

in advance. Food is also served at set times, duly communicated

in advance, and normally includes rice, soup and boiled vegetables

provided by the guest house.


Instructions:

1. the Chinese authorities will check all documents of yatris

here and collect us$ 751 as the Yatra fees, which is subject to

change.

2. Yatris will stay at taklakot for two days to complete all the

immigration and Customs formalities.

3. they may exchange some of their money for Chinese Yuan (us

$1 = rMB 7 approximately) to buy eatables and other items

of need from the local market as also for making payments

towards hiring ponies and porters for the Kailash Parikrama.

4. Yatris will have to indicate their requirement of ponies and

porters for the Kailash Parikrama to their liaison officer here,

so that appropriate arrangements can be made in advance.

Porters and ponies cannot be hired after taklakot. the standard

charges are: horse/pony rMB 150 per day, porter rMB 120 per

day and pony handler rMB 100 per day; rates are indicative and

subject to change. For the Parikrama, charges are calculated as

three-day ride charges.

YATRA SCHEDULE

dAyS-12 to 19 Kailash-Manasarovar Parikramas

Yatris will be taken by bus from taklakot to Darchen, which is the

base camp for Kailash Parikrama.

on the way to Darchen, yatris will pass by the rakshas tal, a beautiful

lake separated by a thin stretch of land from the lake Manasarovar.

this lake, unlike Manasarovar, is not so revered by yatris but is

remarkably beautiful in its own way. while Manasarovar is likened

to the sun and light, rakshas tal is compared to the Moon and

the Darkness of night. it is believed that ravana meditated on the

shores of rakshas tal to seek shiva’s favour. the lake is, therefore,

referred to as ravana tal. it is from rakshas tal that yatris get the

first view of the Mount Kailash.

Instructions:

1. an English-speaking tibetan guide accompanies each batch

of yatris during the Parikramas of Mount Kailash and lake

Manasarovar.

2. the camps along the route offer basic facilities.


Parikrama of Mount Kailash

the route goes through a barren landscape, with snow-capped

mountains on the horizon. once the bus crosses the Gurla Pass, at

16,200 feet, the holy land spreads out. to the right is the beautiful

lake Manasarovar, while rakshas tal is to the left.

the Parikrama of Mount Kailash begins from Darchen. Yatris spend

the day in the town.

the 48 km Parikrama of Kailash starts from the Barkha Plains, a flat,

barren stretch of land. the first leg will take yatris to Deraphuk, 14

km from Darchen. the first 10 km distance is covered by bus/truck.

upon reaching the ‘Yamdwar’ the proper trek begins. after about

10 km, yatris enter the la Chu valley or the valley of the river of

the Gods. along the way, magnificent rock cliffs tower around, with

streams and waterfalls flowing from some of them. some of the

rocks have inscriptions of Buddhist mantras on them.

the literal meaning of Deraphuk is ‘Cave of the Female Yak’s

horns’. it provides a magnificent view of Mount Kailash. this is the

closest and clearest view that yatris will get of Mount Kailash – a

spectacular sight especially when illuminated by the rays of the

setting sun. Yatris will spend a night in this camp.

YATRA SCHEDULE


the next day, yatris set off from Deraphuk on a trail which ascends

to a 18,600 feet pass, supposed to be guarded by a tibetan goddess

called Dolma. along the way, a flat stretch strewn with discarded

clothing can be seen. this is shiv sthal, where Yama, the King of

Death is supposed to judge those who cross it. Crossing the Dolma

pass remains a test of faith and determination, as blizzards are

known to strike without warning. a rock here is said to represent

the goddess tara Devi. Yatris pray to the Goddess with the prayer

flags, place pots of butter and light incense sticks.

as yatris descend from the Dolma Pass, they will pass the emerald

green Gauri Kund, the lake where goddess Parvati is believed to

have bathed. Yatris carry back cans full of water from here.

the steep descent continues through glaciers and paths filled with

boulders till yatris reach Zongzerbu. after a night’s halt there, yatris

head back for Darchen, taking a different route, which is mostly on

flat terrain.

From Darchen, yatris may, if time permits, pay an optional visit to

ashtapad (the south face of Mount Kailash), which is 5 km away.

the route is scenic and the view of Mount Kailash from ashtapad

is breathtaking.

this completes the Parikrama of Mount Kailash.

Instructions:

1. at Darchen, yatris spend the day in the town, which provides

only basic facilities. they have to make their own arrangements

for food and this is where the 5 kilograms of common foodstuff

carried by each yatri comes in handy. a stove and a room for

cooking will be provided by the Chinese authorities. this is the

last place for making isD calls on this Parikrama since the other

camps, both on the Kailash and the Manasarovar routes are not

equipped with such facilities.

2. at Dolma Pass, it is not advisable to stay for too long as the

rarefied atmosphere may cause breathing problems.

3. those wishing to carry water from Gauri Kund may ask their

porters/pony handlers to go down and fill their cans. Yatris

should not attempt to climb down themselves as the slope is

fairly slippery and such an attempt can cause serious injuries.

4. travel to ashtapad is by land Cruiser at a cost of an additional

amount of rMB 100 per yatri, which is subject to change. this

amount is not included in the usual package of us $751 paid

to the Chinese authorities at taklakot.

YATRA SCHEDULE


Parikrama of Manasarovar

on the foothills of Mount Kailash, lies the magnificent lake

of Manasarovar. the lake changes colour and mood with the

passing hours and seasons: placid now, tempestuous the next. the

reflection of the sun, the clouds, the stars and even Mount Kailash,

keeps the beholder spellbound. the lake is large, being 88 km in

circumference with a maximum depth of 300 feet. its fascinating

variety and beauty capture the heart and imagination of the

viewers. the water of the lake can be freezing at certain times of

the day and during certain seasons and pleasantly warm at others.

regardless of the temperature, most devout yatris do not miss an

opportunity to take a holy dip in the lake.

the first camp at Qihu, where the Yatris spend two days, is well

equipped and offers a stunning view of the lake.

the parikrama begins with a drive through the vast plains of Barkha

to Qugu, a distance of about 85 km. there is a brief halt at hore.

the camp at Qugu is located on the banks of lake Manasarovar.

the next day yatris return to taklakot, thus completing the

Parikrama of lake Manasarovar.

Instructions:

1. while at the camp at Qugu, yatris may wish to take a holy dip

in the lake Manasarovar and offer puja there, without causing

any damage to the pristine surroundings in any manner. use of

soap or detergent while bathing in the lake is prohibited. those

wishing to have a proper bath may visit the baths at the hot

water springs, which charge approximately rMB 20 per head.

2. Yatris may wish to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables during

a brief halt at hore, which has a basic market.

YATRA SCHEDULE


after a two-day stay at taklakot to complete immigration and

Customs formalities, yatris have to cross back into india via the

lipulekh pass.

the return journey from lipulekh to Dharchula is via the same

route as taken on the onward journey except that from Dharchula,

the yatris have to travel to Jageshwar, instead of Kathgodam, and

then on to Delhi.

RETURN JOURNEY


the Ministry of External affairs appoints a liaison officer (lo),

who is an officer of the rank of under secretary to Government of

india or above, for each batch of yatris. lo is the executive head

and leader of the batch. he/she is responsible for maintaining

discipline and orderly conduct and has authority to decide whether

any individual yatri should continue in the Yatra in the interest of

all other yatris. his/her decision in all aspects is final and cannot be

challenged. lo is responsible for the general welfare of the batch

and for liaising with the indian and the Chinese authorities. he/

she shall be the sole spokesman for the batch. it is essential for

the well being and safety of the batch that yatris follow his/her

instructions carefully. Yatris must support lo in the discharge of

his/her functions.

Instructions:

1. liaison officer must ensure to keep the original group ChinEsE

visa, along with four sets of photocopies, in his personal

custody and carry them along throughout the Yatra, as the visa

is screened en route at several points.

2. once lo and yatris of a particular batch qualify the medical

tests on Day-3 in Delhi, they will receive their Medical reports

from the itBP Base hospital on the same day. lo must ensure

that every one keeps the Medical reports in one’s personal

custody to carry along throughout the Yatra, as these are

required en route to be allowed to proceed further.

LIAISON OFFICER


the Kumaon Mandal vikas nigam limited (KMvn) provides

accommodation at all the halts from new Delhi to lipulekh Pass.

at the camps along the route, accommodation in ‘pucca’ barracks

and prefabricated fiberglass huts is provided. there are regular toilet

facilities at all camps. Portable generators provide electricity at all

camps for limited hours in the mornings and evenings. Mattresses

and quilts/sleeping bags are provided at all camps. therefore, yatris

need not carry any quilts/sleeping bags with them. however, they

may wish to carry a bed sheet and pillow cover each for personal

hygiene. utensils for cooking will also be provided to each batch for

use in the camps on the Chinese side. these utensils do not have

to be returned.

Digital satellite public telephone (DsPt) facilities have been

installed by Bsnl at KMvn and itBP camps on the indian side of

the Yatra route. Yatris can avail of this effective telephone service at

subsidized rates to communicate with their families and friends.

FACILITIES ON THE INDIAN SIDE


taklakot is an important town in the area. accommodation is

provided at Pulan Guest house for yatris, where regular rooms are

available with cots, mattresses, comforters (rajai), etc. Electricity

and hot water for bathing are available at specific times. at taklakot,

the Chinese authorities provide vegetarian food of Chinese flavour,

such as bread, vegetable soup, noodles, boiled rice, etc.

the camps at Dharchen, Deraphuk, Zongzerbu, Qugu and Qihu are

basic structures and have several rooms, which are to be shared.

Each room can accommodate 4 to 6 pilgrims. Mattresses, pillows

and comforters (rajai) are provided. there is electricity at Darchen

camp only. Yatris have to prepare their own food in all these camps.

the Chinese side will provide hot water and stove for cooking.

utensils are provided by KMvn. Yatris are also advised to carry

some food items of their choice from india.

Mobile phone facilities are available on the Chinese side at all

places, except on the Deraphuk-Zongzerbu sector. Yatris can buy

pre-paid siM cards to avail of mobile phone facilities locally there.

FACILITIES ON THE CHINESE SIDE


Luggage

only 25 kg of luggage is allowed per yatri. however, yatris are

advised to limit their personal belongings to 20 kg only. the

remaining 5 kg will be utilised to carry the collective food stuff

purchased by the batch for consumption on the Chinese side.

any luggage in excess of 25 kg will not only be subjected to extra

charges, but also, in case there is a shortage of ponies/porters,

the excess luggage will not be transported. Yatris are requested to

strictly adhere to this limit on the return journey from tibet and

keep shopping in taklakot to the minimum.

Yatris’ baggage is carried by ponies/mules on both indian and

Chinese side. it is desirable to wrap individual items in polythene

bags, place them in a canvas bag, and then again cover the bag also

with another polythene. Canvas bags with zips are ideal as they

are lightweight and tough. Yatris are not allowed to carry hard top

suitcases during the Yatra.

Hiring porters and animal transport

For the indian side, each yatri has an option to hire a mule/pony

at a charge of rs.7,500 for both ways; and personal porter at a

charge of rs.6,500 for both ways. these rates have been fixed by

the uttarakhand Government and are subject to change. these

porters and ponies should be hired to be available at narayan

ashram on the upward journey and at lipulekh Pass on the return

LOGISTICS


journey. Yatris individually need to decide and communicate to

the liaison officer about their requirements of hired ponies and

porters at Darchula itself both for the upward stretch from narayan

ashram to lipulekh and for their return journey from lipulekh Pass.

arrangements to hire ponies and porters are to be made in advance

at Darchula itself, as ponies and porters are not available for hiring

at the intermediate camps.

For the Kailash Parikrama in tibet, porters and ponies need to be

hired at taklakot.

Food

vegetarian meals will be made available at each halt point. Yatris

must appreciate the difficulty in arranging a variety of vegetables,

especially in high altitude areas, where fresh supplies are scarce.

Medical Facilities

two medical personnel provided by the state Government of

uttarakhand will accompany each batch of yatris up to Gunji.

Beyond Gunji, indo-tibetan Border Police will take over the medical

arrangements up to lipulekh Pass. Yatris are nevertheless advised

to carry some basic medicines (annExurE-B). Yatris may also

ensure that they carry sufficient stock of any special prescribed

medicines for them. During the Yatra, should the accompanying

doctor and the liaison officer feel that a yatri is not fit to continue,

their decision will be final. no refund is permissible in such cases

under any circumstances. on the Chinese side, there is no doctor

to accompany yatris during the Parikramas of Mount Kailash and

lake Manasarovar.

LOGISTICS


Due to decrease in the atmospheric pressure with increasing

altitude, the atmospheric pressure is half that of sea level at 18,000

feet, but the percentage of oxygen remains the same. about one-

fifth of the persons ascending to 10,000 feet in less than a day

develop symptoms and signs of altitude sickness. individuals who

have suffered earlier are at a greater risk, and ladies premenstrually

are more susceptible.

High Altitude Diseases: Signs, Symptoms & Diagnosis

various types of illnesses of high altitude are not different entities,

but are a part of the major syndrome in which some come to

the fore. acute mountain sickness is benign and is more common

and may appear at 6,500 feet. the major symptoms are nausea,

headache, vomiting, breathlessness, disturbed sleep, etc, and

symptoms are aggravated by lack of rest. individuals who have

suffered earlier are at a greater risk, and ladies premenstrually are

more susceptible. Dehydration and hyperventilation prolong the

illness which otherwise subsides in a few days.

High Altitude Illness (HAI)

high altitude is a height more than 2,500 metres (8,000 feet)

above the sea level. the main problem at high altitude is decreased

availability of oxygen. hai usually appears 6-12 hours after an

ascent. it is a disease caused by low level of oxygen in high altitude.

hai is of 3 types:

HIGH ALTITUDE DISEASES


• acute Mountain sickness (aMs).

• high altitude Cerebral Edema (haCE).

• high altitude Pulmonary Edema (haPE).

Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS)

aMs is the most frequent type of altitude sickness encountered. it

may occur after a recent gain in altitude of 2,500 metres or above.

it is characterized by headache plus one or more of the following

symptoms

• loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting.

• Fatigue, weakness, dizziness, light-headedness.

• Difficulty in sleeping.

Treatment

if aMs is mild to moderate, discontinue ascent, take rest at the

same altitude and if no improvement is noticed, descent to lower

altitude. acetazolamide (Diamox®) can be advised. severe form

of aMs must be treated like haCE.

High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE)

this life threatening condition occurs due to severe swelling of brain

tissue from fluid leakage leading to deterioration of brain functions.

it is the most severe form of aMs. haCE often manifests at night, can

progress rapidly and may be lethal (coma/death) within few hours

to two days. symptoms include headache that does not respond to

analgesics, fatigue, visual impairment, bladder dysfunction, bowel

dysfunction, ataxia (loss of coordination of movements), paralysis

on one side of the body, gradual loss of consciousness and mental

status changes (quantitative or qualitative). Descent to lower

altitudes may save those afflicted with haCE.

Treatment

immediate descent to the lower altitude where the person last

slept well (500–1,000 metres, if in doubt), giving oxygen and using

hyperbaric bag are advised. acetozolamide and dexamethasone

should be advised.

High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE)

haPE is caused due to leak and accumulation of fluid in the lungs

leading to respiratory failure. this may occur with or without signs

of aMs. haPE often manifests at night (typically the second night

of ascent), progresses rapidly, lethal within hours, and may lead

to development of haCE. haPE is characterized by the following

symptoms

• shortness of breath even when resting.

• Persistent dry cough and bright red stained sputum.

• weakness, fatigue and drowsiness.

• Chest tightness, fullness and congestion.

• Fast breathing and increased heart rate.



Treatment

the patient is advised not to exert and must be immediately

transported to the lower altitude where the person last slept

well (descent of 500–1,000 metres, if in doubt). Give oxygen,

use hyperbaric bag and CPaP. if treated promptly, haPE patients

recover in 1-2 days.

Retinal Haemorrhages

the retinal haemorrhage commonly occurs at 16,000 feet and

above and resolves without treatment. transient dimmed vision

and even total blindness is also reported with or without retinal

haemorrhages.

Oedema of Face and Peripheral Oedema

this may also be noticed at high altitude. thrombo-phlebitis due to

increased viscosity of blood may occur.

Prevention of HAI

a. Frequent small meals rich in calories and carbohydrates like jams,

fruits, and starches help. Gradual ascent within the tolerance

zone, drinking of sufficient water and good acclimatization to

decreased oxygen levels at higher elevations is advisable, in

order to avoid altitude sickness.

b. Drugs: acetazolamide (Diamox) 2 x 125 - 250 mg per day,

indicated if forced rapid ascents and medical history of aMs.

aspirin reduces platelet aggregation and decreases the risk of

haPE.

c. avoid alcohol, medications that cause depression of breathing

such as sleeping pills, sedatives and strong pain-killers

d. vulnerable Groups: older people, children, pregnant women, and

people with pre-existing disease.

CAUTION

Use of any medicines without proper medical advice can be

harmful or even fatal in high altitude conditions. Yatris, therefore,

are strongly advised to ensure that medicines carried by them are

duly approved by a qualified physician or doctor.



COMMUNICATION FACILITIESthe Government of india establishes a wireless link between the

itBP Force and the Chinese side to keep track of various batches

performing the Yatra and share information on their movement

and whereabouts. it is also useful during any emergency that may

arise.

Each liaison officer is provided with a satellite Phone, enabling

him/her to stay in touch with itBP/KMvn, and to ask for assistance

in case of any emergency. under no circumstances is this facility

to be used to meet any personal requirement. stD/isD facility

is available on self-paid basis at Dharchula, Gala, Budhi, Gunji,

navidhang, taklakot and Darchen.

Digital satellite public telephone facilities have been installed

by Bsnl at KMvn and itBP camps on the indian side of the

Yatra route. Yatris can avail of this effective telephone service at

subsidized rates to communicate with their families and friends.

Mobile phone facilities are available on the Chinese side at all

places, excepting the Deraphuk-Zongzerbu sector. Yatris can buy

pre-paid siM cards to avail of mobile phone facilities locally there.


Yatris are advised to carry extra batteries as the discharge rate

is higher at high altitudes. Power supply is available for a limited

period each day till Dharchula on the indian side, and in taklakot

(tibet) for recharging batteries. For digital and video camera, yatris

may carry an extra set of memory card and cassettes, respectively.

CAUTION:

Between Gala and Budhi, the stretch along the River Kali is,

possibly, the riskiest portion of the entire yatra. Yatris may need

to exercise extreme caution and even desist from photography to

totally focus on personal safety.

PHOTOGRAPHY


WEATHERYatris undertaking the pilgrimage during mid-June to august shall

be doing so during the monsoons. the rains are unpredictable. the

first few days of the trek in the lower reaches may often involve

walking in the rain. the monsoon is less intense in the higher

reaches. For the latter, colder part of the trek, it is necessary to

avoid getting wet. a good raincoat is essential, and also so are

woollens and windcheaters for protection against windy and rainy

weather. in the higher altitudes, it tends to be hot during day time

and cold after sunset. Cold winds, and the combination of changing

weather and exposure to ultra-violet radiation there can damage

the skin, unless adequate precautions are taken by applying liberal

amount of suntan lotion. Each yatri must use a broad peak cap or

straw hat to protect one’s face against the harsh sunlight. Extra

pairs of warm socks are useful during wet weather.


Do’s

1. treat the mountains with respect. Do not attempt to ‘conquer’

them or show off physical fitness.

2. walk at a steady, rhythmic pace. walk with a companion as a

safety measure against sudden sickness and accidents.

3. Keep away from high conical rocks.

4. if at a lower altitude, take shelter under a lone tree or on top of

a hill. it is safer to sit out in the open.

5. avoid wearing one or two very thick woolen layers. instead, wear

loose clothes in several layers with an outer wind covering.

6. Get at least two pairs of good trekking shoes and practise

walking with these shoes before the Yatra.

7. wear two pairs of socks (cotton and woolen) inside the climbing

boots.

8. Ensure to keep feet dry. use dusting powder before wearing

socks and change into dry socks soon after reaching the camp.

use of wet socks or wet shoes causes extreme discomfort,

blisters and skin ailments. it is therefore advisable to carry extra

pairs of socks.

9. wear well fitting gloves to protect hands and fingers. hands,

feet, ears and nose must be protected against extreme cold.

Continuous exposure of hands and feet can bring down the

body temperature drastically and cause high altitude pulmonary

oedema.

DO’S AND DON’TS FOR THE YATRIS


10. Drink lot of water and fluids during trekking. take liberal amounts

of hot, sweet fluids and enough nourishment to provide energy

for body.

11. use good quality tinted snow-glasses or dark sun-glasses to

protect eyes against snow blindness. avoid use of cheap, poor

quality sun-glasses.

12. apply sun cream or calamine lotion to exposed parts of the

body to avoid sun burn, particularly during the Parikramas.

13. take bath in the lake Manasarovar only if body can sustain low

temperature in the area.

14. take prompt treatment for minor cuts, blisters and ulcers.

15. Move fingers, toes and facial muscles, and exercise limbs

during periods of immobility by wiggling the toes and fingers

and wrinkling the face muscles at intervals. Keep in motion to

remain warm.

16. trek in small groups.

17. if there is heavy snowfall or snow storms, stay close to each

other and avoid being separated.

18. Ensure that the batch commences the day’s trekking early in

the morning and sticks to the departure time.

19. Follow instructions of the liaison officer properly.

Don’ts

1. Do not get separated from fellow yatris. if there is heavy

snowfall or snow storms, stay close to each other and avoid

being separated.

2. Do not trek in one’s or two’s. Don’t get separated from the

main group of trekking and ensure that the person in the front

remains in sight.

3. Do not attract lightening during electric storms by putting up

pointed objects like ice-axes or wireless aerials.

4. Do not neglect to consume sufficient food and fluids. Do

remember that pilgrims suffer from loss of appetite at high

altitudes. so, per force consume enough nourishment.

5. Do not wear climbing boots that leak or are tight.

6. Do not wear wet socks or permit socks to wrinkle inside the

boots, as this will cause blisters.

7. Do not neglect minor injuries like cuts, blisters and ulcers as

these may become frost-bitten.

8. Do not sleep with boots on.

9. Do not carry too heavy a load.

10. Do not over-exert. Fatigue can lead to cold and more serious

problems, especially at high altitudes.

11. Do not consume alcohol during the Yatra and especially at high

altitudes, as this is dangerous and has serious consequences.

DO’S AND DON’TS FOR THE YATRIS


Q.1. why are applicants required to submit interim medical test

results with their application forms when only the results of

medical tests, subsequently conducted on selected yatris at

the Delhi heart and lung institute and the itBP Base hospital

in Delhi, will be considered valid? which are these interim

medical tests and where should applicants get medically

examined to obtain such initial medical test reports/results

to be submitted with the application forms?

ans. Given the extremely arduous nature of the Yatra, only those

who are physically fit and healthy should apply for selection.

in order to prejudge his/her fitness for the Yatra, an applicant

is advised to undergo the following medical tests at any

competent health centre(s) of choice, and submit medical

results with his/her application: (i) tMt (tread Mill stress

test), (ii) Blood Pressure, and (iii) Blood sugar levels for both

Fasting and non-Fasting conditions.

however, the selected applicants will be required to undergo

and qualify comprehensive medical examinations, conducted

at the Delhi heart and lung institute and the itBP Base

hospital in new Delhi in May 2012 onwards, before they are

allowed to undertake the Yatra proper.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS


Q.2 are foreigners with Pio/oCi status eligible to undertake the

Kailash Manasarovar Yatra-2012?

ans. an indian citizen, holding a valid indian passport and aged at

least 18 years and below 70 years as on 01.01.2012, is eligible

to apply for the Yatra. those who hold foreign nationalities

are not eligible. Pio/oCi card holders are, thus, ineligible.

Q.3 similar yatras are conducted by other private agencies, which

complete in about 14 days. what is the difference between

the one conducted by the Government of india and those

conducted by private agencies?

ans. the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra, conducted by the Government

of india, has a specific surface route that starts and ends in

new Delhi and takes about 27 days to cover the whole Yatra

proper. it involves trekking at high altitudes of up to 19,500

feet, under inhospitable conditions, including extreme cold

and rugged terrain, and may prove hazardous for those who

are not physically fit and medically healthy. the Yatra affords

to its yatris sufficient period of time to gradually acclimatize

to withstand the inhospitable conditions en route, as hasty

ascent to high altitudes may cause severe high altitude

sicknesses, which can prove life threatening. in addition,

the Yatra requires 3-4 days to be spent in new Delhi for

completing various formalities.

also, yatris traverse through numerous touristic and religious

places known for picturesque, scenic and the mesmerizing

beauty all over the world at affordable costs. offering splendid

views of mountain peaks and famed flora of Kumaon region of

uttrakhand, the route boasts of unspoilt and thrilling nature,

religious value, cultural significance, and physical beauty.

Q.4 is there any subsidy given to Kailash Manasarovar Pilgrims?

ans. no. a few of our states – including Chhattisgarh, Delhi,

Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and uttarakhand – of

their own, directly provide varied sums of money to their

residents to cover a part of their Yatra expenses of about

rs.1,50,000/-. Ministry of External affairs, besides supporting

some of the arrangements, pays a limited amount of money

per yatri to KMvn, which provides logistical support to yatris

in india. For estimated expenditure per yatri, please visit:

http://kmy-2012.webstarts.com/fees_and_expenditure.html

Q.5 if the spouse has also filled the form, he/she will directly

be selected if the other member is selected through the

computerized draw of lots. if one of the members fails in the

medical examination at Gunji, will both be disallowed to go

further or the one who fails?



ans. the yatri who fails the medical examination at Gunji will be

disallowed to proceed further.

Q.6 i was liaison officer to the Yatra-1999. Can i again become a

part of the Yatra as lo or yatri?

ans. a person who has gone on the Yatra as liaison officer or as a

yatri in any year prior to this year will not be considered for

appointment as liaison officer. as for the selection as a yatri,

preference is given to first-time applicants.

Q.7 are officers posted in indian Missions abroad eligible to be

appointed as liaison officers? if an officer were to move

abroad after selection as lo, will he/she still be eligible to

officiate as lo?

ans. there is nothing on record to prohibit the members of the

indian Missions/Posts abroad from being appointed as los.

Ea Division would require administrative sanction before an

officer is considered for an interview for selection as lo.

in the eventuality of moving abroad on a foreign assignment

after selection as lo, the selected lo will need additional

clearance from hoM and Ministry before performing his/her

duty as lo.

the Yatra proper requires 27 days to complete. in addition,

3-4 days are required to be spent in Delhi to complete various

formalities - medical examinations, Chinese visa, etc.

Q.8 are the food and accommodation arrangements made during

the Yatra? what is the estimated expenditure per yatri?

ans. on the indian side of the Yatra, KMvn makes the transport,

logistical and food arrangements. in tibet, the Chinese

authorities provide transport and logistical support. For

estimated expenditure details on transport, food and

accommodation, please visit: http://kmy-2012.webstarts.

com/uploads/KMY-Expn-Yatri-lo.pdf. the entire indian

sector is covered in the cost shown in the chart for food and

accommodation.

Q.9 if the Body Mass index (BMi) of a person is over 27, will he/

she be rejected in medical test?

ans. Fitness for the Yatra depends on many other factors of one’s

health. if a person is otherwise found fit and healthy after

comprehensive medical examinations, doctors should not be

much rigid about his/her BMi. nevertheless, one should try,

in the meanwhile, to bring down the BMi level to 27 or less

to add to one’s overall fitness.



Q.10 is Mount Kailash Parikrama the only form of trekking involved

in the Yatra? or, is there any additional trekking involved

during the entire Yatra?

ans. there is a trekking of about 200 km during the whole Kailash

Manasarovar Yatra. For details, please visit: http://kmy-2012.

webstarts.com/uploads/KMY_2012-itinerary.pdf

Q.11 why are yatris required to undergo and qualify detailed

medical examinations at the Delhi heart and lung institute

and the itBP Base hospital?

ans. Yatris are required to trek through high altitude areas. in such

places, the atmospheric air is under low pressure and people

suffer due to effect of hypoxia (low level of oxygen). in the

rarefied atmospheric conditions, a yatri may develop diseases

like pulmonary edema/cerebral edema and acute mountain

sickness, etc. individuals who are suffering from coronary

artery diseases, various lung diseases like bronchial asthma,

hypertension and diabetes, may collapse and die. as such,

yatris are screened thoroughly before they are inducted into

high altitudes.

Q.12 will the medical examinations, conducted at the Delhi heart

and lung institute and the itBP Base hospital, guarantee

that yatris will not suffer from pulmonary oedema, etc?

ans. no. any of the yatris may still become a victim of high

altitude diseases.

Q.13 is there any age factor for yatris?

ans. it is recommended that no one should be inducted into high

altitudes after the age of 70 years, as one cannot generally

acclimatise properly and cope with the stress at such

advanced age. it is also observed that some young persons

in age group of 19-30 years are more prone to high altitude

diseases than persons in older age groups.

Q.14 why are younger persons more prone to haPE?

ans. Exact cause is not known. it is believed that younger persons

are less inclined to respect the rules of acclimatization due to

a false sense of bravado.

Q.15 if a yatri has been to high altitude previously and had an

uneventful stay there, does he still need to undergo the

prescribed medical examinations?

ans. that is all the more reason for the detailed medical

examinations, as it is seen that persons who are inducted

second or third time are more prone to high altitude diseases

than the first timers.



Q.16 how can one become a fit yatri?

ans. a yatri should be free from all major ailments like heart

diseases, asthma, epilepsy, diabetes, hypertension, menstrual

disorders, cancers, etc. Yatris are advised to bring their

weight to average standards, exercise regularly, do breathing

exercises, and quit tobacco, alcohol, etc. a doctor may be

consulted to rule out any major ailments that may render

one unfit for the Yatra.

Q.17 are the medical examinations carried out at the Delhi

heart and lung institute and the itBP Base hospital in new

Delhi, the only medical examinations that the yatris have to

undergo and qualify?

ans. no. Yatris are put to another medical test at Gunji, which is

located at an altitude of 3,220 metres, to assess body reaction

to high altitude. only those yatris who are found fit there, are

allowed to proceed further. also, to prejudge their fitness for

the Yatra, applicants are required to undergo tests for tread

Mill stress test, Blood Pressure and Blood sugar for Fasting

and non-Fasting conditions at competent health centres of

their choice and submit these medical test results with their

application forms for the Yatra.

Q.18 what happens if a yatri falls sick en route?

ans. if a yatri suffers from minor ailments, there are medical and

paramedical staffs on the indian side to provide relief. itBP is

well-equipped and has haPo bags where inside pressure can

be equal or more than sea level. But should a yatri suffer from

any major health problem, he/she may need to be evacuated

to a hospital by helicopter at his/her own cost. however, due

to administrative procedure involving the Chinese side and

due to difficult climatic and geographical conditions, such

evacuation from the Chinese side may take time – at least

48 hours. therefore, yatris should ensure that they are truly

confident of their health and physical fitness before they

undertake this Yatra.

Q.19 should yatris carry the prescribed medicines, which they

have been taking regularly on the advice of their doctors?

ans. Yes. Yatris are advised to take sufficient stock of their

medicines to last the entire duration of the Yatra. they may

discuss this matter with the itBP doctors also.

Q.20 Do yatris need to pay for the medical tests at the itBP Base

hospital in new Delhi and at Gunji?

ans. no. as a courtesy, itBP administers these tests entirely free

of charge.



Q.21 why does Kumaon Mandal vikas nigam limited (KMvn)

charge non-refundable amount of rs.5,000/- from yatris?

ans. KMvn provides logistical support to yatris on the indian

side of the Yatra. they make arrangements for food, shelter,

security, medical attendance, transportation, guide, porters,

etc, well in advance at a cost.. as a result, even if one does

not perform the Yatra eventually, the expenditure cannot be

reimbursed.

Q.22 why are the medical reports by other Government and

Private hospitals not accepted to qualify for the Yatra?

ans. the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra is very arduous and physically

challenging Yatra. Yatris have to pass through areas which

are as high as 19,500 feet in altitude under inhospitable

conditions. there is a danger to person’s life. Keeping in view

the special requirements of the Yatra, yatris are required to

undergo and qualify special tests at the Delhi heart and lung

institute and the itBP Base hospital in new Delhi. the reports

of other hospitals are not accepted to ensure that yatris

undergo uniform medical examinations of the best quality

tailored for the requirements of the Kailash Manasarovar

Yatra, so as to ensure safety and well-being of yatris.

Q.23 if any yatri is rejected on medical ground, can he/she be

considered for a subsequent batch on recovery from the

medical conditions?

ans. no. the Kailash-Manasarovar region hardly has any

satisfactory medical facilities and it is very difficult to airlift a

person to india for immediate specialized medical treatment.

therefore, as a measure of caution and prudence, if a yatri

is once declared medically unfit, he/she is not allowed to

participate in the Yatra during that year in his/her own

interest.

Q.24 Do nGos and voluntary organizations have any role to play

in Kailash Manasarovar Yatra organized by the Ministry of

External affairs?

ans. nGos and voluntary organizations play important role in

any society with regard to dissemination of information and

aid related work. it is up to the individual yatri to accept

their help. the Ministry of External affairs does not appoint or

authorize any nGo or voluntary organizations for the work

relating to the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra.



Q.25 what are the parameters for selection of yatris?

ans. an indian citizen, holding a valid indian passport and aged

at least 18 years and below 70 years as on 01.01.2012, is

eligible to apply for the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra. those

who hold foreign nationalities are not eligible. Pio/oCi card

holders are, thus, ineligible.

Yatris are selected through a computer-generated random

gender-balanced selection process. after the selected yatris

report for the Yatra in new Delhi, they are required to undergo

and qualify thorough medical tests at the Delhi heart and

lung institute and the itBP Base hospital. the parameters of

medical tests are decided by the itBP Base hospital keeping

in mind the requirements of the Yatra.

Yatris are put to another medical test at Gunji, which is

located on way at an altitude of 3,220 metres, to assess body

reaction to high altitude. only those yatris who are found fit

there, are allowed to proceed further.

also, to prejudge their fitness for the Yatra, applicants are

required to undergo tests for tread Mill stress test, Blood

Pressure and Blood sugar for Fasting and non-Fasting

conditions at competent health centres of their choice before

applying for the Yatra, and submit these medical test results

with their application forms by the last date.


ANNEXURES


AnnExurE–AMedical Tests Conducted In New Delhi

1. h.B.

2. tlC

3. DlC

4. Blood Group with rh-type

5. Blood sugar Fasting / Post Prandidal

6. Blood urea

7. serum Creatinine

8. serum. Bil., s.G.o.t. , s.G.P.t

9. lipid Profile

10. urine rE

11. Chest x-ray

12. t.M.t.

13. E.C.G.

14. Pulmonary Function test(PFt)

15. hba1c

16. stress-Echo-test (if recommended by doctor).

source: itBP

AnnExurE–b Useful Medicines That May Be Carried By Yatris

the Medical officer, accompanying yatris on the indian side, has

a stock of general medicines. on the Chinese side, there is no

doctor to accompany yatris during the Parikramas of Kailash and

Manasarovar. Yatris are advised to carry their personal stock of

medicines.

some useful medicines that yatris may like to carry along are given

in the table on the next page.

Diarrhoea is a common complaint in mountain areas. Yatris are

advised to take ors packs to replenish loss of salts.

ANNEXURES


SL. No. Name of Medicine Unit Quantity

1 Crocin (for fever) strip 01

2 Pantaprazole strip 02

3 Digene (for acidity) strip 01

4 vitamin C 500mg (for building up immunity to cold)

strip 01

5 Pulv Electrol (for dehydration) Pkt 02

6 Diamox strip 01

Antidiarrhoeal

7 norflox strip 01

8 norflox tZ strip 01

9 neutrolin-B strip 01

Antibiotic

10 levofloxacin (once a day) 05 tablets

11 Cough syrup Bottle 01

Analgesics

12 Brufen – 400 mg or Combiflam strip 01

13 lipsol (lip balm) no. 01

14 Bandage cloth roll 01 (15 cm)

15 Bandage cloth roll 01 (7.5 cm)

16 Cotton gms 100

17 tincture Benzoin ml. 50

18 adhesive Plaster (small spool) no. 01

19 Band aid Pcs 04

20 Betadine lotion, Betadine ointment 01 each

Yatris, who prefer homeopathy, may carry homoeopathic

medicines. tr. Coca is understood to be useful in high altitude

Pulmonary Edema (haPE).

if a Medical Doctor is a yatri or lo, he/she may carry along

emergency medicines, like lasix/sorbtrate/Diamox/amlodipine 5

mg /splint/Decadron, etc.

it may be useful to carry unit of oxy Care (oxygen) with each

batch.

sources: Dhli and itBP

CAUTION

Use of any medicines without proper medical advice can be

harmful or even fatal in high altitude conditions. Yatris, therefore,

are strongly advised to ensure that medicines carried by them are

duly approved by a qualified physician or doctor.

ANNEXURES


AnnExurE–c Minimum Recommended Equipment For The Yatra

Sl No. Food Item Quantity

1 wind-proof jacket with parka 1 no.

2 sweaters 2 full sleeve

3 sweaters 1 half sleeve

4 Balaclava (Monkey cap) 1 no.

5 woollen and leather gloves 1 pair each.

6 woollen/cotton long johns 2 pairs

7 woollen socks 4 pairs

8 Cotton socks 4 pairs

9 Jeans/Pants 3 nos.

10 shorts 2 nos.

11 Full sleeve shirts/t-shirt 6 nos.

12 sun glasses (good quality), with chain for hanging around neck

1 no.

13 hunter/Marching/trekking shoes (carry extra shoe laces; normal shoes will be useless for trekking)

2 pairs

14 Peaked cap or broad brimmed straw hat (for protection against the sun)

1 no.

15 water bottle (large) 1 no.

Sl No. Food Item Quantity

16 torch light (carry two sets of extra cells and one bulb)

1 no.

17 raincoat (large size) 1 no.

18 Belt pouch for camera/money/medicines/documents

1 no.

19 large Plastic sheet for water proofing your luggage

1 no.

20 Plate/Mug/spoon 1 set

21 toilet paper

22 sun screen lotion (for protection from sunburn) 30 sPF

1 no.

23 Candles

24 Match box/lighter

25 Multipurpose knife 1 no.

26 rubber slippers 1 no.

27 snow Glasses (uv protected)

28 Extra memory card/ cassette for camera (optional)

29 walking sticks are useful and may be bought at Dharchula.

ANNEXURES


AnnExurE–dSuggested Ration Scale For Both Parikramas

since yatris have to carry food for the duration of both the Kailash

and the Manasarovar Parikramas, they should plan and purchase

the food in india itself. as a basic guideline, the food items should

be either pre-cooked/partly pre-cooked or easy to cook, as food

takes much longer to cook at high altitudes. as far as possible, food

should be consumed in liquid form. it should provide sufficient

nourishment.

as part of normal practice, yatris of each batch decide on the

amount and type of food items they wish to carry with them

and make purchases accordingly. Yatris could make a combined

purchase of food items in new Delhi for the sake of logistical

convenience during the Yatra.

it is useful to supplement these supplies with items such as cans of

fruit, soft drinks and juices, sweets/toffees, etc, (see annExurE-E).

the last point where these items can be bought is taklakot, but

prices there will be higher than in Dharchula. Prices in Dharchula

itself will be higher than in Delhi. taklakot is also the best place

to stock up on fresh vegetables such as potatoes, cabbage, green

peppers, brinjal, etc, for consumption on the Chinese side where

yatris will have to prepare their own food.

Source: KMVN

Sl No. Food Item Average Daily Requirement per Yatri

Total per Yatri for 9 days

1 atta 40 Grams 3.600 kgs

2 rice 250 Grams 2.250 kgs

3 Dal 100 Grams 900 gms

4 noodle/Maggi Packets 100 Grams 900 gms

5 Fresh vegetables 250 Grams 2.250 kgs

6 Pre-cooked/tinned veg 200 Grams 1.800 kgs

7 instant soup Packets 25 Grams 250 gms

8 tea leaves/Coffee 08 Grams 72 gms

9 Milk powder for tea 50 Grams 450 gms

10 suji/Corn flakes/ Dalia 30 Grams 270 gms

11 refined oil 100 Grams 900 gms

12 sugar 80 Grams 720 gms

13 Potato 50 Grams 450 gms

14 Garam Masala 20 Grams 180 gms

15 Besan 20 Grams 180 gms

16 Pickle 05 Grams 45 gms

17 tomato Puree 25 Grams 225 gms

18 Pooja samagri for havan (1 Pkt per Yatri)

ANNEXURES


AnnExurE–EFood Items For Personal Consumption – Emergency Rations

on the indian side, the KMvn authorities provide breakfast, lunch

and tea twice daily to the yatris. on the Chinese side, food is

provided only during the stay at taklakot. it is advisable for each

yatri to carry some nourishing foodstuffs for personal consumption,

apart from the common foodstuff for the batch.

the following items are recommended to be carried by the yatris.

the list is not exhaustive.

1. Biscuits-sweet/salty

2. Mixed dry fruits

3. lemon drops

4. Chocolates/toffees

5. soup powder packets

6. Cheese cubes

7. Chewing gum

8. instant drinks

9. Glucose.

Source: KMVN

FORMS

ANNEXURES



(on a non-judicial stamp-paper of rs.10/- if executed within the

union territory of Delhi or on a stamp-paper of the value prescribed

by the concerned state Government)

indEmnity bond

whErEas the Government of india in consultation with the

Government of People’s republic of China has arranged pilgrimage

of indian citizens to Kailash/Manasarovar.

whErEas the executant shri/smt./Km

son/daughter/wife of shri

resident of

a citizen of india (hereinafter called heirs, legal representative and

assignees) has made an application for joining the pilgrimage to

Kailash-Manasarovar.

whErEas the applicant has agreed to abide by the terms and

conditions prescribed by the Government of india of his own free

will, voluntarily and without any coercion or pressure of any kind.

whErEas the rules prescribed by the Government of india require

an indemnity Bond to be executed by the applicant.

This Bond Witnesseth As Follows

in consideration of the President of india (hereinafter called the

Government) having agreed to assist in the arrangement for the

pilgrimage of the applicant to Kailash-Manasarovar the above-

mentioned applicant agrees to abide by the following conditions:

(1) that the indian Mountaineering Foundation (iMF) has

recognised the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra as a trekking

expedition and it may involve high risk to the person or

property of the applicant caused by any natural calamity or

due to any other reason.

(2) that the applicant is joining the aforesaid pilgrimage of

his/her own free will and on his/her own personal risk and

consequences and undertakes to bear all expenses for the

pilgrimage.

(3) that the applicant shall abide by the rules, regulations/term

and conditions prescribed by the Government of india and

undertake to hold himself/herself responsible for any breach

or violation thereof.

(4) that the applicant or his-her legal representative will not hold

the Government of india liable in any manner whatsoever in

the event of any accident or any untoward happening that

FORM 1 - INDEMNITY BOND


may result in injury to the applicant or damage or loss of

property to the applicant of any nature due to any natural

calamity or due to any other reason whatsoever.

(5) that the applicant or his/her legal representative will not

claim from the Government of india any damages in the event

of any loss or damage to his/her person or property including

death.

(6) the above-named applicant hereby further agrees that this

indemnity Bond shall remain in full force and effect during

the period of the aforesaid pilgrimage and for a period of one

year thereafter and that shall continue to be enforceable till

all the dues of the Government and all claims raised by the

Government under/or by virtue of the aforesaid undertaking

have been fully paid and its claims satisfied or discharged or

till the Government certifies that the rules and regulations

have been fully and properly carried out by the applicant and

accordingly discharges the indemnity Bond.

(7) that the above named applicant hereby further agrees with

the Government that he/she shall not be allowed to proceed

further and shall have to return from the pilgrimage if the

Government is satisfied that he/she is unfit to proceed

further at any time or stage of the pilgrimage. the above

named applicant further agrees that in the event of his/her

not being allowed to proceed and having to return from the

pilgrimage, no money deposited by the aforesaid applicant for

the purpose of pilgrimage will be refunded to him/her.

(8) the above named applicant hereby agree that he / she will

abide by the scheduled route or scheduled halts as issued by

the Government of india, and that he /she or his/her legal

representative will not hold the Government of india liable in

any manner whatsoever in the event, if he /she do not conform

to the scheduled route or scheduled halts as provided by the

Government.

(9) that the above named applicant further agrees to refund the

entire sum in foreign exchange which was sanctioned for the

pilgrimage to the Government of india’s reserve Bank, if he/

she does not proceed or return from the pilgrimage at any

stage of the pilgrimage.

(10) that the above named applicant further agrees with the

Government that the Government shall have the fullest

authority without his/her consent and without affecting in

any manner his/her obligations hereunder to vary any of the

rules and regulations according to the circumstances from

time to time and to forebear or enforce any of the terms and

FORM 1 - INDEMNITY BOND


conditions of the said agreement and he/she shall not be

relieved from his/her liability by reason of any such variation.

(11) the applicant undertakes that he/she will bear full

responsibility for expenses on emergency medical as well as

emergency air evacuation, if the need arises during the Yatra.

(12) this indemnity Bond will not be revoked by any change of

circumstances.

(13) the above named applicant lastly undertakes not to revoke

this indemnity Bond during its currency except with the

previous consent of the Government in writing.

in witness whereof the above named applicant has executed this

indemnity Bond at

(Place) on this

(date) day of (month) of 2012.

witnEssEs ExECutant

1.

2.

(to be attested by First Class

Magistrate or notary Public)

undErtAking by thE yAtri in cASE of EmErgEncy hElicoptEr EVAcuAtion 1. naME oF Yatri:

2. FathEr’s naME:

3. DatE oF Birth:

4. aDDrEss: (with statE anD Pin no.)

5. tElEPhonE: (with CoDE):

MoBilE no:

6. oCCuPation

7. PassPort no:

DatE oF issuE:

PlaCE oF issuE:

vailD uPto:

8. nExt oF Kin to BE inForMED

in CasE oF EMErGEnCY:

i,

understand that Kailash Manasarovar Yatra is a high altitude

trekking expedition under inhospitable conditions which may

involve serious risk to person/property of the yatri. i am undertaking

the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra at my own volition, cost, risk and

consequences.

FORM 2 - UNDERTAKING


i undertake that i will bear full responsibility for expenses on

emergency medical treatment, if the need arises during the Yatra.

i undertake to bear full responsibility for expenses on emergency

medical air evacuation which could run into lakhs of rupees, if the

need so arises during the Yatra.

DatE:

(siGnaturE oF Yatri)

PlaCE:

(Full name in Block letter)

Batch no.

registration no.

conSEnt form to bE filEd by yAtri 1. naME oF Yatri :

2. FathEr’s naME:

3. DatE oF Birth:

4. aDDrEss: (with statE anD Pin CoDE no.)

5. tElEPhonE: (with CoDE):

MoBilE no.:

6. oCCuPation:

7. PassPort no:

DatE oF issuE:

PlaCE oF issuE:

vailD uPto :

8. nExt oF Kin to BE inForMED

in CasE oF EMErGEnCY:

i ,

understand that Kailash Manasarovar Yatra involves high altitude

trekking under inhospitable conditions which may pose serious risk

to person of the Yatri. i am undertaking the Kailash Manasarovar

Yatra at my own volition, cost, risk and consequences.

FORM 3 - CONSENT FORM


i, hereby undertake that in case of loss of my life on Chinese

territory during Yatra, the decision regarding cremation of mortal

remains at site (i.e. Chinese territory) shall be left to liaison officer

of the batch who will not be bound to seek prior consent of my

family members or relatives.

i, further undertake that without prejudice to the foregoing, all

claims, disputes, differences shall be subject to the Jurisdiction of

Courts in new Delhi only.

DatE:

(siGnaturE oF Yatri)

PlaCE:

Full name in BloCK lEttErs:

registration no.

Batch no.

(siGnaturE oF sPousE/nExt oF Kin)

Full name in BloCK lEttErs:

bio dAtA form of yAtriBatch no:

Date of starting from Delhi:

name:

age:

Father’s name: shri

name and address of next of kin:

Details of Relatives in Delhi:

name:

relationship with Yatri:

Blood Group:

identification Marks:

address:

telephone nos.

Mobile:

Job | Profession: Government |

Private | Corporation | other

siGnaturE oF Yatri

FORM 4 -BIO DATA


mEdicAl chEck-up form - iTo be filled by YATRI

Yatri is required to produce investigation/treatment slip on

prescribed Proforma to Doctor for guidance.

1. name of the Yatri (in BloCK lEttErs):

2. age:

3. sex: Male | Female

4 address:

5 Delhi contact telephone no.

Mobile no.

6 occupation:

7 have you ever suffered from any major injury:

8 have you ever been operated upon

and if so state nature and date:

9 whether you have participated earlier in the KMY or not? if

yes,

a) whether you have been medically examined and if so what

was the result?

b) the reason of unfitness, if so declared previously:

c) whether you have been disqualified at Gunji or not? if so, for

what reasons?

10 have you ever suffered from any of the following:

a) nervous break down

b) Discharge from ears or any and other ear trouble

c) Fits of any kind

d) Enlarged glands or swelling in the neck

e) Fever of prolonged duration accompanied by cough or

vomiting of blood or loss of weight.

f) typhoid fever

g) rheumatic fever with joint pain and swelling.

h) any kind of heart disease

i) Malaria

j) Fainting attack

k) Diphtheria

l) Kidney disease

m) Bronchial asthma/other lung disease

n) any other serious illness

FORM 5 - PART-I

photo


mEdicAl chEck-up form – iiTo Be Filled By The Medical Officer

1. hemogram: hB tlC

DlC P l M E

2. Blood group:

3. urine rE:

a. i) albumin:

ii) sugar:

B. Microscopic:

11 have you ever taken medicine in the last 6 months for:

a) hypertension

b) heart attack

c) asthma

d) any other cardiac, renal, nervous system, abdominal

and lungs disorder etc. if so details please

12 have you suffered any physical/mental disease not mentioned

above?

siGnaturE oF Yatri with DatE:

FORM 5 - PART-II

photo


4. Biochemistry:

Blood:

i) sugar (Fasting): (PP):

ii) urea:

iii) Creatinine:

iv) serum Bilirubin: sGot: sGPt:

5. Chest x ray:

6. stress ECG: (tMt): BP:

7. Pulmonary Function test:

(selected cases)

in my opinion shri/smt/Kumari:

age years is Fit/unFit to perform the Kailash

Manasarovar Yatra.

Dated:

signature:

name:

Medical officer:

Base hospital, itB Police:

LIST OF IMPORTANT CONTACTS


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Kailash Manasarovar Yatra 2012 · 123 DELHI

KATHGODAM BARECHINA

BERINAG

DHOLECHINARAIGARH JA

GESH

WAR

PATALBHUVANESHWAR

AARTOLA

ALMORA

KAUSANI

THAL

DIDIHATMERTHI

NARAYAN NAGAR

ASKOT

DHARCHULA

TAWAGHAT kali River

SIRKHA

GALA

MALPA

QUGU

MANASAROVARTO LHASA

HOREZONGZERBU

HOLY KAILASH

DARCHEN

GUNJI

KALAPANI

NAVIDANG

LIPULEKH PASS

GARBADHAR NEPALINDIA

CHINA-TIBET

BUDHICHIYALEKH

GARBAYANG

KUTTIINTERNATIONAL PASS

TAKLAKOT

ADI KAILASHJOLING KONG

YAMDWARDERAPHU

RAKSHASH TAL

DOLMA PASS

NARAYANASHRAM

PANGLA

MAGTI NALA

OOGLI

GHAT

PITHORAGARH

SHIVA TEMPLEBAIJNATH

BAGESHWAR(BAGHNATH TEMPLE)

CHAKORI

UDIARI B

AND

380

130

18

26 7025

24

5

75

215

1518

3

110

24

80

18

35 18

6

14

612

83

59

99

8.5

19

19 KM

100

50 KM

12 KM

10 KM

14

8 KM

16 KM

5

18

MAP NOT TO SCALE

NAME SIGN

METALLED ROAD

FOOT TRACK

IMP. PLACES

niGht halt

RIVER

routE mAp of kAilASh mAnASAroVAr yAtrA - 2012.


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