Tag: travel

Visit Kailash Manasarovar


It is said that faith can move mountains. What if the mountain itself is faith?

For millennia, Mount Kailash has been venerated as an extraordinary peak, with divinity attributed to it. For Hindus, it’s revered as the very abode of the powerful Lord Shiva and his consort, Parvati. It is also believed to be the pillar of the world, reaching up to the heavens. At 22,022 feet above mean sea level, it indeed seems so. Mount Kailash also holds a special place for Jains, Buddhists and the people belonging to the indigenous Tibetan religion, Bon. All these religions believe that a parikrama or the ritual circumambulation of Mount Kailash brings good fortune to the one who does it. From its location in modern-day Tibet, Mount Kailash radiates divinity and spirituality that guides devotees from all over the world to visit it and bask in its majesty.

At the base of Mount Kailash is the presence of the holy lake, Manasarovar. At 14,950 feet above mean sea level, Manasarovar is the highest freshwater lake in the world. The geographical significance apart, Lake Manasarovar is also considered extremely holy. A dip in this water is supposed to wipe off all the sins of your previous lives. Manasarovar feeds another nearby salt-water lake called Rakshastal. According to Hindu belief, Ravana – the lord of the demons – performed a tough penance on the foothills of Mount Kailash to propitiate Lord Shiva, which gave rise to this lake named after him. Both these lakes are considered opposites: fresh versus salty, brightness versus darkness, life-giving versus lack of life and calm versus choppy. This is also a special spot geologically. Lake Manasarovar is close to the sources of four great rivers, the Brahmaputra, Ghaghara, Sindhu and Sutlej.

Thus, both spiritually and geologically, Kailash Manasarovar is a rather extraordinary place in this wonderful planet of ours, and you have to be blessed and privileged to go on this physical and mental journey to experience it. However, as you would expect, Kailash Manasarovar is located in an inhospitable, remote terrain. It’s not an easy journey to undertake and you need to be reasonably fit, both mentally and physically. But if you think the call has come from the top of Mount Kailash, asking you to visit His abode, give The Wanderers a call.

GETTING THE CALL

Why travel with us? Many solid reasons. We have been promoting trips to Kailash Manasarovar since 1998, at a time when one had to rough it out – camping in the outdoors, fording streams and rivers and traversing rough terrain without any sign of tarmac. Since we have been at it for two decades now, we know the lie of the land and have warm, trustworthy relationships with the people who partner with us locally. Needless to say, all those who have travelled with us in these 20 years have put in a good word for us and recommended us to others to undertake this very special journey with The Wanderers.

With our vast experience, we are your best advisors, telling you upfront what to expect if you have ‘received the call’ and made up your mind. As mentioned earlier, it’s not an easy trip to take to this remote, high-altitude terrain and you need to be prepared to head out there. We make you go through extensive briefing to prep you up mentally and physically to go to Kailash Manasarovar and return home blessed.

Of course, our objective is to also make sure you are comfortable and safe throughout the trip. Hence we use the best quality hotels and stay options available in Nyalam, Saga and Darchen. We are also equipped with facilities like oxygen cylinders, keep the availability of medical support through most of the trip and we supply you with duffel bags, day backpacks and (returnable) down jackets for your use. There is also The Wanderers’ legendary attention to detail and personalisation options, which sets us apart.

We offer four route options, depending on your budget and time:
1. Overland ex-Kathmandu
2. Helitour ex-Kathmandu
3. Helitour ex-Lucknow
4. Overland ex-Kathmandu via Lhasa

All options work well and there is no difference in our quality of service. The ideal time to visit Kailash Manasarovar is between May and September. Though it is difficult, elderly persons of even 70 years of age have travelled with us in comfort and ease. We even customise packages for private groups.

Are you ready then to take the call?

To check out our Kailash Manasarovar Package click here

Email: askus@thewanderers.co.in

Insiders View on Galapagos Islands

By Charles Cumella

What makes Galapagos Islands a good travel destination?

Galapagos Islands is an archipelago of 19 islands. It is a spectacular paradise of sight, sound, and activity. Each island offers something special, from plush white sands to exotic birds to deep lava tunnels. It is marvelous.
There’s an other-worldliness about these islands. It’s the unofficial animal kingdom of South America, and its placidity is challenged only by the peculiar call of the blue-footed booby, the screech of a hawk, or the crashing waves as sea lions cut through shimmering azure waters. The Galapagos Islands capture a unique melange of native and modern, and there’s more to it than meets the eye.

Any essentials that one needs to carry when they are travelling to the Galapagos Islands?

Passengers should always carry a camera, sunblock, sunglasses, low boots are always essential while doing the hikes around the islands, and of course, the disposition to explore and have a great time.

Which are the most surreal places to visit when in Galapagos Islands?

The most surreal places to visit on the islands would have to be: • Española Island: This island is located on the south-eastern part of the archipelago. It has an overwhelming amount of wildlife, such as the Waved Albatross and a large group of Galapagos tortoises, which represent a success story for the conservation efforts on the islands. It also has a beautiful coastline lined with amazing cliffs.

• Fernandina Island: One of the newest islands in the archipelago, it is located on the Western side of Isabela. It is also the most volcanically active island and has amazing volcanic landscapes that will impress even the most experienced travellers. This island is also home to a large colony of Galapagos penguin and has a special sub-species of Marine Iguana which does not reside at low elevations.

• Genovesa Island: This one of the Northernmost islands, and is also referred to as the “Bird Island” due to its great variety of bird species, including the Nazca, Red Footed and Blue Footed Boobie, Great Frigatebirds, among others; all in all, a birder’s paradise.

Can you tell us a little about the life of the locals?

Local life on the islands is a relaxing one, human beings always interacting with the wildlife that surrounds them has made up a different dynamic; people and animals coexisting greatly on the archipelago. The lifeblood of the islands, of course, is fishing, this can only be done in specific areas, and the islands have some of the best fresh fish in the world!

What are the local delicacies/drinks which one must try and where in Galapagos Islands?

Galapagos always has a wide array of seafood, fish, lobster, etc. But there is one specific restaurant that uses only local ingredients for their meals, and this is the ANKER restaurant. They like to understand the ecosystem, local community and the products from the island to develop their culinary experience. They invite you to experience and taste Galápagos through their tasting menu.

 

Where should one go to get the best of the night life in Galapagos Islands?

The best nightlife on the islands must be in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz, It may not be the capital city of the islands (the capital is Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on San Cristobal), but it has the highest density of young people and restaurants and bars to accommodate anyone.

What are things which one must buy when in Galapagos Islands?

Like in every city in Ecuador, there are many artisans and they dedicate their lives to making handicrafts and trinkets that will make for great souvenirs. There are also many articles of clothing that will help tell everyone back home that you were on the enchanted islands.

Which is the most romantic places to visit in the Galapagos Islands?

The most romantic spots on the islands are:
• Las Grietas, volcanic crevices formed millions of years ago, that has a beautiful panoramic view of Academy Bay.
• Concha Perla, located on Isabela, it is a beautiful turquoise portion of water where many people do snorkelling, but you can also enjoy a romantic walk through a path surrounded by trees.
• Alemanes beach, located on Santa Cruz, very close to Puerto Ayora. It is a secluded beach that has a beautiful view of the bay at sunset, perfect for picnics.

What are the local festivals which one must visit when in Galapagos Islands?

One of the most frequent events on the Galapagos Islands happens in Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz. Every Friday at Pelican Bay there is a cultural festival with local food and typical dance shows. Since Galapagos inhabitants are from all over Ecuador, the food, music and dance represent a mixture of the traditions present across the country.
On Sundays, a traditional barbecue is offered at the Guayabillos farm in the Highlands of Santa Cruz. Every local will recommend this place for Sunday’s lunch.

Now, there’s a festival that only happens between the last two weeks of November in Santa Cruz, the Santa Rosa’s Festival in which a local queen is chosen to represent the small town in the Highlands of Santa Cruz. During this festivity, you can find all sorts of local food and also toreros. This election is very important because the selected queen will be competing against the other small town queens of Santa Cruz in February during the island’s queen election that happens during Carnival.

The things guidebooks will not tell anyone about the Galapagos Islands?

Life on the Galapagos is very distinct to anywhere else on the planet, the people there love the islands and are very focused on keeping everything as pristine as possible and live their life as pleasantly as possible.

According to you what is the best thing about the Galapagos Islands?

The best thing on the Galapagos is the rest and relaxation you can have while exploring fantastic locales and appreciating nature in a way that isn’t possible anywhere else in the world.

Check out our latest package on the Galapagos.