Adi Kailash: “A Complete Guide”

Adi Kailash, also known as the Chota Kailash or Little Kailash, is located at an impressive altitude of 6,310 meters. Adi Kailash is in many ways a replica of Mount Kailash in Tibet. It is located in the Indian Territory of Pithoragarh district in Uttarakhand, near the Indo-Tibetan border. Adi Kailash is a popular pilgrimage destination for Hindu devotees, who come to see the emerald Parvati Sarovar and the Gauri Kund at the foot of the mountain.

It is considered to be the spiritual abode of Lord Shiva and is revered as one of the holiest places in Hinduism. Adi Kailash is situated in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, and its altitude is around 6191 meters above sea level.

Adi Kailash Om Parvat

From Gunji, the Kailash Mansarovar route branches off to Kalapani, where the Kali River originates. Navidhang (3987m) is only 9 km from here. From Navidhang, “Om Parvat” is clearly visible – the snow lies on this mountain in the shape of a perpetual “OM”, the primordial sound. All other slopes may be bare but this inscription in the snow is everlasting and as one observes it, one gets the feeling that the mountain itself is Lord Shiva incarnate.

Adi Kailash Trek

The Adi Kailash Trek is an exhilarating journey that starts with a gradual climb to Darma Valley. From there, the trek ascends to Kuthi Yankti Valley through the Sin La pass, where it joins the Mount Kailash-Lake Mansarovar Tibetan pilgrimage route and continues to the Sharda River. The trek route covers Kausani, Dharchula, Pangu, Sirkha, Galgad, Malpa, Budhi, Gunji, Navidang, Gunji, Kutti, Jollingkong, and Adi Kailash

Trek Route: Kausani- Dharchula – Pangu – Sirkha – Galgad – Malpa – Budhi – Gunji – Navidang – Gunji – Kutti – Jollingkong – Adi Kailash.

Day 1: Delhi to Tanakpur Railway Station Board the train from New Delhi and arrive overnight in Tanakpur.

Day 2: Tanakpur to Dharchula (239 km road trip) Arrive in Dharchula in the evening, check into a hotel, have dinner, and enjoy an overnight stay.

Day 3: Dharchula to Pangu (19 km by road, 9 km trek) After breakfast, drive to Tawaghat to begin the first day of trekking to Pangu, a Bhotia village. The trek passes through a beautiful valley. Reach Pangu by evening, have dinner, and overnight stay at the camp.

Day 4: Pangu to Sirkha (8 km trek) Trek down to Juyntigad in the morning. After a steep ascent up to Sasa Village, the gradual climb continues up to Tihalakot, where there is a small Bhotiya village. Reach Sirkha by evening, camp for the night, and enjoy dinner around the campfire.

Day 5: Sirkha to Galgad (14 km trek) Trek for 2 km down to Samurai in the morning. From here, there is a steep stony climb through the thick forests of Sumariya-Dhar (3048 mt/9998 ft). Reach Galgad by evening, have dinner, and overnight stay in tents.

Day 6: Galgad to Malpa (10 km trek) Begin trekking to Malpa after breakfast. The trek will be difficult, with a steep climb up to Garang and a steep descent down to the Kali River. After walking for a few hours, reach the stunning Najang waterfall. Continue trekking until reaching Malpa, where you’ll have dinner and an overnight stay in cozy tents.

Day 7: Malpa to Budhi (8 km trek) Set out for another challenging trek after breakfast. The last couple of hours of the trek is a steep ascent to Budhi Village. Have dinner and overnight stay in tents.

Day 8: Budhi to Gungi (17 km trek) Start the trek with a steep climb up to Chhiyalekh. Trek through a lush green valley full of beautiful wildflowers. Arrive at Gungi by evening, have dinner, and stay overnight in tents.

Day 9: Gungi to Kutti (18 km trek) Trek up to Kutti in the morning and follow the Kutti River. Admire the magnificent view of the Api and Nampa peaks. Kutti is the last village on this trek that is inhabited by the Bhotia tribes. Have dinner and an overnight stay in tents/fiber huts.

Day 10: Kutti to Jollingkong (14 km trek) Start your trek to reach Jollingkong in the morning. Arrive at Jollingkong by evening, have dinner, and overnight stay in tents/fiber huts.

Day 11: Jollingkong to Adi Kailash and back (4 km trek) Trek up to Mt. Adi Kailash in the morning where you can see Parvati Lake. After spending a couple of hours there, head back down to Jollingkong for dinner and an overnight stay in tents/fiber huts.

Day 12: Jollingkong to Kutti (14 km trek) Head back to Kutti in the morning, have dinner, and spend the night in tents.

Day 13: Kutti to Gunji (19 km trek) Take a trek back to Gunji and camp overnight. Enjoy dinner in the great outdoors and then retire to your tent

Day 14: Gunji to Budhi (17 km Trek)

After breakfast, we will embark on a 17 km trek to reach Budhi. As we trek through the beautiful terrain, we will soak in the magnificent views of the surrounding mountains. Later in the evening, we will relish a delicious dinner and spend the night in our cozy tents.

Day 15: Budhi to Malpa (8 km Trek)

We will continue our journey with an 8 km trek to reach Malpa. After a long day of trekking, we will be welcomed with a mouth-watering dinner and comfortable tents for an overnight stay.

Day 16: Malpa to Galgad (10 km Trek)

On day 16, we will trek for 10 km to reach Galgad. After a tiring day of trekking, we will rest in our tents and enjoy a scrumptious dinner.

Day 17: Galgad to Sirkha (14 km Trek)

After breakfast, we will trek for 14 km to reach Sirkha. The picturesque views along the way will make the trek worth it. We will spend the night camping in tents and enjoy dinner under the stars.

Day 18: Sirkha to Dharchula (17 km Trek / 19 km by Road)

On the last day of our trek, we will trek for 17 km to reach Tawaghat and then take a 19 km drive to reach Dharchula. After a long journey, we will check in to a hotel, enjoy a delicious dinner, and spend the night in comfortable rooms.