Tibetannet

When China opened the sensitive Nathu La Pass, allowing Indian pilgrims to visit Tibet Autonomous Region for pilgrimage, it attracted a lot of public attention. Not everyone knows the origin of Hinduism’s relationship with Tibet, nor do people necessarily know where Indian pilgrims are headed.

Indian pilgrims are visiting Mt. Gang Rinpoche, which lies in Purang County, Ngari Prefecture in Tibet. Mt. Gang Rinpoche is regarded as a holy mountain worldwide, and it is the source of great rivers such as the Ganges, the Indus, and the Yarlung Tsangbo. It is also believed to be "the center of the world" in Hinduism, Buddhism, Bon, and ancient Jainism.

The meaning of "Gang Rinpoche" in Tibetan is "treasure of snow". According to legend, it is where Sakyamuni Buddha preached, and in Buddhism the "Mt. Sumeru" just refers to this mountain. Meanwhile, in Hinduism, it is the palace of God Shiva, and is known as "the king of mountains".

According to records in the Indian creation epic Ramayana and other writings, Indians’ worship of Mt. Gang Rinpoche can be traced back to around 1,000 B.C.

Worshippers believe that making a pilgrimage to this holy mountain once in a lifetime is an important meritorious deed.

Making a pilgrimage to Mt. Gang Rinpoche is also the world’s most challenging pilgrimage. It is located near the world’s highest peak, Mt. Qomolangma, and you must first cross an area of endless barren land, snow-covered mountains, ancient blue lakes, and scarce green villages. Because of this, before departing pilgrims must be trained to have a strong will and good physique.

The pilgrimage season is from June to September annually. Historically, crossing through the Nathu La Pass was a part of the "Ancient Tea-Horse Road" as well as a pilgrimage route for Indian pilgrims.

To this day, no mountain climber has conquered the summit of Mt. Gang Rinpoche. In the 1980s, the famous Italian mountain climber Reinhold Messner, who was the first person in the world to summit 14 peaks over 8,000 meters, received an opportunity to climb Mt. Gang Rinpoche. But out of reverence for the mountain, he gave it up. In the new century, the Chinese government has prevented anyone from climbing Mt. Gang Rinpoche in order to protect the holy mountain.

Since it is a holy mountain in both Hinduism and Buddhism, Indians have never been stopped from making pilgrimages to Mt. Gang Rinpoche. After the Sino-Indian conflict, the Nathu Lu Pass became a strategic position and a sensitive area due its proximity to disputed territory between China and India, but Indians were still able to enter Tibet through the Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand in India, which is 5,800 meters above sea level. It took more than 20 days to reach Mt. Gang Rinpoche by this route.

In 2006, China and India decided to reopen the Nathu Lu Pass for trade. People living on the border are able to cross over for trade, but they must return back on the same day. Because of this, Indian pilgrims cannot use it as a pilgrimage route. China has now decided to open a new pilgrimage route, not only to shorten the time it takes on the pilgrimage road from more than 20 to about eight days, but also to give older Indian pilgrims and those in poor health an opportunity to make a pilgrimage to the holy site.