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What is the difference between Outer Kora and Inner Kora of Mount Kailash?
Mount Kailash, which is also known as Gang Rimpoche in Tibetan language, is one of the holiest mountains in the world, as believed by people of a number of religions existing all across the globe. Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and even people of the Bon religion of Tibet believe it to be sacred to visit Mount Kailash, and to cleanse off their sins by taking a dip into Lake Mansarovar. So, it is really worthy to take this tour once in a lifetime, no matter if you want to do this as per your religious beliefs, or even otherwise. Along with this, people who plan to go to Mount Kailash commonly ask about the difference between the Outer Kora and Inner Kora of Mount Kailash. They also ask what does the term ‘Kora’ mean.
In terms of trekking, Mount Kailash Kora trek is one of the most difficult trekking pilgrimages in the world. In simple terms, ‘Kora’ is the act of moving around a place because of the religious importance associated with it. People from all over the Asian continent and even from Western countries visit Mount Kailash to trek around it and fill the difference that this Holy place can offer to them. The beautiful scenery of the mountains and the enchanting view of the sky around Mount Kailash is indeed, unique. When travellers and pilgrims pass the trails, they feel like passing through a long history of mankind there. After completing the Kailash Kora, every individual feels an immense amount of happiness and gratification. So, any individual, even if he is not following the religious beliefs related to this Holy place, who wants to challenge his adventurous mind-set, can make a visit to this beautiful place in the world, to make his mind, body and soul feel the difference.
As explained above, Kora means to move or walk around a certain place of religious importance. In that sense, Outer Kora and Inner Kora of Mount Kailash is nothing, but the two routes to be followed around this Holy mountain. Travelers and pilgrims find a number of valleys, monasteries, fields and lakes while following any of these two routes around Mount Kailash. Even Lake Mansarovar is located along the way, where pilgrims prefer to take a bath in order to get salvation, as per their beliefs.
The distance to be covered in the Outer Kora is about 56 kilometres, which includes the roads that reach to the monasteries located on the way. It is because of the long distance that it takes around three days for pilgrims to complete the walk around the Mount Kailash, with staying in Diraphuk and Zuthulpuk in the night time.
One may also find or get to know about some Tibetan people who are known to complete the whole round around Mount Kailash in just one day, owing to their fast speed of walking. Similarly, some pilgrims are such that they prostrate or lie flat on the ground after each step, as per their religious beliefs. Because of this, they need at least three to four weeks to complete one circle. While others trek clockwise, Bon pilgrims can be found in the counterclockwise direction around Mount Kailash.
The itinerary of Outer Kora is defined as follows:
Day 1: Trekking from Darchen to Diraphuk, which covers the distance of around 21 KMs and takes around 12 hours.
Day 2: Trekking from Diraphuk to Dzultripuk, covering the distance of around 22 KMs and taking time of around 12 hours.
Day 3: Trekking from Dzultripuk to Darchen, which covers the distance of 12 KMs and takes only seven hours to come back.
The inner Kora is the route that leads to the south-face of the Holy Mount Kailash. It is shorter in length, covering the distance of around thirty kilometres. But the main highlight of the Inner Kora is that it is more challenging to trek on this route, than on Outer Kora. Its starting point is also Darchen, which is as same as that of Outer Kora. Because of the smaller distance to be covered, the trek is of two days only, and is defined as follows:
Day 1: Trekking from Darchen to Drirapauk.
Day 2: Trekking back from Drirapauk to Darchen.
This trek can also be finished in a day. But most of the pilgrims prefer to complete it in two days, because of the challenges of moving over the cliffs and high passes. Also, one may find less tourists to take the inner Kora route, as it is believed that Buddhists should circle around the outer Kora for thirteen times, before choosing the inner Kora route. Also, a lot of people visit Mount Kailash on April 15, because of the good fortune.
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