Adi Kailash: Kailash of Uttarakhand

“ADI” is a Hindi word that means “THE FIRST” and Kailash is the abode of lord Shiva which means the First abode of lord Shiva. Adi Kailash is a mountain peak second in Panch Kailash, at an altitude of 5945 meters in the district Pithoragarh, Kumaon region of Uttarakhand India. Adi Kailash also known as Chhota Kailash holds immense spiritual value in Hindu dharma as the abode of lord Shiva.

There are so many stories, folk tales, and legends regarding the area and the peak itself that you can read throughout this article.

Pilgrims can witness the calming aura of the majestic Abode of lord Shiva.

What is Adi Kailash

Adi Kailash is a mountain peak shaped like Shivalinga in the upper Himalayan region. It is a replica of Mount Kailash or Kailash Mansarovar of Tibet(China). Sometimes people get confused between them, these two mountains are not the same there is a lot of difference between Adi Kailash and Kailash Mansarovar.

Where is Adi Kailash

Adi Kailash is In the Vyas Valley in the deep, upper Himalayan region near the Indo-Tibetan border in the beautiful northern state of Uttarakhand India.

 

What is the History or story of Adi Kailash.

There are so many beliefs, stories, and legends regarding the Chhota Kailash which go as:-

 

• The history behind calling Adi Kailash the First Kailash

In Hindu Dharma, it is believed that Goddess Parvati who is called “NANDA” in Uttarakhand, was born in a mountain village of Uttarakhand named “Kurur”.

The Goddess was married to lord Shiva, and then all her family members and villagers went with them on their way to Mount Kailash or Kailash Mansarovar until they reached Homkund (this yatra is still a tradition in Uttarakhand called Nanda Rajjat yatra or the Kumbh of Garhwal) the foothills of the Kailash range.

From Homkund lord Shiva and Mata Parvati continued their journey alone. After Homkund, Adi Kailash was their first stop on the way to Mount Kailash, and this is the reason why this peak is called “The First Kailash”.

• History related to Ravan, Pandav, and sage Vyas.

Local people of Uttarakhand and especially the people of Vyas Valley call it Chota Kailash, is revered for its deep spiritual significance and is one of India’s most sacred mountains. Legend has it that the demon king Ravana, a devout follower of Lord Shiva, meditated here for an extended period, ultimately gaining immense power, strength, and his iconic 10 heads. History also accounts that the Pandava brothers and Sage Ved Vyas spent considerable time here in meditation.

 

Many devotees believe that a pilgrimage to Adi Kailash can lead to inner enlightenment, with the cosmic energy of the place transforming negative thoughts into a positive mindset.

 

Significance of Adi Kailash 

Adi Kailash holds immense significance throughout spiritual history recording its presence from the time of Ramayana to Mahabharat and spreading its immense positivity in the present. 

It is believed that the Demon King Ravan did penance here and got all his powers and divines here. The Pandavas from the Mahabharata era stayed in the Kuti village near Adi Kailash, the last village in the Adi Kailash yatra in their exile period. 

Sage Vyas also stayed here and meditated for a long time thus the Valley is also named after Sage Vyas “VYAS VALLEY”.

 

 

How to reach Adi Kailash

There is one route available to reach Adi Kailash that goes via Pithoragarh and Dharchula, We’ll consider our country capital Delhi as a starting point so the route is something like this:- 

Delhi → Pithoragarh → Dharchula → Bundi → Gunji → Kuti → Jolingkong → Kuti → Gunji → Bundi → Dharchula → Pithoragarh → Delhi.

Distance from Delhi and other cities –

 

Delhi to Pithoragarh                –            475 km

Pithoragarh to Dharchula       –            90 km

Dharchula to Gunji                  –            80 km

Gunji to Adi Kailash                 –           40  km

Gunji to Om Parvat                  –            20 km 

Importance of Adi Kailash

There are so many legends about Adi Kailash so we’ll diversify its importance into two segments such as:-

1. Spiritual importance
2. Geographical importance

• Spiritual importance –  Adi Kailash second of the Panch Kailash the holy abode of lord Shiva, the first is Kailash Mansarovar in Tibet(China) third is Shrikhand Kailash, Fourth is Kinner Kailash and the fifth is Mani Mahesh Kailash in Himachal Pradesh.

Adi Kailash has its place in so many Hindu spiritual scriptures like Ramayana and Mahabharata. Chhota Kailash holds so much importance as the hideout of Pandavas during their exile period, for the Kali Mata temple where the mighty KALI river (Known as Sharda in Uttar Pradesh) originated, as the penance land of Demon king Ravana and sage Vyas, and especially as the abode of lord Shiva. 

            There are two glacial lakes here one is Gurikund and another is Parvati Kund with Shiv Parvati temple. It is prohibited to get into the Gaurikund’s water but Pilgrims can take a dip in the holy water of Parvati Kund which takes out every negativity when one takes a dip in the water and rises up facing Shri Adi Kailash in front of them.

 

• Geographical importance – Chhota Kailash is also geographically important for India as well because this area and the whole route of Adi Kailash and Om Parvat yatra are very close to international borders that India shares with Nepal and Tibet.

Because of international borders, this area is highly patrolled by the Indian Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police. 

The area of Vyas Valley is also playing an important role in the Kailash Mansarovar yatra after the various conflicts with China over Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh the Indian Government decided to start the Kailash Mansarovar route via Vyas Valley Uttarakhand.

Kailash Mansarovar via Sikkim was the main route for the pilgrims across the world and to keep the pilgrimage away from the conflicts Indian government is developing the Kailash Mansarovar route that goes from Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh – Dharchula – Gunji – Kalapani — Nabidhang(OM Parvat) — Lipulekh Pass — Taklakot — Darchen — Mount Kailash.

Altitude of places around

S.No.	Name	Altitude
		In metres		In feets
1	Adi Kailash	5945		19500
2	Gaurikund	4700		15400
3	Parvati Kund	4600		15090
4	Parvati Mukut/Pandav Parvat	4900		16080
5	Brahma Parvat	6100		20010
6	Kunti Parvat	5000		16400
7	Pandav Fort/Kuti Village	3800		12464
8	Jolingkong	4420		14500
9	Gunji Village	3300		10824

 

Key Attractions that Surrounds:

Pandav Fort

According to Mythology, When Pandavas( Yudhishthir, Bheem, Arjun, Nakul, and Sehdev ) lost everything to Kauravas( Duryodhan and his Brothers), then they were bound to do everything that Kaurav asked them to do. Duryodhan sent Pandavas along with Draupadi to the 12 year exile and 1 year Agyatvaas(Incognito) and there was a condition that if Pandavas got recognised by anyone during the 1 year agyatvaas(incognito) they would have to go under the 12 year exile all over again.

It is believed that during their incognito period Pandavas built a fort in a area near Kailash and than a village was established around the fort that was named after Kunti (Mother of Pandavas). Today only ruins can be seen of that fort.

Kunti Parvat

According to Mythology, When Pandavas were going to Heaven their mother Kunti was so mesmerised by the place and the serenity of the area that she decided to stay in the area. Kunti stayed in the area and meditated for a long time thus the mountain in Kuti village was named after her as “KUNTI PARVAT”.

Brahma Parvat

Brahma is a god of creation in Hindu Mythology who has created every creature and everything in the whole universe. In Vyas Valley on route 14 km before Jolingkong there is a mountain peak called Brahma Parvat named after lord Brahma.

Pandav Parvat

There is a mountain peak called Pandav Parvat which can be seen from Jolingkong, the mountain has five consecutive peaks embedded in the mountain one after another so this mountain was named after the Pandavas as they spent a long time here and developed the area for pilgrimage.

Parvati Mukut

Along with Pandav Parvat there is a mountain that has the peak naturally carved and designed like a crown. People say that this is the crown of Maa Parvati.

Parvati Sarovar

on this route, the last town is Jolingkong where civilians can take their vehicles. From Jolingkong there is a trek of 3 km on the right side mountain for Parvati Kund and 2.5 km straight and then left for Gaurikund. 

Parvati Kund is a glacial lake and visitors can take a dip in this pond before worshipping and offering the prayers in the Shiv-Parvati temple right beside the Parvati Kund.

Shiv Parvati Temple

Shiv Parvati temple is small in size right beside the Parvati Kund but the energy, positivity, and tranquillity that this temple emits is second to none. One dip in the Parvati Kund and just a glance of this temple can take every bit of tiredness that you get from the 3 km of high altitude trek and long offroading. 

Gauri Kund

Gaurikund is a small glacial lake or pond right beneath the Adi Kailash peak named After Maa Gaura wife of lord Shiva. Pilgrims can see and visit the GauriKund after the 2.5 to 3 km trek from Jolingkong but keep in mind that bathing in GauriKund is strictly prohibited and punishable. 

There is one more thing to keep in mind, the path of Gaurikund is prone to landslides, and some time glaciers can block the way so fast that it can trap the pilgrims.