Adi Kailash is situated in the Kumaon division of Uttarakhand in India. It is located near theIndo-Tibet border and has a spectacular view of the Himalayan peaks in snow. Adi Kailash is a mountain located in Pithoragarh, near the Sin La Pass in India. The mountain is known as Shiva Kailash, Baba Kailash, Chhota Kailash or Jyolingkong Peak. The starting point of the Adi Kailash trek is from the Kutti village and the base camp is situated 14 kilometres. Located at 5,945 meters (19,505 feet) above sea level, it is among the highest peaks of the Kailash range.

The mountain is regarded as sacred because of its pyramidal structure and the cultural mythsand legends that are linked with it. For Hindus, it is the earthly replica of Mount Kailash, the place where Lord Shiva and his consort Parvati reside. Adi Kailash is situated in Pithoragarh andis one of the five Kailash peaks. Om Parvat, also called Adi Kailash South, is also situated in the same area and is considered to have similar significance. The Adi Kailash and Om Parvat Yatra is an extraordinary journey that involves travel and trekking. Thus, many pilgrims travel long distances to go around the mountain to receive spiritual solace.

Trek duration	7N/8D
Trek difficulty	Moderate
Starting Point	Kathgodam/Haldwani (Uttarakhand)
Best time to Visit	May-June and September-October
Highest altitude	5,945m
Total trek distance	140-150 Km
Temperature: Day	10°C to 15°C
Temperature: Night	5°C to -2°C
Nearest airport	Pantnagar Airport
Nearest railway station	Kathgodam Railway Station

Highlights of Adi Kailash Yatra

The journey to Adi Kailash is a representation of the unyielding faith and unceasing quest of
Hindus that has become a part of their religion.

• It stretches from mid-May to mid-October, and the ideal time is from mid-May to June
  and September to mid-October.
• Among them, the newly constructed Gunji-Lampiya Dhura Pass Road (GLDPR) has eased
  the Adi Kailash Yatra to a large extent making it easier for most of the travelers.
• The construction of this motorable road has minimized on time and fatigue involved in
  accessing the site so that pilgrims can arrive at the site easily and without much strain.
• The road has shortened the trekking distance up to Adi Kailash to just 4 km and there is
  also a vantage point for the OM Parvat.
• It has made the Adi Kailash and Om Parvat Yatra an advantageous affair to many
  devotees who wish to make a pilgrimage to the site.
• Pick up and drop point - Kathgodam Railway Station
• Adi Kailash Location: Adi Kailash Parvat is situated in Pithoragarh district in the state of
  Uttarakhand India.
• Om Parvat Location: Om Parvat is a part of the main Himalayan System and lies in the
  Kumaon division of the state of Uttarakhand.
• Adi Kailash Coordinates: The approximate geographical location of Adi Kailash is 30
  Latitude and 80 Longitude. The location of this city is at 7667° N latitude and 80° E
  longitude situated in the northern part of the country. 2167° E longitude.
• Inner-line Permit is needed while visiting Adi Kailash Om Parvat since it fall under the
  restricted zone near the Indo-Tibet border. Obtained from the SDM in Dharchula during
  the Yatra, these permits are mandatory for visiting Adi Kailash and OM Parvat. Some of the basic features of the Adi Kailash permit are the name of the traveller, father’s name, age, permit no. , and the time they are allowed to be above Dharchula as mentioned in the permit. The holder of the Adi Kailash Permit shall exhibit the same at the 10 check posts throughout the Yatra.

Historical and Mythological Significance of Adi Kailash

Adi Kailash's history is said to have been linked to various legends from Hindu mythology.Believed to be based on the Puranas, Adi Kailash Parvat is believed to be the area where lord Shiva wedded Mata Parvati from Kailash Mansarovar.

1. Abode of Lord Shiva

There is a strongly stated belief that Adi Kailash is the earthly abode of Lord Shiva who constitutes the trinity in Hindu religion. According to folklore, Lord Shiva had spent thousands
of years in meditation in this holy land. Therefore, some of the myths state that Lord Shiva
resides in Adi Kailash which depicts his attachment to Goddess Parvati and His true form.

2. The Testing of Parvati’s Devotion

It is also believed that Adi Kailash is the place where Lord Shiva put his partner Parvati through a series of tests. The legend goes that once there was a girl named Parvati who was fascinatedb with Lord Shiva and wanted to marry him. However, Lord Shiva was not eager to get married
and wanted to follow his austere lifestyle.

Shiva challenged her various conditions to prove her dedication; she was known as Parvati as well. Parvati did all those tasks and Lord Shiva was pleased to see her commitment. He then
agreed to marry her and they lived happily ever after.

3. The Panch Kailash

Panch Kailash or the ‘five Kailash’ are five different mountain peaks situated in different parts of the Himalayas but each of them is considered to represent Lord Shiva. Adi Kailash is one of the five Kailashs collectively known as the Panch Kailash Yatra.

The five peaks are:
● Kailash Mansarovar
● Adi Kailash
● Shrikhand Mahadev Kailash
● Kinnaur Kailash
● Manimahesh Kailash.

4. Cosmic Dance and Divine Form

It is believed that Lord Shiva did his Tandav dance here and disclosed his real form to the Sage
AshtavakThe history and mythology associated with the place make Adi Kailash a sacred place for devotees from across the globe. They believed that the mountain was a sacred land for them to pray and showed great faith in god for the Hindus.

5.Tales from the Mahabharata

The holy peak of Adi Kailash is described in the great epic of India, Mahabharata. As the epic tells The five Pandavas ( Yudhishthira, Bhīma, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva and their wife Draupadi) went on a pilgrimage to some holy places. Their path took them to Adi Kailash, a place they thought would cleanse their bodies and provide a stable ground for the forthcoming Kurukshetra war.The link to the Mahabharata provides historical meaning to the Adi Kailash Yatra described in this link.

6. Connection to Ravana

Both Adi Kailash and Ravana are closely associated with Hindu mythology which is well depicted in the Ramayana. Kumbhkaran’s brother, Ravana, the dreadful king of demons, was a powerful antagonist but also a staunch follower of Lord Shiva throughout his lifetime.

This myth begins with Ravana performing hard penance at Adi Kailash to formally get unparalleled strength and power. Pleased with Ravana’s unyielding commitment to worship lord Shiva showered him with powers that existed only in the vicinity to the heavens.

However, the death of Ravana is a classic example of the fact that misuse of such powers is dangerous and this should act as a lesson to anyone in authority to respect the powers they hold. The story of Ravana is that it provides a guide for the people who chose the path of spiritualism, it is the message of the story of Ravana.

7. Sage Parvati Vratha at Adi Kailash

One of the moving stories of Hindu mythology is the story of Lady Parvati’s fast at Adi Kailash where she represents a woman’s persistence and devotion to stay near her husband all the time. Sage Parvati performed stringent austerities of meditation, prayer, and self-denial at Adi Kailash as its spiritual practice.

Thus, out of compassion towards Maitryee, Lord Shiva bowed to her request and claimed that Adi Kailash was his home.

The story is a symbol of how dedicated one has to be to get transformed and it is a lesson for the pilgrims to begin and end the journey of Adi Kailash Yatra with simplicity and naked faith.According to several legendary stories, the statue of Lord Shiva at Adi Kailash depicts his faithful and inflexible love for Mata Parvati as well as his promise to fulfill the wishes of his followers. People with clean minds and commitments can go to Adi Kailash and make requests to lord Shiva and then they would benefit as their applications are granted.

Adi Kailash's history Yatra:The history of Adi Kailash is evidence of its existence since time immemorial.

Adi Kailash is one of those sites that has been of religious importance for generations, meaning
it is steeped in religious history, which is a positive for some. It is likely to be based on its historical origin dating back to ancient times when pilgrimage was a revered practice among the
Hindus.

Many individuals have embarked on a pilgrimage to the holy Kailash to seek blessings, achieve a
newfound form of enlightenment, or seek spiritual favour from the divine powers. For centuries, people have been coming here from different parts of India, and even beyond to pay
their respects – their journey marked by the strength of their faith and their spiritual energy.

Best time to visit Adi Kailash Om Parvat (season-wise)

This is the best time for trekking in Adi Kailash.

May and June:During these months, you will probably have good weather without much precipitation and relatively high temperatures. The environment is quite natural, particularly the green countryside with impressive rhododendrons in this season.

July and August: Since the monsoon rains cover the region, the trails can be slippery during this period and therefore challenging. Landslides are also possible. During these months, one should avoid trekking due to the many dangers that are associated with it.

September: The post-monsoon season comes in September and marks the end of the trekking
season as well. The weather is also improving, but it is still not a very busy season if you are not
keen on trails and if you don’t mind slightly cooler nights.

Another feasible season for trekking to Adi Kailash.

October: The climate remains fairly dry and warm throughout the day during this period while
the skies are fairly open with little occurrence of rainfall. This is regarded as the best time for
trekking in the area of interest due to the above reasons.

November: As winter draws nearer, temperatures begin to go down, especially when it is getting dark. The weather starts to get colder and you may start to glimpse your first signs of snow on the higher grounds.

Best attractions of Adi Kailash and Om Parvat Yatra

Adi Kailash: Adi Kailash is a holy mountain that lies in the Garhwal region of Uttrakhand in
India. Adi Kailash is one of the main attractions of the Adi Kailash and Om Parvat Yatra Trek, a
religious journey that goes through difficult terrains and impressive views.

Om Parvat: It has a specific form, reminiscent of the ‘Om’ symbol, which is why the lingam is
viewed as the conjunction of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. It has an intricate shape, which is
said to mirror the vibrations created during the formation of the universe.

Gauri Kund: Gauri Kund is another attractive site for pilgrims and is situated near Adi Kailash.
There is also the sacred water body of Gauri Kund known for bathing or performing rituals by
the side of its waters.

Neeb Karori Baba Ashram, Kainchi Dham: The Neeb Karori Baba Ashram, or Kainchi Dham is to
be found in the village of Kainchi near Adi Kailash. The ashram is home to devotees from
different parts of the world and is open to those interested in finding inner peace and spiritual
awakening.

Chitai Golu Devta Temple: Chitai is a village where the temple is located, and it is rather
important for the inhabitants of the area. People pay their respect to the deity by offering
prayers at the temple.

Patal Bhuvaneshwar: Patal Bhuvaneshwar is a cave temple which is located near Adi Kailash
which is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. People go to this place to pray and feel the presence
of gods that are believed to be residing in the temple.

Adi Kailash Temple: This temple is associated with Lord Shiva and is one of the well-known places for worship for the people coming for the Adi Kailash Yatra.