Adi Kailash Yatra 2025 - Best Time to Visit, How to Reach, Tips

If you could not visit Mount Kailash in Tibet for some reason, there is no need to worry!! There is a mountain peak in India, which has the same spiritual importance as Mount Kailash. This mountain peak is located in India and is none other than Adi Kailash. Adi Kailash Yatra is a trek to this mountain in Uttarakhand. By visiting this mountain peak, you will feel like you have visited the famous Mount Kailash. This mountain peak is very sacred for the Hindus, who view it as an abode of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.

Adi Kailash – One of the Panch Kailash

Panch Kailash is a group of five mountain peaks that are considered to be very sacred. All these mountains, except Mount Kailash, are located within India. Their names are shown below.

• Mount Kailash in the Tibetan Himalayas
• Adi Kailash in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand
• Kinnaur Kailash in Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh
• Shikhar Kailash in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh
• Manimahesh Kailash in Chamba, Himachal Pradesh

Location of Adi Kailash

Adi Kailash is located in the Pithoragarh District of Uttarakhand, which is near the Indo-Tibetan border.

Elevation of Adi Kailash

Adi Kailash has a height of 5,945 meters. The entire region around Adi Kailash is full of snow-capped mountains of the Himalayas. The terrain is mountainous and trekking is the only way to reach.

Other names of Adi Kailash

People call Adi Kailash by other names also. These names are shown below.

• Shiva Kailash
• Baba Kailash
• Chota Kailash
• Jonglingkong Peak

Religious significance of Adi Kailash

Adi Kailash is a very sacred mountain and Hindus have a tremendous devotion to this mountain. This mountain is said to be the holy abode of Lord Shiva and Parvati. If you view the mountain peak of Adi Kailash, then it will remind you of Mount Kailash. Adi Kailash is just like a mirror image of Mount Kailash. And just as Lake Mansarovar is located near Mount Kailash, there is a lake called Parvati Tal near Adi Kailash.

Om Parvat

This mountain peak called Om Parvat is also important as it is part of the Adi Kailash Yatra. Tourists who visit Adi Kailash also visit Om Parvat as part of their Adi Kailash Yatra itinerary. The mountain is called Om Parvat because of the OM shape of the snowfall on this mountain. The snow on this mountain takes the shape of an OM symbol, which is one of the most sacred symbols in the Hindu religion.

Adi Kailash Yatra Circuit

During the Adi Kailash Yatra, you will make halts at various places. All these places are very scenic and some have night stays. These places are shown below.

Kathgodam > Pithoragarh > Dharchula > Gunji > Napalchu > Jyolingkong (Adi Kailash viewpoint) > Gunji > Napalchu > Nabhi Dhang (Om Parvat viewpoint) > Gunji/Nabhi/Budhi > Dharchula > Didihat/Chaukori > Bhimtal/ Kathgodam

Tourist attractions on Adi Kailash Yatra route

1. Kainchi Dham: The place where Neem Karoli Baba built his ashram.
2. Jageshwar Dham: Temple town near Almora with 125 temples dating back to the 7th century to the 14th century.
3. Chitai Golu Devta Temple: This famous temple with bells strung on the temple walls.
4. Kuti Village: Base village for Adi Kailash Yatra. This is a village named after Kunti of the Mahabharata.
5. Jolingkong: A 2 km trek from Jolingkong will take you to the viewing distance of Adi Kailash Peak.
6. Pandav Fort: A ruined fort that was believed to be built by the Pandavas.
7. Parvati Sarovar: A glacial lake named after Parvati and it was here that Goddess Parvati bathed in the crystal-clear waters of the lake.
8. Bheem ki Kheti: Named after Bheem the Pandava brother. Legends tell of how he tilled the land here with his mace and made a deep mark in the soil.
9. Patal Bhuvaneshwar Temple: This is a cave temple where, according to Hindu scriptures, there is a shrine of Lord Shiva and 33 types of Hindu gods.
10. Bhimtal: Scenic Lake and town near Nainital, which is famous for its Himalayan landscapes, bird watching, and trekking.

Explore more Places to Visit During Adi Kailash

Adi Kailash Yatra route itinerary

• Day 1: Kathgodam to Pithoragarh
• Day 2: Pithoragarh to Dharchula
• Day 3: Dharchula to Gunji/ Nabi
• Day 4: Gunji to Kuti Village to Jolingkong (Adi Kailash darshan)
• Day 5: Gunji/ Nabi to Kalapani to Om Parvat Viewpoint to Narayan Ashram
• Day 6: Narayan Ashram to Dharchula
• Day 7: Dharchula to Kathgodam

Adi Kailash Yatra duration

This Adi Kailash Yatra duration is 7 nights 8 days.

Best time to visit Adi Kailash

You can plan Adi Kailash Yatra during the middle week of May to the mid-week of October. Summer month and early autumn are the best time to visit Adi Kailash.

How to reach Adi Kailash

• Via Flight: Pantnagar Airport is the nearest airport and it is located at a distance of 301 km from Dharchula
• Via Train: Tanakpur Railway Station is 239 km from Pithoragarh and it is the nearest railway station.
• Via Road: There are regular buses from ISBT (New Delhi) to various places in Uttarakhand like Tanakpur, and Champawat. You will local taxis to reach Dharchula from these places.

Travel tips for Adi Kailash Yatra

• You must get the required permits and ID cards (Voter ID, Aadhar Card, Driving License, Passport). If you are a foreign national then you should check for specific rules.
• You should ensure that you are at your peak physical fitness level. You will require stamina to trek the high-altitude regions during Adi Kailash Yatra.
• You should pack woolen clothes so that you can face the cold weather and wet spells of rain.
• You should acclimatize yourself to the high-altitude air during Adi Kailash Yatra. You can be prone to altitude sickness so check for symptoms and seek immediate medical help.
• Snowfall, rock fall, and avalanches can happen in the high-altitude mountain ranges during Adi Kailash Yatra. So, it may require immediate helicopter evacuation. The cost of these must be borne by the traveler and is subject to the rules and permissions of the district administration.

FAQs.

What altitude is Adi Kailash?

Adi Kailash is located at a height of 5,945 meters.

What is the ideal season for Adi Kailash Yatra?

The Middle of May to the middle of October is the best time for Adi Kailash Yatra.

Can foreign nationals visit Adi Kailash?

If you are a foreign national, then you should have the necessary permissions and follow the regulations of the authorities.

What are the major attractions of Adi Kailash Yatra?

Adi Kailash Peak, Parvati Sarovar, Om Parvat, Gauki Kund, and Shiv Parvati Temple, are the major attractions of Adi Kailash Yatra.

Is Adi Kailash the same as Om Parvat? Or they are the names of the same mountain?

No. Both these are different mountain peaks and both are situated in Uttarakhand.

Conclusion

You cannot plan a trip to Adi Kailash independently. Booking an Adi Kailash Yatra Package by a reputed tour agency like Shrine Yatra is the only best option. This is because you will get transportation for long distances, hotel stays, meals, camp stays, access to viewpoints, and tour guide services. You should know that most of the long distances you will cover in Adi Kailash Yatra are by way of Tempo Traveller or SUV vehicles. You will have to trek for only 2-3 km during the entire duration of this yatra.

Recommended Tours:

1. Adi Kailash Tour from Kathgodam
2. Adi Kailash Tour from Dharchula
3. Adi Kailash Tour from Delhi
4. Panchachuli Base Camp Trek Package
5. Adi Kailash with Panchachuli Base Camp Trek