Om Parvat

Om Parvat is one of the best mountain peaks you can see on your Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. It is very easy to see why this particular mountain peak is called Om Parvat. During the winter season when there is heavy snowfall, the snow that gets deposited on the mountain takes the shape of the Hindu letter ‘Om’ (ॐ). The sight of Om Parvat is one of the most amazing highlights of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. Om Parvat can be seen from a distance and it falls on the route of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra route that goes through Uttarakhand in India.

The Altitude of Om Parvat

Om Parvat lies at an altitude of 18,340 ft (5,590 m).

Location of Om Parvat

The location of Om Parvat is very controversial. Om Parvat is located at the junction where the borders of India, Nepal, and China meet. Some part of the mountain peak is in Nepal and some part of it is in India. Nepal claims that 74% of Om Parvat is in their country and the rest of the mountain is in the Pithoragarh district of the Indian state of Uttarakhand. Devotees can have a glimpse of Om Parvat from Nabhi Dhang Camp, which is the last camp before they enter Lipulekh Pass on the Indo-Tibetan border.

Meaning of Om Parvat

The name of this mountain is Om Parvat. Om is a sacred symbol for the Hindus. Om is a sound that is considered to be the first sound that came when the universe was formed, according to Hindu mythology. Parvat means a mountain. Thus the meaning of Om Parvat is ‘The Mountain of Om’.

The Significance of Om Parvat

Many devotees, who go on their Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, want to see the unique Om Parvat. The snow which makes the unique Om formation is very rare and Om Parvat is probably the only mountain where devotees can see this snow formation. That is why Om Parvat is considered to be a very sacred mountain. Devotees associate Om Parvat with Lord Shiva and the universe. The letter Om or Aum is considered to be the very essence of Lord Shiva, the supreme god of Hindus.

Adi Kailash and Om Parvat

Tourists normally think that Om Parvat is the same as Adi Kailash. But, this is completely a wrong assumption. Both these mountain peaks are completely different. They are located in a different directions from one another. Om Parvat is located near the Nepal border near Uttarakhand. Adi Kailash is a mountain peak which is located near Brahma Parvat near Sin La Pass. Adi Kailash is located completely in India, whereas Om Parvat is partly located in India and partly in Nepal.

Are Om Parvat and Adi Kailash the names of the same mountain peak?

No. Both these peaks are different mountains by themselves and they are not the same mountain.

How to reach Om Parvat?

You cannot climb Om Parvat. You can only have a glimpse of Om Parvat from the last camp at Nabhi Dhang. This is the last camp in India where you can stay for the night. It is close to Lipulekh Pass, which is on the Indo-Tibetan border.

Why is Om Parvat sacred?

Om Parvat is sacred because devotees can see the impression of Om which is the sacred letter that is considered to be the first sound that came after the creation of the universe.