Making the Kailash–Mansarovar Yatra safe

Known as the abode of Lord Shiva and his consort Goddess Parvati, Kailash Mansarovar is set in the remote mountains of western Tibet. The snow–clad Mt. Kailash is situated at an altitude of 22,228 ft (6,714 m) and is regarded as the world’s most sacred place. The pilgrimage is a 53 km-walk around the Kailash. It is the spiritual center for four great religions: Tibetan Buddhism, Hinduism, the Jain religion and the pre Buddhist animistic religion – Bonpo. The Mansarovar Lake is one of the holiest, captivating, stimulating, famous and the most ancient lake known to the civilization. It is the source of four great rivers: the Indus, the Sutlej, the Brahmaputra and the Karnali. The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra involves trekking at high altitudes up to 19,500 feet, under inhospitable conditions including extreme cold and rugged terrain and hence demands good health and physical fitness. The travel may prove hazardous for those who are not physically or medically fit.

People with problems of hypertension, diabetes, heart ailments, epilepsy and asthma should avoid this journey or consult their doctor before planning to undertake the Yatra.
One should start the physical fitness program several weeks before starting the journey. Walking, hiking and backpacking over rugged terrain are the best ways to prepare for a trek. Any regular regime of strenuous aerobic exercise is also beneficial as also running, swimming and cycling prior to departure.
Only citizens who are over 18 years old are allowed to travel.
The duration of the pilgrimage is 26 days.
Medical tests include: Hb, TLC, DLC, ESR, platelet count, blood sugar (F & PP), BLOOD urea, creatinine, serum bilurubin & SGOT–SGPT, blood group, lipid profile, urine R/E, chest X–ray, treadmill test, ECG, pulmonary function tests (Optional) and stress–echo–test (if recommended by doctor).
One should take appropriate quantities of the right medicines for a wide variety of ailments: Your personal medicines + antibiotics for stomach infection, chest infection etc, breathing/heart and BP related problems, diarrhea, vomiting and body–pain related oral medicines and topical ointments, anti allergic drugs.
Women’s hygiene products and medicines
Doctor’s certificate: Pulse rate, height, weight, respiratory rate, blood pressure, current ailment, past ailments, allergies if any, drugs on, prophylactic drugs list.