Mountains Of Travel Photos
Home | Kailash Main | Kailash References | Contact 

Mount Kailash Photo Gallery - Drive To Kailash

Drive from the Friendship Highway past Shishapangma, Peiko Tso, Saga, Old Zhongba, sand dunes, Paryang and Gung Gyu Tso

01 Gang Benchen View From Just Past Road Junction From Friendship Highway We left the Friendship Highway just after the Lalung La and turned west towards Mount Kailash with Gang Benchen ahead.

01 Gang Benchen View From Just Past Road Junction From Friendship Highway

02 Gang Benchen From Between Friendship Highway And Shishapangma Checkpoint The large mountain to the north west of Shishapangma is Gang Benchen with heights variously given as 7281m, 7295m or 7299m.

02 Gang Benchen From Between Friendship Highway And Shishapangma Checkpoint

03 Phola Gangchen And Shishapangma From Between Friendship Highway And Shishapangma Checkpoint Phola Gangchen (7661m) and Shishapangma (8012m) came into view after we turned off the Friendship Highway and started driving west.

03 Phola Gangchen And Shishapangma From Between Friendship Highway And Shishapangma Checkpoint

04 Gang Benchen And Our Landcruiser From Between Friendship Highway And Shishapangma Checkpoint Our Landcruiser drives on the road from the Friendship Highway to the west with Gang Benchen ahead.

04 Gang Benchen And Our Landcruiser From Between Friendship Highway And Shishapangma Checkpoint

05 Phola Gangchen And Shishapangma North Face From Just Before Shishapangma Checkpoint Just before reaching Shishapangma Checkpoint, a break in the ridge to the west brought another fine view of Phola Gangchen and the Shishapangma North Face.

05 Phola Gangchen And Shishapangma North Face From Just Before Shishapangma Checkpoint

06 Shishapangma Checkpoint We stopped at Shishapangma Checkpoint (4678m) and showed our papers to proceed towards Kailash in the west.

06 Shishapangma Checkpoint

07 Lobuche Kang Massif With Lobuche Kang I On Far Right From Shishapangma Checkpoint I looked back at the Labuche Kang massif from Shishapangma Checkpoint. This massif has several summits over 7000m with Labuche Kang (7367m, also called Lobuche Kang I or Choksiam) on the far right.

07 Lobuche Kang Massif With Lobuche Kang I On Far Right From Shishapangma Checkpoint

08 Gang Benchen From Just After Shishapangma Checkpoint Many people confuse Gang Benchen for Shishapangma after leaving Shishapangma Checkpoint because it is the big beautiful mountain dominating the view. Gang Benchen was first climbed by an Academic Alpine Club of Kyoto Expedition led by Yoshio Kondo with Riyuko Morimoto, Kozo Matsubayashi, Kazunari Ushida, Shim Koshima, Takao Morito, Goro Hitomi, Kiyoshi Nakagawa and Hiroshi Kondo reaching the summit on April 21, 1982 and Shoichiro Ueo, Takashi Nishiyama and Rikuyo Morimoto reaching the summit the following day.

08 Gang Benchen From Just After Shishapangma Checkpoint

09 Phola Gangchen, Shishapangma And Porong Ri From After Shishapangma Checkpoint But then after driving a little further from Shishapangma Checkpoint, you can look back to the left west and Phola Gangchen and Shishapangma come into view again with and Porong Ri (7292m) on the far right.

09 Phola Gangchen, Shishapangma And Porong Ri From After Shishapangma Checkpoint

10 Shishapangma North Face From After Shishapangma Checkpoint The Shishapangma North Face comes fully into view as we continue the drive from Shishapangma Checkpoint towards Peiko Tso.

10 Shishapangma North Face From After Shishapangma Checkpoint

11 Phola Gangchen And Shishapangma From Just Before After Shishapangma Checkpoint Phola Gangchen And Shishapangma continue to dominate the far west horizon as we approach Peiko Tso.

11 Phola Gangchen And Shishapangma From Just Before After Shishapangma Checkpoint

12 Phola Gangchen and Shishapangma Mountain Range To Gang Benchen From Just Before Peiko Tso The mountain range from Phola Gangchen and Shishapangma to Gang Benchen dominates the western horizon from just before Peiko Tso on the way to Kailash.

12 Phola Gangchen and Shishapangma Mountain Range To Gang Benchen From Just Before Peiko Tso

13 Gang Benchen From Just Before Peiko Tso The steep north face of Gang Benchen comes into view as we drive past Peiko Tso.

13 Gang Benchen From Just Before Peiko Tso

14 Peiko Tso We stopped and had lunch near the huge turquoise Peiku Tso Lake (4591m). Peiku is also also spelled Paiku, Pelku, and Pelkhu among other spellings.

14 Peiko Tso

15 Peiko Tso After leaving Peiko Tso, the road climbs to a pass with good views back to Peiko Tso.

15 Peiko Tso

16 Drolung Tso Lake On The Drive To Saga After cresting the pass after Peiko Tso, the road passes Drolung Tso Lake.

16 Drolung Tso Lake On The Drive To Saga

17 Drolung Tso Lake On The Drive To Saga With 6000m Peaks Northeast Of Saga The calm water of the Drolung Tso Lake reflects the hills and 6000m mountains northeast of Saga.

17 Drolung Tso Lake On The Drive To Saga With 6000m Peaks Northeast Of Saga

18 Pass North Of Drolung Tso Lake With View Ahead Toward Saga With 6000m Mountains Northeast Of Saga The road climbs from Drolung Tso Lake to a pass on the way to Saga with the 6000m mountains northeast of Saga visible in the distance.

18 Pass North Of Drolung Tso Lake With View Ahead Toward Saga With 6000m Mountains Northeast Of Saga

19 Saga Tibet From Across Yarlung Tsangpo Brahmaputra River Saga (4500m) is located across the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) River at the intersection of the roads connecting western Tibet with Lhasa and Nepal.

19 Saga Tibet From Across Yarlung Tsangpo Brahmaputra River

20 Saga Tibet Street Saga (4500m) has grown in recent years to service an important Chinese military garrison. There is Internet access and some good hotels. Here is a view of the main street.

20 Saga Tibet Street

21 The Last Of The Dirt Road Was Being Paved In 2010 After Saga Tibet The last of the dirt road was being paved in October 2010. You can now drive comfortably and quickly to Mount Kailash.

21 The Last Of The Dirt Road Was Being Paved In 2010 After Saga Tibet

22 Ruins of Gompa Next To Yarlung Tsangpo Brahmaputra River After Saga Tibet On Way To Old Zhongba The ruins of a large gompa is across the Yarlung Tsangpo Brahmaputra River 54km from Saga on the way to Old Zhongba (sometimes spelled Drongpa).

22 Ruins of Gompa Next To Yarlung Tsangpo Brahmaputra River After Saga Tibet On Way To Old Zhongba

23 Yarlung Tsangpo Brahmaputra River After Saga Tibet On Way To Old Zhongba The Yarlung Tsangpo Brahmaputra River between Saga and Old Zhongba Tibet.

23 Yarlung Tsangpo Brahmaputra River After Saga Tibet On Way To Old Zhongba

24 Looking Back To East At Valley From Near 4900m Pass Before Old Zhongba I looked back to the east as we neared the top of a 4900m pass before descending to Old Zhongba.

24 Looking Back To East At Valley From Near 4900m Pass Before Old Zhongba

25 Valley Late Afternoon From Just Before Old Zhongba A beautiful valley scene opened up from the 4900m pass before Old Zhongba.

25 Valley Late Afternoon From Just Before Old Zhongba

26 Looking Back To East At 4900m Pass Before Old Zhongba I looked back to the 4900m pass before driving the last stretch to Old Zhongba.

26 Looking Back To East At 4900m Pass Before Old Zhongba

27 Old Zhongba Tibet Just Before Sunset Old Zhongba (4576m) Tibet stretches out along the highway seen at sunset from the hill above the town.

27 Old Zhongba Tibet Just Before Sunset

28 Old Zhongba Gompa Tibet At Sunset Old Zhongba (4576m) has a small Sakya-order gompa seen here at sunset.

28 Old Zhongba Gompa Tibet At Sunset

29 Deer And Dharma Wheel Above Old Zhongba Gompa Tibet At Sunset The traditional deer and Dharma wheel are above the Gompa in Old Zhongba in Tibet.

29 Deer And Dharma Wheel Above Old Zhongba Gompa Tibet At Sunset

30 Chortens With View To West From Hill Above Old Zhongba Tibet At Sunset Chortens dot the hills above Old Zhongba in Tibet, here with a view towards the west at sunset.

30 Chortens With View To West From Hill Above Old Zhongba Tibet At Sunset

31 Annapurna III and Gangapurna From Just After Old Zhongba Tibet Just after leaving Old Zhongba on the way to Mount Kailash, the mountain panorama to the south includes Annapurna III, the broad white mountain to the left, and Gangapurna, the pointed peak in the middle mostly in shadow.

31 Annapurna III and Gangapurna From Just After Old Zhongba Tibet

32 Mountain Panorama From Just After Old Zhongba Tibet A mountain panorama opens up just after leaving Old Zhongba on the way to Mount Kailash.

32 Mountain Panorama From Just After Old Zhongba Tibet

33 Sand Dunes Early Morning Between Old Zhongba And Paryang Tibet We enter a photogenic section of sand dunes about 60km after leaving Old Zhongba.

33 Sand Dunes Early Morning Between Old Zhongba And Paryang Tibet

34 Sand Dunes Early Morning Between Old Zhongba And Paryang Tibet The sand dunes shone beautifully in the early morning sun on the road between Old Zhongba and Paryang Tibet.

34 Sand Dunes Early Morning Between Old Zhongba And Paryang Tibet

35 Sand Dunes Morning Between Old Zhongba And Paryang Tibet The mountains are reflected in the water next to the sand dunes in the morning sun on the road between Old Zhongba and Paryang Tibet.

35 Sand Dunes Morning Between Old Zhongba And Paryang Tibet

36 Paryang Tibet Paryang (4605m) is the last village before reaching Mount Kailash.

36 Paryang Tibet

37 Paryang Tibet And Road Paryang (4605m) is the last village before reaching Mount Kailash.

37 Paryang Tibet And Road

38 Kubi Gangri And Rongla Kangri From Paryang Tibet The mountain panorama across the plains from Paryang Tibet includes Kubi Gangri (6859) on the left and Rongla Kangri (6647m) on the middle right.

38 Kubi Gangri And Rongla Kangri From Paryang Tibet

39 Hills Reflect Perfectly In The Water Just After Leaving Paryang Tibet For Mount Kailash The colourful hills of Tibet reflect perfectly in the water after leaving Paryang Tibet for Mount Kailash.

39 Hills Reflect Perfectly In The Water Just After Leaving Paryang Tibet For Mount Kailash

40 Views Of Hills And Water From Road After Leaving Paryang Tibet For Mount Kailash The colourful hills of Tibet reflect in the water from the road between Paryang Tibet and Mount Kailash.

40 Views Of Hills And Water From Road After Leaving Paryang Tibet For Mount Kailash

41 Lachama Chuli And Other 6500m Mountains On Border Between Tibet And Nepal From Road Between Paryang Tibet And Mount Kailash Lachama Chuli (6721m), the broad mountain on the left, sits on the Nepal Tibet border with other 6500m mountains to the right, seen on the road between Paryang Tibet and Mount Kailash.

41 Lachama Chuli And Other 6500m Mountains On Border Between Tibet And Nepal From Road Between Paryang Tibet And Mount Kailash

42 Gung Gyu Konggyo Tso Lake Between Mayum La And Mount Kailash After crossing the Mayum La (5225m), we drive by the long Gung Gyu Tso Lake (also spelled Konggyo) in the last km on the road between Paryang and Mount Kailash.

42 Gung Gyu Konggyo Tso Lake Between Mayum La And Mount Kailash

43 Gurla Mandhata From Final Few KM Of Road Before Seeing Mount Kailash Gurla Mandhata (7728m) comes into view as we drive from Gung Gyu Tso Lake the final km to the first view of Mount Kailash.

43 Gurla Mandhata From Final Few KM Of Road Before Seeing Mount Kailash

44 Gurla Mandhata From Final Few KM Of Road Before Seeing Mount Kailash Gurla Mandhata (7728m) comes into view as we drive the final few km to the first view of Mount Kailash.

44 Gurla Mandhata From Final Few KM Of Road Before Seeing Mount Kailash


This album has 44 items in total    |    Album was updated 2012-01-30 19:37    |    Generated by jAlbum 9, custom skin ExhibitPlus 1.4a