China on the March

Many of the holy spots associated with Lord Shiva are located on the Tibetan territory under the occupation of China. The famous ‘Manasarovar Lake’ is located in the centre of Tibet including the spots like ‘Yamdwar’ & ‘Astapath’. One entry into these places is through Kathmandu – Kodari – Khasa Port (Lee Ping) China border. Those places visited by me on the way are: Zhang Mu, Nyalam, Prayong, Tanga, Dor Ching etc. The highway linking these places is newly-constructed in two lanes to international standards. One could enjoy a beautiful drive all along with patches of greenery – cultivation including green-house structures. Water flowing from the hills has been properly tapped and used for crops. Mining activities are also seen on the way here and there – Power tillers being used both for tilling and transporting. Large tracts of barren hills and valleys are waiting for settlement of Tibetans and Chinese citizens in the next one decade or so. Tourism is likely to flourish - mostly religious tourism. Pilgrims spend a few thousands of rupees from all over India to visit these sites - Mount Kailash is supposed to be the abode of Bholenath attracting thousands of pilgrims year after year. As of now except a few groups arranged by Uttaranchal Government, others are all arranged and managed by Travel agents and individuals on the basis of their past experience. Indian private agents arrange such trips with the help of their counterparts in Kathmandu, Lhasa and China (Beijing). A little more or less than one hundred thousand rupees are spent by each individual pilgrim for a tour of 10 – 12 days in all. Standard of accommodation arranged in Kathmandu and other towns is tolerable and worth the money parted with. But the stay in mud houses with open toilet system – 3 to 10 persons in each room / hall is pathetic, unhygienic and far from satisfactory. Exploitation and black mailing of agents in Kathmandu and Lhasa continue to harass the tour leaders from India. There is no proper and systematic guidance, briefing and coverage of promised places and for prayers with puja materials collected and carried with lot of care by the pilgrims. _+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++