Reputed as “the source of water” and the “center of the world”, Mount Kailash is where natural scenery and religious culture integrate with each other. Mount Kailash shows an extraordinary holiness through its pyramidal shape. The shape of the mountain is so unique that you can recognize it at once when you see the pictures of it. The peak looks like a crystal olive reaching up to the blue sky. The symbol "卍" naturally formed on the south slope of the mountain looks extremely powerful both visually and spiritually. Coupled with its irreplaceable place in Buddhism, Mount Kailash has become an essential attraction for a Ngari tour.
With Lake Manasarovar and a grassland in the middle, Mount Kailash stands face to face with Lhanag-tso Lake and Gurla Mandhata (the highest peak of the Nalakankar Himal, a small subrange of the Himalayas). Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar are the essence of the scenery in Ngari Area. Therefore, this region has become one of the most favored places for travelers and photographers.
Taking pictures of the holy Mount Kailash is a long-cherished dream for every traveler to Ngari. Then from which angle can photographers shoot a more beautiful Mount Kailash has become a concern for them. This article will offer information about a few of the best locations for shooting Mount Kailash.
1.Zhire Monastery, the first camping base for a trekking journey (making pilgrimages by walking around one or several places) to Mount Kailash, is the nearest place where you can shoot the most stunning pictures of Mount Kailash. If you take pictures here, the mountain will not looks like a small point in the lens, but will fill the entire lens.
2. On the first day of a trekking journey to Mount Kailash, you will pass through the Prayer Flag Square, where you can also take pictures of Mount Kailash. Many pilgrims will worship to the holy mountain at this place. However, you can’t take pictures of the entire symmetrical peak of Mount Kailash here. A mobile phone is enough to shoot a stunning Mount Kailash. But if you want to take pictures of a Mount Kailash under the starry sky, you will need professional photography equipment such as a SLR camera.
3. Photographers also like to take panoramas of Mount Kailash. And a perfect place where you can take such pictures is the mountain pass near the Huo’er County. The mountain pass is about 60km away from Mount Kailash. To shoot a far view of Mount Kailash, a telephoto lens is the must.
4. Lake Manasarovar is about 5km away from Huo’er County. And on the east side of Lake Manasarovar stands a monastery called Sewalong Monastery. There is a wetland near the monastery, where you can take pictures of sunrise and sunset at Mount Kailash and Gurla Mandhata. You can enjoy the wide and beautiful scenery of the holy lake and mountain here. However, the wetland is over 50km away from Mount Kailash, so you still need a telephoto lens to shoot the beauty of the holy lake and mountain.
5. On the west side of Lake Manasarovar stands another monastery called Wuqi Monastery, from where you can take pictures of Mount Kailash, with Lake Manasarovar as the foreground. And the linear distance between Wuqi Monastery and Mount Kailash is about 32km.
6. The best location to shoot a far view of Mount Kailash is the viewing platform on the south bank of Lhanag-tso Lake. The distance between the lake and the mountain is also over 50km. It is another feeling when you see the glassy surface of Lhanag-tso Lake reflecting the imposing Mount Kailash.
April to October is the most popular time to make pilgrimages to Mount Kailash. The weather during this period is relatively comfortable. And the mountain will be covered with snow in other time of the year, and the mountain pass will be inaccessible because of the heavy snow.
The weather is pleasant in summer, but the roads are mostly muddy, which will increase the chance of bogging and skidding for cars. What’s more, the snow and ice on Mount Kailash will melt easily due to the rising temperature, leaving only a little snow on the tip of the mountain. What people can see during this period is the grey-black rocky body of the mountain. Besides, there is often rainfall in summer, so the snow peak will often be blocked by the clouds, and it is not easy to see the peak during this period.
Therefore, the best time to shoot Mount Kailash is spring (April to June) and autumn (September to October). The chance that you can take pictures of the entire mountain during this period will be larger, and it is easier to take pictures of the starry sky as well.
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