Book On Tibet Launched

A renowned scholar of Vedas, Swami Dr. Ramananda Giri launched the book entitled “Divine Destination: A pilgrimage to the Rakshas Taal, Mt. Kailash and Lake Mansarovar,” authored by Hariman Lama, a tourism entrepreneur, amid a function.

Addressing the book release ceremony on Saturday (July 3), Swami Dr. Giri said pilgrimage was very important in people’s lives. He said Lord Rama had also gone on pilgrimage and developed a sense of non-attachment at the end of pilgrimage.

Swamiji said ‘shastras’ (Hindu holy scriptures) described Lake Mansarovar—that is located in the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China—was a holy place and that rivers including Bramhaputra, Ganges, Sindha and Karnali originated from it.

He expressed hope that the book would help in imparting knowledge about the religious and cultural importance of Mt. Kailash and surrounding areas among the people.

Addressing the function, joint secretary at the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation, Shanker P. Koirala said Lake Mansarovar was a center of faith for Hindus, Buddhists and Jains alike. He said one must pay a pilgrimage to this holy place once in a lifetime.

A travel trade entrepreneur and member of Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), Suman Pandey, said around five thousand Indian tourists visit Mt. Kailash and Lake Mansarovar via Nepal every year. He demanded that HMG/Nepal take steps to promote religious tourism at Lake Tilicho in Manang district and Damodar lake in Mustang district.

Speaking about his book, managing director of Incentive Tours and Travels Hariman Lama said he had been inspired to write a book after successfully organizing a trip of noted Saint Morari Bapu and hundreds of his disciples from India and abroad to Rakshas Taal and Lake Mansarovar area last year. He, however, said Tibetan tourism officials posed a number of difficulties to the group by coming up with new regulations every time.

Situated at an altitude of 4,510 metres above sea level, Lake Mansarovar has an estimated circumference of 88 km. For many, it resembles to an eight-petal lotus or a Mandala square. The holy lake is believed to provide prosperity to all human beings.

Rakshas Taal (or Demon lake) is located at the altitude of 14566 ft. According to Hindu scriptures, the lake got its name as Demon king Ravana—who was a great devotee of Lord Shiva—took a dip in this lake at the lap of Mt. Kailash.