Groups leave Dirapuk in the dark, between 4 and 5 am, with headtorches. The trail climbs about 730 m to Dolma La, steeply in places, over boulders and patches of snow early in the season. Halfway up is Shiva-sthal, a field of clothes and hair where pilgrims leave a token of their old life. Most people take 3–4 hours to reach the pass, stopping every few minutes to breathe.
At the top, around 5,630 m, a great boulder draped in prayer flags marks Dolma La, the pass of the goddess Tara. Stay only 10–15 minutes: offer prayers, add flags and keep moving, because the wind is fierce and the air carries about half the oxygen of sea level. Just below on the east side lies Gauri Kund, often frozen in May and June.
The descent is the part people underestimate. The first 400 m down is steep and loose, then the trail runs for hours along the flat Lham Chu Khir valley to Zuthulpuk. Ponies cannot carry riders on the steepest section, so everyone walks it. Arrive by late afternoon, eat, drink plenty and sleep; the third day is short.
Good for
- Pilgrims
- Groups
- Solo
Questions travellers ask
What is the height of Dolma La on Kailash parikrama?
Dolma La is approximately 5,630 m (about 18,470 ft); published figures range from 5,600 to 5,660 m depending on the survey. It is the highest point of the outer parikrama and is crossed on day two, about 730 m above Dirapuk. Most pilgrims spend only 10–15 minutes at the top because of wind and thin air.
Can I ride a pony over Dolma La?
You can ride most of the ascent, but horsemen ask riders to dismount on the steepest rocky stretches and on the first steep descent below the pass, so plan to walk at least 1–2 hours. Ponies are booked through the Darchen cooperative for the full three days; rates are set locally each season, so check current prices before you travel.
What happens if I cannot cross Dolma La?
If you feel unwell at Dirapuk or on the climb, your guide will turn you back to Darchen with a staff member and arrange a vehicle. You keep your place in the group and rejoin it after the circuit. Turning back is common and sensible; symptoms such as confusion, breathlessness at rest or severe headache mean descending immediately.
