Adi Kailash & Om Parvat Trek
10 Days · Sacred Shiva Peak · Natural Om in Snow · Jolingkong Lake · Pithoragarh
📅 10 Days
• Mini Kailash
• Natural Om Symbol
🥾 Moderate-Difficult
10 Days · Sacred Shiva Peak · Natural Om in Snow · Jolingkong Lake · Pithoragarh
Adi Kailash om parvat trek is one of the most spiritually significant journeys in the Indian Himalayas — combining a sacred Shiva peak at 5945m with Om Parvat (6191m), where a natural snow-and-rock formation on the south face forms a perfect Om (ॐ) symbol. Adi Kailash, also called Chota Kailash or Mini Kailash, sits in the Pithoragarh district of Kumaon near the Nepal-Tibet border. It is considered a divine replica of Tibet's Mount Kailash, making it accessible to pilgrims who cannot undertake the international yatra.
The route follows the Kali river valley from Dharchula through Gunji (3200m) and up to Nabhidhang (4500m) — the Om Parvat viewpoint — before continuing to Jolingkong, the glacial valley and lake at the base of Adi Kailash. Pilgrims complete a parikrama of the peak here and take a holy dip in the Jolingkong lake. A new motorable road now reaches Gunji and Nabhi Danda, reducing the actual trekking distance to roughly 10–15 km each way for the high section. The full package is 10 days from Haridwar by road.
An Inner Line Permit is mandatory from Tawaghat onwards, as the Kali valley borders both Nepal and Tibet. Best time is May–June (Om symbol clearly visible in snow) or September–October (post-monsoon clarity). Dev Yatra handles all ILP paperwork and arranges the complete package — Haridwar pickup, Dharchula, Gunji, all accommodation (guesthouses and camps), meals, and a guide experienced on this border-zone route.
Sacred Shiva peak at 5945m. Jolingkong lake and parikrama path below. Spiritually equivalent to Tibet Kailash for many pilgrims.
Natural snow/rock formation on Om Parvat (6191m) visible as a clear Om (ॐ) symbol. One of the most extraordinary natural religious symbols in the Himalayas.
From Nabhi Danda viewpoint, views extend into Nepal and Tibet. Extremely remote and scenic landscape.
Sacred glacial lake below Adi Kailash. Shiva temple on the shore. Pilgrims take a holy dip in the lake.
SUMMER
Best season. Om symbol visible clearly in snow. Good weather. Jolingkong accessible. Most pilgrim groups travel this season.
AUTUMN
Post-monsoon clarity. Good views. Om Parvat clearly visible. Less crowded. Very good weather window.
CLOSED
All approach roads snowbound. Gunji and Jolingkong inaccessible. Trek/pilgrimage not possible.
All our treks start from Haridwar . Reach Haridwar first:
Jolly Grant Airport Dehradun (35 km from Haridwar). Flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru available.
Haridwar Railway Station — well connected pan-India. Overnight trains from Delhi take 5-6 hours.
Delhi ISBT to Haridwar by Volvo (6 hrs). State buses connect Haridwar to all base towns.
Delhi to Haridwar 210 km (4-5 hrs via NH-58). Pickup from Delhi/Chandigarh/Dehradun available.
Adi Kailash journey is a pilgrimage as much as a trek. Most of the route is now motorable (a road was built to Gunji and beyond). The actual walk to Jolingkong (Adi Kailash base) from Nabhidhang is 10 km. Om Parvat is visible from Nabhidhang — you do not need to climb it. The OM snow symbol is best seen in May–June when there is still snow but not too much. Inner Line Permit is required from Tawaghat onwards. The altitude at Nabhidhang is 4500m — two nights in Gunji (3200m) before proceeding helps with acclimatisation.
The adi kailash om parvat trek is largely a road journey with short high-altitude walks. From Haridwar, the drive reaches Dharchula (Pithoragarh district) in two days via Almora, then continues up the Kali valley to Gunji (3200m, 85 km from Dharchula). A new border road now extends to Nabhi Danda — the Om Parvat viewpoint at 4500m — eliminating most of the earlier trek distance. From Nabhidhang, it is a 5 km walk to Jolingkong valley at the base of Adi Kailash. Total high-altitude trekking distance is approximately 10–15 km each way. The route is fully within Uttarakhand; no international border crossing is involved.
An Inner Line Permit is mandatory from Tawaghat onwards as the Kali valley runs along the Nepal and Tibet borders. The ILP is issued by the District Magistrate's office in Dharchula or Pithoragarh. Indian nationals only; foreign nationals require special permission. Dev Yatra arranges all permit formalities before departure — just provide a government photo ID at the time of booking. No separate office visits are required from your end.
Adi Kailash (5945m) and Tibet's Mount Kailash are two distinct mountains — Adi Kailash is entirely within India and requires no international travel or Chinese visa. "Adi" means primordial or original in Sanskrit, and the peak is revered as Shiva's Indian abode. The difference between Adi Kailash and Om Parvat: Adi Kailash is the sacred Shiva peak pilgrims circumambulate; Om Parvat (6191m) is a separate summit known for the natural Om symbol in snow on its south face, visible from Nabhidhang. Both are visited on the same yatra circuit.
May–June is the prime season — the Om symbol is most clearly visible when snow is present but not excessive. September–October offers post-monsoon clarity and fewer crowds. The route is closed November through April. Difficulty is Moderate-Difficult: the high section at 4500m+ demands good acclimatisation. Two nights at Gunji (3200m) before ascending helps. No technical climbing is required — this is a pilgrimage trail suitable for reasonably fit trekkers aged 14–60.