Mount Kailash The northern face of Mount Kailash is snowy and forbidding, looking to many as if only a deity or an ascetic (or an ascetic deity) performing extreme meditation could reside there. (more) Mount Kailash mountain, China Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Kailash Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

　　External Websites Sacred Destinations - Mount Kailash, Tibet Ask the Chatbot a Question Also known as: Gang Rinpoche, Gang Tise, Kangrinboqê Feng, Mount Kailāsa, Mount Kailas, Mount Sumeru Written by Charles Preston Charles Preston is Associate Editor for Religion at Encyclopædia Britannica. Charles Preston Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Aug 18, 2025 • Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot Kailash also spelled: Kailāsa or Kailas (Show more) Tibetan: Gang Tise or Gang Rinpoche (Show more) Chinese: Kangrinboqe (Show more) { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What is Mount Kailash, and where is it located? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Mount Kailash is a mountain in the Himalayas located in the Ngari prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region in China. It is the second highest peak in the Kailas Range. Mount Kailaish is considered to be a sacred mountain in the religious traditions of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Bon, and it is an important destination for religious pilgrimage. South of the mountain lies Lake Mapam (Manasarovar), a high-altitude freshwater lake that also has religious significance, particularly in Hinduism." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " Why is Mount Kailash significant in Hinduism? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "In Hinduism, Mount Kailash is considered the home of the god Shiva, where he practices ascetic austerities (tapas) and dwells with his wife Parvati. It is also thought to be the location of Alaka, the home of the god of wealth Kubera. There is a well-known myth about Ravana, the king of demons (rakshasas) attempting to lift and shake the mountain. Mount Kailash is sometimes identified with Mount Meru, the mythical center of the universe." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What is the importance of Mount Kailash in Buddhism and Jainism? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "In Tibetan Buddhism, Mount Kailash, called Tise, is identified with Mount Meru, the mythical center of the universe. It is visualized as the center of a great natural mandala and the home of the deity Chakrasamvara (Demchog). It is also a site where the important poet and spiritual master Milarepa won a magical duel with a Bon practitioner and then meditated. In Jainism, Mount Kailash is sometimes identified with Ashtapada, where Rishabhanatha, the first Jain Tirthankara, achieved liberation." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What is the pilgrimage practice around Mount Kailash? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Pilgrims trek around Mount Kailash in a ritual called parikrama or kora. The route is approximately 30 miles (50 kilometers) long and can be completed in about three days. For Hindus, merely seeing the mountain can be a form of darshan, a view of something considered sacred. Hindus and Buddhists circumambulate Mount Kailash clockwise, whereas Jains and Bon practitioners circle counterclockwise. Access to the mountain for pilgrims from India has periodically been suspended because of geopolitical tensions between India and China." } } ] } Top Questions What is Mount Kailash, and where is it located? Mount Kailash is a mountain in the Himalayas located in the Ngari prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region in China. It is the second highest peak in the Kailas Range. Mount Kailaish is considered to be a sacred mountain in the religious traditions of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Bon, and it is an important destination for religious pilgrimage. South of the mountain lies Lake Mapam (Manasarovar), a high-altitude freshwater lake that also has religious significance, particularly in Hinduism.

　　Why is Mount Kailash significant in Hinduism? In Hinduism, Mount Kailash is considered the home of the god Shiva, where he practices ascetic austerities (tapas) and dwells with his wife Parvati. It is also thought to be the location of Alaka, the home of the god of wealth Kubera. There is a well-known myth about Ravana, the king of demons (rakshasas) attempting to lift and shake the mountain. Mount Kailash is sometimes identified with Mount Meru, the mythical center of the universe.

　　What is the importance of Mount Kailash in Buddhism and Jainism? In Tibetan Buddhism, Mount Kailash, called Tise, is identified with Mount Meru, the mythical center of the universe. It is visualized as the center of a great natural mandala and the home of the deity Chakrasamvara (Demchog). It is also a site where the important poet and spiritual master Milarepa won a magical duel with a Bon practitioner and then meditated. In Jainism, Mount Kailash is sometimes identified with Ashtapada, where Rishabhanatha, the first Jain Tirthankara, achieved liberation.

　　What is the pilgrimage practice around Mount Kailash? Pilgrims trek around Mount Kailash in a ritual called parikrama or kora. The route is approximately 30 miles (50 kilometers) long and can be completed in about three days. For Hindus, merely seeing the mountain can be a form of darshan, a view of something considered sacred. Hindus and Buddhists circumambulate Mount Kailash clockwise, whereas Jains and Bon practitioners circle counterclockwise. Access to the mountain for pilgrims from India has periodically been suspended because of geopolitical tensions between India and China.

　　Mount Kailash, Himalayan mountain accorded sacred significance in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Bon. The snowy peak rises in the Kailas (Gangdisi) Range, in the Ngari prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region in China. Mount Kailash is considered the home of the Hindu god Shiva, where he practices ascetic austerities (tapas) and lives with his wife Parvati. It is likewise deemed the home of gods in the native Tibetan Bon religion, and it is closely associated with venerated ascetics in Buddhism and Jainism. The mountain is often identified in Hinduism and Buddhism with Mount Meru, the mythical center of the universe. ...(100 of 1788 words)

　　Continue reading with Britannica Premium The trusted destination for facts and information 7-Day Free Trial, No Ads, Unlimited Access Subscribe Today