The Sun had set on Darchen, the base camp for trekkers’ en-route the circumambulation of the Mount Kailash. We had retired to our bed after a simple dinner of dal and rice that our sherpas had cooked for us. I rested in my sleeping bag, reminiscing about the alluring sights of Tibet that we saw during the drive through the day.
We had driven on dirt tracks enjoying the magnificent view of shishapangma mountain range, the only eight-thousander (peaks that are 8000 meters above sea level) in Tibet. The uniqueness of Tibet is that one can’t miss the sight of desert sand-green grass-pure water lake-rocky and snow capped mountains in a single panoramic frame. Being in Tibet opens our eyes in many ways. The first lesson is of gratitude for what we have and how we feel about it. Watching the tibetan gypsies live with scarcest resources of food and walk hundreds of miles of wilderness enduring weather that is unforgiving most part of the year, made me wonder how little do we know about their hardships, and how easily we complain despite all comforts and convenience available to us.
We had driven through dusty roads on our SUVs, while feasting our eyes on the wonderful sights of lakes and rocky and snow capped mountains, while the road remained remarkably flat at 15, 000 feet above sea level. Well, we shouldn’t be surprised at all. We were at theroof top of the world. Nature never ceases to excite and amaze a traveler, especially in Tibet. The clear blue sky showcased us with large low hanging clouds in mushroom formations and various symbols that seemed to communicate with us with sacred symbolism.
I did not know much about Darchen, apart from the fact that it served as an overnight halting point, before we set foot on the eagerly awaited 52 kms trek around Mount Kailash. There was nothing spectacular about this small, dusty village. I had drifted into deep sleep, when my friend who was sleeping in the adjacent bed, was calling my name in a hurried tone. I asked her what she wanted.
I want to attend the nature’s call. Can you accompany me? I am really scared of those Tibetan mastiff dogs. Her voice was clear and urged me into action.
A few minutes later, we were walking out in the open ground outside the lodge. Suddenly she gripped my hand tightly and squealed- Oh My God, look at the sky!!! When I looked up, I just froze. A deep chill ran up my spine. It’s hard to describe what we saw that night. The whole sky was immensely clustered with the brightest stars that we had ever seen. So intense was the sight of the Milky Way that it was hard to believe that we saw was the light from stars that was emitted several million or billion light years ago. The stars we were admiring were no longer there, as we assumed them to be.
How small and insignificant are we in this macrocosm? How powerful we assume to be, while we are just a micro bundle of elements, attracting an immensely powerful light called ‘soul’ within our frail bodies.
These ponderings will lead us to more deeper understanding of cosmology, spirituality, and our evolutionary journey and return to our source.
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