Mt. Kailash and Lake Manasarova lies at Burang. They are divinized as "Sacred Mountain and Holy Lake" in Buddhism, Hinduism and the indigenous religion-Bon.
Mt. Kailash, named Gang Rimpoche in Tibetan, is the highest peak of Gangdise Mountain, with an altitude of 6638 meters (2177 feet). Like a huge diamond, the peak is centered among peaks like eight-petal lotus. The crystal snow clad peak has a beautiful scene, gazing at Mt. Gurla Mandata 100 kilometers (62 miles) away, which is deemed by Tibetan people as Mount of Goddess. Between the two sacred peaks, there are Lake Manasarova and Lake Rakshastal (La'nga Tso), which are called Holy Lake and Ghost Lake respectively. The neighboring lakes connect at bottom, however the Holy Lake is a freshwater lake while Ghost Lake a saltwater lake.
The sacred mountain of Kailash is a spiritual center of Buddhists, Hindus and Bonists, who believe circumambulation around it can scour away one's sin. Circumambulation around Kailash consists of inner circumambulation and outer circumambulation. The outer circumambulation usually takes 3 days on foot and 15-20 days by prostrate body length. Generally circumambulators start inner circumambulation after 13 outer ones. In the year of horse on Tibetan calendar, much more pilgrims come since people contend that one round equals 13 rounds in normal yearss.
In front of the Kailash lies the crystal Holy Lake, Manasarova (Mapam Tso). As one of the highest fresh water lakes in the world, the lake covers 412 square kilometers (159 square miles) and its altitude is 4588 meters (15049 feet). Rippling blue water and reflection of snow capped peaks and white clouds feature beautiful scenery, which cannot be described by words. Once nine monasteries were set up around the holy lake to facilitate religious cultivation.
The lake is a holy lake to Buddhism, Hinduism and the local Bon faith. Countless of pilgrims of Buddhists, Hindus and Bonists trek thousands of miles to pay their pilgrimage to the holy lake. Its Tibetan name means "perpetually invincible" since it was said that in the 11th century, Milarepa, a great adepter in Tibetan Buddhism, fought a contest of magical power with a Bonist and defeated him. There are many beautiful stories about the sacred, holy lake. Buddhists believes the lake was amrita bestowed to Tibetan people by Chakrasamvara and it water can remove one's physical and spiritual discomfort. Even plants around the lake and fish in the lake are deemed as magical medicines. Pilgrims turning prayer wheels, circumambulate the lake to show their piety. Every summer, pilgrims from Tibet, India and Nepal cluster to make circumambulation and have bath in the lake. They will bring their family and friends water of the lake as precious present.
The neighboring Lake Rakshastal (La'nga Tso) is in fact beautiful too. However since it is named Ghost Lake a weird feeling rise when one stands beside of the lake.