Lake Manasarovar sits at 4,588 metres, making it one of the highest freshwater lakes in the world and one of the most sacred. The circumambulation of the lake — roughly 90 kilometres — takes four to five days on foot, passing several small monasteries and gompas on the shore. The lake is of extraordinary clarity, and when the weather is calm it reflects the surrounding peaks with mirror precision.
The companion pilgrimage to Manasarovar is nearly as important as the Kailash kora itself. Many pilgrims combine the two circuits, spending a week to ten days in the area. The lake is also famous for its birdlife: bar-headed geese and Brahminy ducks breed on its shores, as do black-necked cranes. The dawn light on the lake, with Kailash visible to the north, is one of the most remarkable views in Tibet.