Kailash Mansarovar Height from Sea Level: Altitude Chart

Facts checked November 2026.

Many families ask one simple question before this yatra: how high will we go? The answer matters, because almost every night of a Kailash Mansarovar yatra is spent far above the height where altitude sickness can begin. This guide gives the height of every main stop in one chart, explains why sources give different numbers, and tells you what these heights mean for your health.

This page is part of our Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Guide. Planning the yatra? See our Kailash Mansarovar yatra packages.

How high is Mount Kailash above sea level?

Mount Kailash is about 6,638 to 6,714 metres high. You will see three common figures:

• 6,638 m (about 21,778 ft): used by Wikipedia (citing the Alpine Journal and Peakbagger) and by many Tibet travel guides.
• 6,656 m (about 21,837 ft): used by some travel and news websites.
• 6,714 m (about 22,028 ft): used by Encyclopaedia Britannica.

Why the difference? Heights of Himalayan peaks come from different surveys, maps and measuring methods, and publishers copy different figures. The gap is less than 80 metres, so it does not change your yatra. Pilgrims do not climb the peak. You walk around it on the parikrama, and the highest point of that walk, Dolma La pass, is roughly 1,000 metres below the summit. Read more about the mountain in our Mount Kailash facts guide.

Has anyone climbed Mount Kailash, and how does it compare with Everest?

There is no recorded successful ascent of Mount Kailash. Climbing it is prohibited by the Chinese government because of its religious importance. For Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and Bon followers it is a mountain to circle with devotion, not to climb.

Mount Everest is 8,849 metres (29,032 ft) high, according to Britannica. So Kailash is about 2,100 to 2,200 metres lower than Everest. It is not among the world’s highest peaks, but it stands alone above the plateau, which makes it look very tall from Mansarovar and Darchen.

What is the height of Lake Mansarovar and Rakshastal?

Lake Mansarovar lies at about 4,590 metres (about 15,060 ft) above sea level, the figure most sources use. Britannica’s Kailas Range article gives 4,557 metres (about 14,950 ft). Britannica’s separate lake article rounds this to “nearly 15,000 feet (4,600 metres)”, and other sources give 4,590 to 4,600 m, so you may see these figures too. Britannica describes it as generally recognised as the highest body of fresh water in the world.

Rakshastal, the salt lake just west of Mansarovar, lies at about 4,575 metres (about 15,010 ft), according to Wikipedia citing The Indian Express. So the two lakes are at almost the same height. For the story and rituals of both lakes, see our Lake Mansarovar and Rakshastal guide.

Kailash Mansarovar altitude chart: every main stop

The chart below lists the main places on the different routes, roughly in the order pilgrims reach them. Feet are rounded. Where sources give different heights, we show the range.

A few notes on the chart:

• The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) itinerary for the India route lists Lipulekh at 5,050 m, Yam Dwar at 4,810 m and Dolma La at 5,590 m, and says its figures are approximate. A Government of India press release (PIB) says the road to Lipulekh rises to 17,060 ft (about 5,200 m), so we show a range for the pass.
• Published heights for Hilsa range from under 3,000 m to over 3,700 m, and we found no official figure, so we do not give one.
• Heights for Dirapuk and Zuthulpuk come from Tibet travel guides, not official surveys. Treat them as approximate.

What happens on the Kailash parikrama, height by height?

The outer parikrama of Mount Kailash is about 52 to 53 km long and is usually done over three days. Here is how the height changes:

1. Day 1, Darchen to Dirapuk: You start at about 4,560 to 4,670 m, begin walking near Yam Dwar (about 4,810 m), and gain height slowly to Dirapuk, at about 5,050 to 5,210 m.
2. Day 2, Dirapuk to Zuthulpuk: The hardest day. You climb to Dolma La pass at about 5,590 to 5,650 m, then go down a steep path to Zuthulpuk at about 4,790 m.
3. Day 3, Zuthulpuk to Darchen: A mostly gentle walk back down towards Darchen.

Day 2 is long and the air is thin at the pass, so walk slowly and do not stop for long at the top. Our Kailash parikrama guide covers the walk in detail.

What do these heights mean for your health?

The NHS (UK health service) says altitude sickness usually happens above 2,500 metres, especially when you go up fast. On this yatra you sleep above 4,500 metres for several nights, and you walk above 5,500 metres at Dolma La. So every pilgrim, young or old, fit or not, must take altitude seriously.

Signs of altitude sickness (AMS)

According to the NHS, symptoms usually start 6 to 10 hours after reaching altitude. Common signs are:

• Headache
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea or vomiting
• Tiredness
• Dizziness
• Difficulty sleeping

Danger signs that need medical help at once: confusion, problems with balance, breathlessness even while resting, a cough or coughing up frothy or bloody spit, blue or grey lips, skin or nails, or being very sleepy and hard to wake. If you see these in anyone in your group, tell the group leader immediately, get medical help, and go down if possible.

How to acclimatise

The NHS gives simple rules. Compare any itinerary with them:

• Go up slowly. Try not to travel from below 1,200 m to above 3,500 m in a single day, and try not to fly straight to a high place.
• Above 3,000 m, take a rest day at the same height every 3 to 4 days.
• Above 3,000 m, try not to sleep more than 500 m higher than the night before.
• Drink enough water, and do not drink alcohol.
• If you feel unwell, rest at the same height and do not go higher. If you get worse or do not improve after a day, go down about 300 to 1,000 m if you can.
• If you have had altitude sickness before, or will go up quickly, speak to a doctor before the yatra. A doctor may prescribe medicine to help prevent it.

Be aware that no Kailash route follows these rules on every day. On the road route from Kathmandu, for example, the drive from Kerung (about 2,700 m) to Saga (about 4,600 m) gains about 1,900 m in one day. This is why a doctor’s advice before you go matters so much. Read our full altitude sickness yatra guide for more on prevention and first aid, and check the Kailash Mansarovar medical test guide to know which health checks to do before you apply.

How does the climb differ by route?

Each route reaches the same high plateau, but the first steps differ:

• Via Kathmandu and Kerung (road): starts at about 1,324 m, halts at about 2,700 m in Kerung, then rises to about 4,600 m at Saga in one long drive.
• Via Simikot and Hilsa: a flight to Simikot (about 2,900 to 3,000 m), then the border at Hilsa, then a drive onto the plateau.
• Via Lhasa: you arrive at about 3,650 m. The NHS advises against flying straight to a high place, so plan rest days in Lhasa before going higher.
• India routes: Lipulekh pass in Uttarakhand (about 5,050 to 5,200 m) or Nathu La in Sikkim (about 4,310 m).

How Yatra To Temples can help

Our Kailash Mansarovar yatra from Kathmandu page shows the day-by-day plan, including the rest day at Kerung. For questions about fitness or extra rest days, ask us by call, WhatsApp or the enquiry form.

Frequently asked questions

What is the exact height of Mount Kailash?

There is no single agreed figure. Sources give about 6,638 m, 6,656 m or 6,714 m (about 21,780 to 22,030 ft). The difference comes from different surveys and maps.

How high is Lake Mansarovar above sea level?

About 4,590 metres (about 15,060 ft). Britannica gives 4,557 m, and some sources round it to 4,600 m.

What is the highest point pilgrims reach on this yatra?

Dolma La pass on the Kailash parikrama. Most sources give about 5,630 metres; the MEA itinerary gives about 5,590 m and some sources up to 5,650 m. Pilgrims cross it on the second day of the parikrama.

How many feet high is Mount Kailash?

About 21,780 to 22,030 feet, depending on the source. In metres that is about 6,638 to 6,714 m.

At what height does altitude sickness start?

The NHS says it usually happens above 2,500 metres. On this yatra almost every night is above 4,500 metres, so watch for headache, nausea, dizziness and poor sleep.

Which is higher, Lipulekh pass or Nathu La?

Lipulekh pass is higher, at about 5,050 to 5,200 m. Nathu La is at about 4,310 m (14,140 ft).

Has anyone climbed Mount Kailash?

No successful ascent has been recorded. The Chinese government prohibits climbing because the mountain is sacred, so pilgrims walk around it instead.

Do older pilgrims need a medical test for these heights?

A doctor’s check is wise for every pilgrim, whatever their age, and the official India-route yatra has its own medical tests. See our medical test guide and speak to your doctor before booking.