On December 9, the Chinese/Tibetan government officials flew from Lhasa to Kathmandu for the final negotiations with the team Pujya Swamiji had put in charge in Nepal. After 4 days of intense writing and rewriting of plans, proposals and agreements, the final contract was ready for Pujya Swamiji's signature.

On December 14, 2000, Pujya Swamiji flew to Kathmandu, Nepal where a special banquet was thrown in His honor by the Ambassador from China to Nepal.

Further, the contract states that for all future projects in the region (including schools, hospitals, rest houses, sanitation programs), the government of Tibet/China will give first priority to IHRF to sponsor the project.

The project is truly the grace of God and will be a divine gift to the holy land, to all the impoverished Tibetans who live there, and to all the pious pilgrims who cross oceans and continents in order to have a glimpse of the abode of Lord Shiva.

In July 2003, Pujya Swamiji travelled with nearly 200 yatris from 13 countries to the holy land of Mansarovar and Mt. Kailash to inaugurate the Parmarth Mansarovar Ashram and Medical Clinic. A special inauguration ceremony was held in which local women, men, lamas and children came to offer their respects to Pujya Swamiji for the creation of this divine ashram. Since then we have also constructed 2 large halls on the same premises which can be used as a dormitory and also for meditation, satsang and puja.

Plans are underway for ashrams (tourist rest houses) and medical clinics in Saga and Prayang as well as in Dhirapuk and Zuthulpuk (along the Kailash parikrama route). Permission has already been granted by the Chinese government and work is nearly underway.

Parmarth Prayang Ashram

In July 2003, we had also performed the ground breaking ceremony for an ashram in Prayang. That ashram is now nearly completed.

Parmarth Ashrams on Kailash Parikrama Route

We have purchased land on the sacred parikrama route at Dirapuk (4775 metres high) and Zuthulpuk (4700 metres high). The construction for these has begun and will be completed by the summer of 2006. These will be the first ashrams ever to be built at such high altitude. Now, when pilgrims perform the sacred Kailash parikrama, which is 52km and takes 3 days, they will have safe, indoor facilities in which to stay rather than camping in tents in the wind and cold.

Below: The two large halls which were recently constructed at the Parmarth Mansarovar Ashram and Medical Clinic. These can be used as dormitories and also for meditation, satsang and puja;

Pujya Swamiji conducting the ground breaking ceremony (July 2003) for the Parmarth Prayang Ashram, and (adjacent picture) the Parmarth Prayang Ashram now almost completed;

Land on which the Parmarth Dirapuk and Zuthulpuk Ashrams will be built.

Sponsor a room in Prayang, Dirapuk or Zuthulpuk

Sponsor a room in the name of a loved one or a dear, departed soul. Immortalize the name and memory of yourself, your parents, your children, brothers, sisters or your spouse.

Suggested donation per room in Parmarth Prayang Ashram is US$10,000

Suggested donation per room in Dirapuk and Zuthulpuk is US$15,000.

For these ashrams, all materials must be carried by yaks and sherpas as there is no motorable road. Further, extra sturdy materials such as steel must be used in construction in order to withstand heavy winds and snow. Hence the construction cost is much higher.

A special puja will be performed at the “Plaque Ceremony” at Mt Kailash and Lake Mansarovar in your name before the plaque is put on the wall of the ashrams.

Doctors and dentists treat patients in Saga, Darchen (Kailash), Kodari and Mansarovar

Local patients were treated for the following ailments: peptic ulcer diseases, back pain, diabetes, hypertension, women's issues, pregnancy, pediatric issues, injuries and dental problems. Further, other yatris who had traveled to Mansarovar with different groups, but were there at the time of the Medical Mission, were treated for fractures, sprains and high altitude sickness.

The doctors carried a total of US $100,000 worth of medicines and medical supplies to Mansarovar and left behind, with the local doctor of the Parmarth Mansarovar Ashram and Clinic, all the medicines which were not used as well as supplies.

May Lord Shiva shower His divine blessings upon you.

Other Projects in the Sacred Land

Tree plantation and agricultural program

The local people eat only yak and yak by-products, as no vegetation grows at that altitude. However, Pujya Swamiji believed that it must be possible to grow vegetables and grains there. Therefore, in July 2003 we took a soil sample which was analysed by specialists in India. It has been determined that basic agriculture is possible. Therefore, IHRF will provide seeds and other materials for a greenhouse as well as technical know-how in order to help the local people move from a yak-based diet to one that is based on vegetables and grains.

Clean-up program

Since the summer of 2005, clean-up programs have commenced to clear the trash left by pilgrims and visitors. This program will be further expanded in 2006 so that the sacred land can be kept clean, green and serene.

June 2006 - Day by Day Highlights of Yatra with beautiful photos:

For the most recent updates please visit here

On 4th and 5th of June all yatris gathered together in Kathmandu where we stayed at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Days were filled with sightseeing of the local holy temple, Pashupatinath and Bodhnath. At Pashupatinath we took part in a sacred Shiv abhishek puja and also had satsang in the sacred temple. At Bodhnath temple, it was a truly sacred experience to walk the circumference of the temple, spinning the golden prayer wheels while chanting, "Om Mani Padme Om."

To find out more about the divine yatra led by Pujya Swamiji and also the details of the ashram, medical clinic and other projects undertaken by Pujya Swamiji's India Heritage Research Foundation, please see www.kailashmansarovar.org or www.parmarth.com/updates/july2003/index.html or
http://www.parmarth.com/updates/june2006/index.html