Reminder

REMINDER - YOUR $3000 KAILASH CHECK (THE REMAINDER OF THE TOTAL COST OF $3500) AND YOUR DOCTOR'S NOTE ARE DUE BY APRIL 15TH.   CHECKS MUST BE MADE OUT TO DYC AND MAILED TO JAYSHREE HANDEL.

FOR THOSE TRAVELING WITH THE DYC GROUP, SINGAPORE AIRLINE TICKETS HAVE BEEN RESERVED AND INFORMATION REGARDING PRICING AND PAYMENT DUE DATES WILL BE POSTED WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.   STAY TUNED....

Important information for people travelling to high altitude

This simple, plain-English handbook was written by the Medex team in order to provide easy access to important information for laypeople travelling to high altitude. It will tell you what you need to know about altitude sickness, frostbite, hypothermia, and much more. You can download a full copy from the medex website by clicking on one of the following links:
http://www.altitude.org/travel.htm

Nepal to Nikora flight details

The group will depart from Kathmandu, Nepal on Aug 1st for Vadodara(BDQ) via Delhi. We are booking our flights on Jet airways, flight time is 2:40pm, it will reach Vadodara at 7:40pm.

There is an earlier flight from Kathmanduvia Delhi at 9:30am which also reaches Vadodara at 7:40pm.
You can also reach Vadodara via Mumbai.


Ma & Bapuji will stay at Nikora upto Aug 6th. Please plan accordingly. You can depart from Ahmedabad which is nearer Nikora or from Mumbai. Mumbai is farther away but you can get there by train or by flying. More international flights go out of Mumbai than Ahmedabad.

Revised Kailash Schedule for July 16 to Aug.1, 2010

Day 01: (Fri. 16 July) Arrive Kathmandu (1336m) & transfer to Hotel. Kailash briefing at 5:30 pm. Dinner at 8:00 pm. Overnight at Hyatt Regency.
Day 02: (Sat. 17 July) KATHMANDU: Visit the Pashupatinath Temple for Pooja  & half day sightseeing, Overnight in Hyatt Regency.
Day 03: (Sun. 18 July) KATHMANDU: After Lunch packing arrangement for Kailash Yatra, Overnight in Hyatt Regency.

Day 04: (Mon. 19 July) KATHMANDU - NYLAM. (3900m) 127kms, early morning start for the Kodari (border) after immigration formalities at the Nepal side you will drive further to Zhangmu. Here also there will be immigration formalities at the Chinese side. From Zhangmu drive further to Nylam for 2 and 1/2 hours. Overnight in Guest House.
Day 05: (Tue. 20 July) NYLAM. Rest day for acclimatization. Overnight in Guest House.
Day 06: (Wed. 21 July) NYLAM -  SAGA. (4640m). 230 Kms/144miles. Drive to Saga for approx. 09 hours. Overnight in Guest House.

Day 07: (Th. 22 July) SAGA - PARYANG. (4540m). 230 Kms. Drive to Paryang for approx. 9 hours. Overnight in Guest House.
Day 08: (Fri. 23 July) PARYANG – MANASAROVAR (4700m/15400ft). 240 Kms. Drive to Manasarovar for approx. 7 hours. Overnight in guest house/Tent at Mansarovar.
Day 09: (Sat. 24 July) REST DAY IN MANASAROVAR.  Offer morning prayers. On this day after lunch you will drive around Manasarovar Lake for 3 - 4 hours for the Parikrama during which you will also  visit the CHU GOMPA. Overnight in guest house/Tent at Mansarovar.
Day 10: (Sun. 25 July- Guru Purnima): Puja and rest day. Overnight in guest house/Tent at Mansarovar.

Day 11: (Mon. 26 July) MANASAROVAR -ASTAPATH - DIRAPUK.  Drive to Astapath for 2 hours. Then  trek to Dirapuk for approx. 5 hours. Overnight in Tented Camp (or Guest House if rooms are available).
Day 12: (Tue. 27 July) DIRAPUK - ZUTULPUK. Continue Parikarma over Dolma Pass [5650m/18800ft] to Zuthul Puk which might take approx. 8 hrs. walk. Overnight in tented camp (or Guest House if rooms are available).
Day 13: (Wed. 28 July) ZUTULPUK – DARCHEN - MANASAROVAR (4700m) Kora ends near Darchen which will take approx, 5 hours walk. Overnight in guest house/Tent at Mansarovar.
Day 14: (Th. 29 July) MANASAROVAR - SAGA (4640m). Drive to Saga for app 9 hours. Overnight in Guest house
Day 15: (Fri. 30 July) SAGA – NYLAM (3900m). Drive to Nylam for app 9 hour Overnight in Guest House.
Day 16: (Sat. 31 July) NYLAM –  KATHMANDU. 127 Kms. downhill to Friendship Bridge where transportation waits for the final leg of journey to Kathmandu.Overnight in Hotel Hyatt Regency
Day 17: (Sun 1 Aug) FINAL DEPARTURE. Transfer to airport for departure. Arrive in US on Tuesday, Aug. 3rd, 10:55am - JFK group; Aug 2nd, 8:30pm - SFO group

Please note new travel dates

The US group departures:
- San Francisco(SFO)group will depart on Wednesday, JULY 14th at 2:05pm from San Francisco International Airport.
- East Coast(JFK)group departs on Wednesday, JULY 14th at 9:25pm from JFK International Airport.

Arrival into Kathmandu:
- Both East coast and West coast groups arrive in Kathmandu on Friday, July 16th at 12:05pm

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Departure from Nepal:
- US groups (not going to Nikora) will depart from Kathmandu on Sunday, August 1st at 1:05pm and arrive in US on Monday August 2nd. JFK group arrives at 10:55am. SFO
group arrives at 8:30pm
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- US group going to Nikora will also depart from Kathmandu on Sunday, August 1st.
We will post details of local Indian portion of the travel shortly.
Ma & Bapuji will stay in Nikora upto Friday, August 6th.
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Suggested list of items to bring for Kailash Yatra (15 lbs weight limit for pilgrimage portion of the trip)

1) A pair of walking boots for Kailash Parikrama
2) Pair of sport-shoes
3) Woolen pullovers and sweaters
4) Pair of light weight trousers
5) Windproof trousers
6) Sun hat with a wide brim to cover the face and neck
7) Pair of woolen gloves with lining are best
8) Two pairs of thin and two pairs of thick woolen socks
9) Toilet items
10)Camera
11)Towel
12)Soap
13)A book
14)Sunglasses
15)Flashlight with spare batteries
16)Personal medical supplies
17)Wind and sun protection cream and chap sticks
18)A cotton scarf to protect your mouth and nose from the dust.

Schedule change for Kailash trip

The majority of people registered for the Kailash trip will be flying as part of our DYC group, from either the East Coast or the West Coast of the US.  We have already negotiated a group rate with Singapore Airlines and will let you all know the details of the flights and costs once they are finalized.  This message is relevant to everyone planning for this extraordinary trip but it is particularly important for those of you who plan to purchase your own tickets and meet the group in Katmandu. Please hold off purchasing your own plane tickets to/from Katmandu for the time being and read the information in this message.

Due to a recent flight cancellation by Singapore Airlines, we may have to slightly alter the travel schedule.  New date to fly out of the USA is July 19th, 2010. Our return flights from Nepal to USA will also be moved ahead by three days. Our previous return date was scheduled for Aug 2^nd now it will be Aug. 5^th. We will stay overnight on Aug 4th in Singapore on our return flight.

We are working as fast as possible to resolve these issues and will publish the revised schedule on the Kailash blog, at http://dhyanisdisciples.blogspot.com/. Please check the blog frequently from this point on because we will be uploading new information as it becomes available. 

On another note:  There is an important new Indian travel restriction.  Travelers to India are no longer going to be permitted to enter, leave, and re-enter India as they have in the past.  There must now be a two-month period between entering/leaving India and then re-entering India.  What this means is that it will not be possible to plan to arrive in India ahead of the group, then go to Katmandu and complete the Kailash trip, and then return to India for more travel/visiting in India.

More to follow….

Re: New visa regulation for India visit

If you are planning to visit India around Kailash trip please read the new regulations. In a nutshell, if you have a travel visa (T visa) then you will need a gap of two months between two consecutive visits to India. More here:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_4620.html

How to break into a new pair of hiking boots

Please see below some comments by Lou on how to break into a new pair of hiking boots:

"Firstly, it takes 30 miles of walking to break in a new pair of hiking boots. It would be a good idea to do that before going on a trip like this one. Second, if people plan to purchase their equipment in the USA it should be noted that many things are seasonal. That is, you can buy things like down parkas between October and January after that is is hard to find many items because the shops move on to selling spring time items. Third, there are ways to find good buys online rather than paying full price in stores. Hope you find this info useful."

Kailash Yatra FAQs

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Critical questions to ask before making the decision:

Question: How much will it cost?

Answer: Roundtrip cost from Nepal-Mansarover-Nepal will be $3,500. This includes Guru Purnima puja at Mansarover. Airfares to and from Nepal are NOT included. For disciples residing in USA, we are working with Singapore Airlines to arrange for a group travel rate. We will provide you with that group code. You may book your flight with Singapore Airlines if you reside in the USA. Rough estimate for roundtrip airfare from JFK Airport on the East Coast and San Francisco Airport on the West Coast of USA to Katmandu, Nepal may be $1,600 and $1,400 respectively. If you are located in Europe or any other country, you will need to arrange for your own air travel to and from Katmandu, Nepal. If you are planning to visit India while you are in the region either before or after the yatra, please note that the above quotes do not cover those costs. The quotes above are strictly for the Mt. Kailash trip.

Question: How did we arrive at the $3,500 trip cost?

Answer: $3,500 is a rough estimate based on information passed on to us by the Indian travel agent. Any unforeseen increase in cost e.g. if the Chinese government decides to increase the visa cost etc will be passed on to the trip participants.

Question: What travel documentation do I need for this trip?

Answer: We will be traveling to two or three countries, Nepal, China and probably India, if you decide on a private trip to Nikora or sight-seeing in India. This means you will need travel visas to all three countries. Please e-mail or fax Jayshree a scanned copy of the first and last, inside page of your passport by January 15^th, 2010 to get started with visa process. One important thing to do right away is to check and make sure your passport is valid for six months beyond the proposed date of departure from your home country. In other words, your passport should be valid till January 31^st, 2011.

Important Note: You will not have to get your own visas. All visas for trip participants will be obtained by our travel agent in India through the use of the scanned passport pages that you provide to Jayshree

Question: How difficult is the trip?

Answer: This is an arduous trip. Devotion and faith in Guru is a necessary pre-condition but please make sure you understand the strenuous nature of this journey before making a commitment. Taking advice from your doctor and having a good financial situation should be a mandatory part of your decision-making process. You are responsible for your decision. A letter from your physician stating that you are healthy enough to make this arduous trip is required for taking part in this journey. This letter is of utmost importance, especially for people with heart, lungs and blood diseases. We will provide further details regarding altitude heights, how much walking is involved, temperatures etc on this blog

The Chinese government has stopped issuing visas to people aged 70 years or older so if you are in that age group you cannot join this trip.

Question: What is the time schedule?

Answer: All trip participants will arrive at Katmandu by 19^th of July, 2010 and depart from Katmandu on 2^nd August, 2010. This means US travelers fly out of JFK/SFO airports on 17th July and arrive back in USA on the 3rd of August, 2010 if you are not staying on to travel to Nikora, India. Please see this blog for detailed itinerary

Question: Can I fly on different dates from the rest of the group?

Answer: Yes, but you will need to make those arrangements yourself. You have to be at Katmandu on 19^th of July, 2010 to be able to join the rest of the group and similarly on the return trip depart with the group on 2^nd Aug, 2010 from Katmandu. If you plan your own itinerary then you might not be able to take advantage of the discounted group airfares which will translate into higher costs for you.

Question: How should I prepare physically for this trip?

Answer: Please consult your doctor before starting a training regime. We will be at high altitudes. Make sure you treat and recover fully from any acute existing medical conditions - especially dental conditions. You should also look into personal travel medical insurance.

Question: Who should be contacted if I have more questions about the trip?

Answer: Jayshree is the registrar for this event, her e-mail address is janahandel@yahoo.com

Question: I have decided to go on this trip and celebrate 2010 Guru Purnima at Mansarovar/Kailash with Ma and Bapuji. What is the next step?

Answer: Please let Jayshree know about your decision. Her e-mail address is janahandel@yahoo.com

Payment timelines are:

1. An initial non-refundable deposit of $500 is required to secure your place with the group when you register. Registration deadline is 15^th January, 2010. This initial deposit of $500 will be deducted from the total trip cost of $3,500. Please also e-mail a scanned copy of first and last page of your passport by this date to Jayshree at janahandel@yahoo.com or fax a copy to 925.706.9642

2. Payment of $3,000 is due in full by 15^th April, 2010 along a letter from your physician attesting to the fact that you are healthy enough to make this arduous trip

Checks should be written to "DYC". The mailing address is:

Jayshree Handel, P.O Box 4161, Antioch, CA 94531.

Please call Jayshree at 860.306.5316 if you wish to use your credit card.

Question: How do I keep up to date with all the new information regarding the Kailash trip?

Answer: We will post new updates on this blog. Please bookmark this site on your web browser.

Question: What personal belongings should I take with me for this trip?

Answer: A pair of walking boots for Kailash Parikrama, another pair of sport-shoes, woolen pullovers and sweaters, a pair of light weight trousers, windproof trousers, a sun hat with a wide brim to cover the face and neck, a pair of woolen gloves with lining are best, two pairs of thin and two pairs of thick woolen socks, toilet items, camera, towel, soap, a book, sunglasses, flashlight with spare batteries, personal medical supplies, wind and sun protection cream and chap sticks as well as a cotton scarf to protect your mouth and nose from the dust. There is a weight limit of 6.8kgs (15lbs) on personal baggage for the pilgrimage portion of the trip. Please check this blog for updates

Question: Should I bring a small bag just for the pilgrimage portion of the trip?

Answer: Yes, a small bag not weighing more than 15 lbs should be brought for the pilgrimage portion of the trip

Question: What services does $3,500 cover?

Answer: 2 nights shared accommodation at a Hotel in Kathmandu, breakfast & dinner included. In Tibet (note: China visa covers Tibet) accommodation will be provided in Guest Houses on full board (breakfast, lunch & dinner) basis. Accommodations can be either on twin sharing basis, double, triple or dormitory basis. This depends entirely on the availability of the rooms in the Guest Houses on that particular time and date. The trip cost will remain the same if you get either accommodation. We request that you be flexible regarding this.

The trip cost covers: Transportation in 4 Wheel Drive Land Cruiser, 4 persons in one Land Cruiser, excluding driver and guide, supporting truck for carrying Nepali staff such as cook, Sherpa, helper etc. All trekking equipments, such as 2-person sleeping tents, dining tents, kitchen tents, toilet tents, shower tents, sleeping mattresses, camp chairs and tables, all kitchen utensils and food supplies, Gamow bags ( which are used in case anyone suffers from altitude sickness ) and portable oxygen cylinders. All sightseeing tours with English- speaking Tibetan guide, Yak and Yak driver for client's luggage portage during the Parikarma, permits are also included. Down Sleeping bags and down jackets can be rented.

SERVICES EXCLUDED: Mineral water, soft drinks, laundry, telephone calls & all expenses of personal nature, out-of-pocket expenses,Travel and Health Insurance, emergency evacuation, extra charges for hiring porters and other vehicles in between in case of landslides and other natural calamities.

ॐ शांति शांति शांति: