Purang, also known as Burang County, is a famous trading center in western Tibet, bordering Nepal and India to the south. Most importantly, It’s also home to the sacred Mt. Kailash and Lake Manasarovar, the center of pilgrimage across Tibet.

Whether you are planning for the Mt. Kailash pilgrimage from Lhasa or exploring the vast untouched landscape and rich Tibetan culture of Ngari Prefecture, Purang will be your gateway for a thrilling adventure in western Tibet.

So, in this travel guide, we will walk you through Purang’s must-see attractions, the best travel routes, and more insider tips to help you plan your adventure in Purang.

Where Is Purang or Burang County? Why Is It So Special in Tibet?

Surrounded by the towering Gangdise and Himalayan ranges, Purang County or Burang County nestles in the southwestern corner of Tibet in Ngari Prefecture, bordering Nepal and India to its south. The distance between Lhasa and Purang is around 1,259km or over 17hr’s drive on the scenic G318 and G219 national highways.

With an average altitude of 4,500m, Purang covers 13,190 km² and boasts of its lofty peaks and deep valleys that showcase the raw and rugged beauty of the western Tibetan Plateau.

The location of Purang County in western Tibet on the map.

Apart from being a bustling trading post in the Tibet Autonomous Region with Nepal and India, the real draw of Purang lies in its sacred Mt. Kailash and Lake Manasarovar, which attract devoted local Tibetans and global travelers alike for pilgrimage and exploration.

Top Highlight in Purang County: Mt. Kailash & Lake Manasarovar Pilgrimage

Home to the holy Mt. Kailash and Lake Manasarovar, the holiest mountain and one of the three most sacred lakes in Tibet, Purang is the ultimate place for pilgrimage.

Located in the northwest of Purang County (or 9.9km north of Darchen in Baga Township), the pyramid-shaped holy Mt. Kailash rises to 6,656m and is believed to be the “Abode of Lord Shiva” by Hindus and “the center of the universe” worshipped by followers of Buddhism, Hinduism, Bon, and Jainism.

The stunning view of Mt. Kailash in Purang County.

Every year, thousands of travelers and pilgrims from afar visit Purang to embark on the challenging 3-day kora around the holy Mt. Kailash. Local Tibetans believe that circling Mount Kailash just once will wash away a lifetime of sins and gain many blessings.

With that said, Mt. Kailash Kora is a real test of your body and spirit. The most classic Mt. Kailash Kora or outer Kora spans 52km. Starting from Darchen, you are expected to walk with prostrating Tibetan pilgrims on rugged terrains averaging 5,000m above sea level.

Yet, the incredible view of Mt. Kailash and the palpable sense of holiness will leave you in awe. Our local experts will ensure you an uplifting spiritual adventure and provide you with the help needed. Learn how to plan Mt. Kailash kora.

15 Days Kailash and Manasarovar Small Group Tour: A pilgrim’s final fantasy and the greatest overland trip in Tibet.

Tour Route: Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - E.B.C - Saga - Kailash Trek - Darchen - Lake Manasarovar - Saga - Gyirong - Tingri - Lhasa

Price from USD2069 p.p

This is the trip for any of Mt. Kailash tourists; the ultimate overland trip of Tibet.

51km southeast of Mt. Kailash lies the serene Lake Manasarovar (4,586m). This sacred lake is the upper stream of four renowned rivers including Yarlung Tsangpo, the Indus, the Sutlej, and the Karnali, a tributary of the Ganges.

Hindus revere Lake Manasarovar as "Lake Manas" and believe that bathing in its holy waters and drinking from it cleanses sins and gains merits. Whereas local Tibetans, show their reverence by performing full-body prostrations around the lake without stepping into the holy water.

Serene Lake Manasarovar view in Purang County.

For, more travelers, you can visit Lake Mansarovar after finishing the arduous 3-day Mt. Kailash trek. You may meditate along the shore of Lake Mansarovar to purify your soul, hike to the Chiu Monastery nearby for its stunning panoramic view, or enjoy the Chiu Hot Springs to ease your aching feet after the long trek.

17 Days Kailash Manasarovar Full Moon Tour & Guge Kingdom Exploration

Tour Route: Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - EBC - Saga - Darchen - Zanda - Kailash Trek - Darchen - Saga - Gyirong - Tingri - Lhasa

Price from USD2299 p.p

This Mt. Kailash and Guge Kingdom tour combines the best highlights in Ngari Prefecture in western Tibet.

3 Must-see Tibetan Monasteries in Purang: Dirapuk Monastery, Korjak Monastery, Chiu Monastery

Aside from the stunning natural wonders like Mt. Kailash and Lake Manasarovar, don’t miss out on these three Tibetan monasteries as you explore Purang County.

Diakapuk Monastery is the first lodging place on day one of the Mt. Kailash trek and is around 20km north of Darchen. It’s the best place to view and shoot the north face of the snowy and pyramid-shaped summit of holy Mt. Kailash using white Tibetan stupas as the foreground. You can explore murals inside the monastery, and meditaton cave or go to the top floor to see the unusual meditation niches set around a central shrine. Learn where to stay during the Mt. Kailash trek.

View the amazing north face of Mt. Kailash from Diakapuk Monastery.

Founded by Rinchen Zangpo, the royal of the Guge Kingdom in 996, Korjak Monastery is situated 120km south of Darchen or 79km south of Lake Manasarovar. This iconic monastery features distinctive blood-red walls and belongs to the Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism.

You can explore its main hall presided over by a figure of Jampa (Maitreya) and admire exquisite wooden carvings and worship Chenresig (Avalokiteshvara), Jampelyang (Manjushri), and ChanaDorje (Vajrapani) enshrined in its main hall and more.

The iconic red wall of Korjak Monastery in the south of Purang County.

Additionally, located right beside Lake Manasarovar sits the Chiu Monastery, a tiny Buddhist site perched on a craggy hill overlooking Lake Manasarovar. The legend has it that the Guru Rinpoche was guided by a sparrow here and meditated here for days. You can follow its stone staircase for the sweeping view of Lake Manasarovar. Inside this monastery, you can discover the footprint of Guru Rinpoche as well.

View holy Lake Manasarovar from Chiu Monastery.

Off-the-beaten Sites in Purang County: Purang Border Trading Center, Karnali River, Mt. Namo Nanyi

If you have visited the top highlights in northern Purang and have a day or so to roam over the southern border regions in Purang, the following off-the-beaten paths are also worth exploring.

Purang Border Trading Center is a traditional frontier market that has a history of more than 500 years. Nepali traders come from the Humla and Darchula regions in the extreme west of Nepal to trade a variety of goods, including rice, cloth, coffee, and jewelry. Indian consumer goods and Nepali rice are traded for Tibetan salt and wool. You can dine on authentic Nepali dishes here.

The bustling Purang Border Trading Center.

Karnali River, also known as the Peacock River in Tibet, is one of the four rivers that rise from the region of sacred Mt. Kailash in Ngari. With an altitude of 3,962m, the Karnali River flows straight through Purang Town as it heads south, running across the Sino-Nepal border and on for another 1,080 kilometers to its confluence with the Ganges at Revelganj in Bihar, India. In Purang County, the Karnali River Valley is one of the most fertile valleys in Ngari prefecture.

Though Mt. Kailash often 'steals the show,' the highest peak in Purang County is actually Mt. Namo Nanyi. Situated in the south of Purang County, close to the border with Nepal, Mt. Namo Nanyi is the 34th highest peak in the world at 7,694 meters above sea level. You can enjoy the stunning beauty of this holy mountain from afar.

Best Time to Visit Purang County: May to October

Purang County features a high-altitude and subarctic dry climate zone in soaring western Tibet. The area enjoys abundant sunlight, with dramatic temperature changes between day and night.

May to October offers the most comfortable weather for travel in Purang regions with daytime temperatures ranging between 10°C to 20°C (50°F to 68°F). You can enjoy clearer blue skies and crisp air for Mt. Kailash Kora and admire Lake Manasarovar, Gangdise mountain ranges, and Mt. Namo Nanyi with high visibility. Besides, perfect road conditions during this period made travel easy for all outdoor activities in Purang.

The perfect sky and road conditions when visiting Purang in May.

To experience the festival vibes in Purang County, time your visit during the Saga Dawa Festival (May/June). At Darchen and Mt. Kailash, you will see ceaseless flows of local Tibetans and Indian pilgrims making the kora around Mt. Kailash. Meanwhile, the highlight is to see the raising of the Tarboche prayer pole in the morning.

16 Days Kailash and Manasarovar Small Group Tour: Reach the Gateway to the South Face of Kailash with the Spiritual Kailash Kora

Tour Route: Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - EBC - Saga - Darchen - Kailash Trek - Darchen - Saga - Gyirong - Tingri - Lhasa

Price from USD2219 p.p

This 15-day Mt. Kailash tour takes you to join the joyous celebrations around Mt.Kailash during Saga Dawa Festival.

How to Get to Purang County: 2 Best Travel Routes from Lhasa or Kathmandu

Currently, there are two popular travel routes to reach Purang County, either from Lhasa or Kathmandu, Nepal.

The most classic and recommended way is to travel from Lhasa to Purang County via Gyantse County and Shigatse. The 1,411 km epic overland journey on the scenic G318 HWY and G219 Hway takes you to cover some of the best highlights across Tibet, including holy Lhasa city, turquoise Yamdrok Lake, enchanting Gyantse County, historic Shigatse City, and popular Tibet Everest Base Camp before reaching in Darchen, the start point for Mt. Kailash Kora.

Most importantly, you can have a gradual acclimation from central Tibet to Purang which has a higher altitude and harsher climate. If you wish, after you finish touring Purang, you can exit the Tibet Autonomous Region into Nepal via the Gyriong border for further travel. We can provide you with a smooth border transfer.

13 Days to the Sacred Mt. Kailash and Lake Manasarovar: Most Classic Small Group Tour from Lhasa to Kathmandu

Tour Route: Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - EBC - Saga - Darchen - Kailash Trek - Darchen - Saga - Gyirong - Kathmandu

Price from USD2069 p.p

This Mt. Kailash tour in Purang County ends in Kathmandu via Gyriong border.

The other shorter way to reach Purang County is from Kathmandu, Nepal, you can access Tibet from the Gyirong border and travel northwest to Saga until reaching Darchen in Purang County. It only takes four days with acclimatization days in Gyirong Valley included. Since it’s a quick ascent from Kathmandu Valley (1,355m) to Purang(4,500m), it can be more challenging physically.

10 Days Kailash Pilgrimage Tour from Kathmandu, via Gyirong Port

Tour Route: Kathmandu - Gyirong - Saga - Mt.Kailash - Lake Manasarovar - Darchen - Saga - Gyirong - Kathmandu

Price from USD1749 p.p

This Mt. Kailash tour starts from Kathmandu and travels through Gyirong border to Purang County.

However, as a local Tibet travel agency, with offices in Lhasa, Kathmandu, and Chengdu, whichever way you choose to visit Purang County, we can offer you local experts, local guides, seamless border transfer, permit processing, extensive local hotel choices, oxygen supplies and and professional team support.

More Insider Tips for Visiting Purang County

Last but not least, for foreign nationals who plan to visit Purang County, you can only travel through pre-booked guided tours in Tibet, either in budget-friendly small group tours or a fully customized tour.

Additionally, we will help you process the Tibet Travel Permit for free to legally board the flight and train to Lhasa and arrange all the travel documents needed. Our one-stop service for shuttle service, local transfer, local experts, local drivers, and professional customer service managers behind will ensure you a thrilling and immersive travel experience in Tibet.

A sample of Tibet Travel Permit.

Conclusion

Traveling to Purang promises an incredible journey that immerses you in Tibet’s spiritual essence and natural wonders. If you have more questions about visiting Purang and other places in Tibet, don’t hesitate to email us for free and local travel solutions. Looking forward to traveling with you in Tibet in the near future. Tashi Delek!