Purang County

Purang County or Burang County is an administrative division of Ngari Prefecture in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) of China. The county seat is Purang Town, known as Taklakot in Nepali. The county covers an area of 12,539 square kilometres (4,841 sq mi), and has a population of 9,657 as of 2010.

Mount Kailash

Mount Kailash rises to 6,656m and is considered the center of the universe by followers of Buddhism, Hinduism, Bon, and Jainism. The classic 52km outer kora trek takes 3 days around the pyramid-shaped holy peak, averaging 5,000m elevation. Starting from Darchen, pilgrims walk along rugged terrain in a spiritual journey that is believed to wash away a lifetime of sins.

Why go: Four major religions converge on this one peak — it is the most universally sacred mountain on Earth. The 3-day kora is a transformative physical and spiritual challenge.

Lake Manasarovar

Covering more than 400 square kilometers at 4,587m altitude, Lake Manasarovar is the world's highest freshwater lake and one of Tibet's three most sacred lakes. It is the source of four great rivers: the Yarlung Tsangpo, Indus, Sutlej, and Karnali.

Why go: The spiritual energy of this lake is palpable. Its crystal-clear waters and surrounding mountain vistas create one of the most breathtaking landscapes in all of Tibet.

Kejia Monastery

Founded in 996 AD by Rinchen Zangpo of the Guge Kingdom, Kejia Monastery is a thousand-year-old Sakya school temple located 19km south of Burang Town. Its distinctive blood-red walls house well-preserved Buddhist relics including ancient scriptures, Buddha sculptures, and three famous silver Buddha statues.

Why go: A living museum of Tibetan Buddhist art and history, with some of the finest ancient relics in western Tibet.

Mount Gurla Mandhata

Standing at 7,694m, Mount Gurla Mandhata is the highest peak in Purang County and the 34th highest in the world. Located south of Lake Manasarovar near the Nepal border, it features white glaciers year-round and countless sharp ridges.

Why go: While Mount Kailash gets most of the attention, Gurla Mandhata's towering presence and pristine glaciers offer equally stunning photographic opportunities.

Lake Rakshastal

Known as the Ghost Lake, Lhanag-tso is a salty lake at 4,573m altitude adjacent to the sacred Lake Manasarovar. Its lifeless environment gives it an eerie, otherworldly beauty. On clear days, the deep blue lake reflects clusters of clouds drifting above brown hills.

Why go: The stark contrast between the sacred Lake Manasarovar and the Ghost Lake creates a powerful duality that embodies the spiritual landscape of western Tibet.

Burang Border Trading Center

A traditional frontier market with over 500 years of history. Nepali traders trade rice, cloth, coffee, and jewelry for Tibetan salt and wool. The bustling streets feature authentic Nepali cuisine and the Nepal Mansion where many Nepalese live and conduct business.

Why go: A rare chance to experience authentic cross-border trade at the junction of three nations.

Dirapuk Monastery

Located 20km north of Darchen, Dirapuk Monastery is the first lodging point on day one of the Mt. Kailash trek. It offers the best vantage point to photograph the north face of the pyramid-shaped summit with white Tibetan stupas as foreground.

Why go: The most iconic photographic viewpoint of Mount Kailash — the definitive image of Tibetan pilgrimage.