Pilgrimage “They return to their country with shining eyes, enriched by an experience which all through their life will be a source of strength and inspiration, because they have been face to face with the Eternal, they have seen the Land of the Gods.” Lama Anagarika Govinda, 1948

Mount Kailas Sacred mountain for more than half a billion people in India, Tibet, Nepal, and Bhutan. Rises to 28,028 feet near the sources of 4 major rivers of the Indian subcontinent- the Indus, the Brahmaputra, the Sutlej, and the Karnali.

Home of the gods Hindus view Mt. Kailas as the divine dwelling place of Shiva and his wife, the goddess, Parvati. Buddhists compare the peak to a pagoda- like palace of the deity, Demchog, who with his consort, Dorje Phagmo, represent the ecstatic union of compassion and wisdom.

Mount Kailas The gully descending from its face is regarded by Hindus as Shiva’s route to the summit- a literal stairway to heaven. And by Buddhists as the track left by the drum of a falling Bon priest.

Chomolhari, Bhutan Chomolhari is a peak of the main Himalayan crest and is on the border of Bhutan and Tibet. The peak itself is 7314m, and the north face is a sheer 9,000-foot wall. The name Chomolhari means Mountain of the Goddess and the mountain is sacred to Bhutanese and Tibetan Buddhists.

Nandi Devi, India Known to Hindus as the “Goddess of Bliss,” Nanda Devi attracts many pilgrims and mountain climbers.

Nanda Devi Unsoeld Willi Unsoeld named his daughter Nanda Devi who at 21 decided to climb the 25,645-ft. peak with her father. Feeling ill and preparing to descend from camp at 24,000 feet, she suddenly sat up and said, very calmly, “I am going to die”- and she died in her fathers arms.

New Myth of Sacred Lore Nandi Devi’s natural warmth and ability to speak Nepali (which is closely related to local Garhwali) and her striking golden hair elicited comparisons to Gauri, the golden form of the goddess Parvati. Villagers concluded that father’s vow to name her Nanda Devi caused deity to enter her body and become incarnate that was goddess’s way of coming home.

Kangchenjunga, Sikkim Over 28,000 ft, 3 rd highest peak in world. Known to Lepchas- the original inhabitants of Sikkim- as Kongo Chu, the “Highest Veil of Ice,” where behind this great wall lies the kingdom of the dead to which they go when they die. British climbing team in 1955 stopped 20 feet short of summit out of respect.

Mount Shasta, California Modoc story about the creation of the mountain and the origin of their people. The Great Spirit that lives inside the mountain is responsible for the fire and smoke that erupts from the volcano- it’s his fireplace that he uses to keep his family warm.

San Francisco Peaks, Arizona Hopi revere the peaks as the dwelling place of the katsinas whose goodwill they depend on for their livelihood and survival. The katsinas take the shape of clouds on the mountain top that soar over the desert with rain. Katsinas also appear in human forms which are impersonated by masked Hopi dancers in ceremonies on the mesas.

Mountain Katahdin, Maine According to the Abenaki Indians, Mt. Katahdin is guarded by Pomola who has a human body with a head of a moose and the wings of an eagle. Pomola commands the weather using a “storm bird” spirit helper which appears as tiny birds who can foretell storms if you watch and know how to listen to them.

Bear Butte, South Dakota Known to the plains Sioux as Mato Paha or Bear Mountain. Used by Crazy Horse on a vision quest where he obtained remarkable powers. Custer died because he had offended the spirit of the mountain by climbing it just before the battle of the Little Big Horn.