Darchen: The First Step for Mount Kailash Kora

Darchen is a transliteration of the Tibetan word for "prayer flag." While this name has a long history, it's not officially used today. The official administrative name for Darchen is Gangsha Village, Baga Town, Purang County, Tibet Autonomous Region, Ngari Prefecture, and the Baga Town government is located there. In Tibetan, "gang" means snowy mountain, specifically referring to Mount Kailash; "sha" means land or place. Therefore, "Gangsha" can be understood as "the land of Mount Kailash." Darchen is located at the foot of Mount Kailash.

About Darchen

The entire town of Darchen is built on a slope that slopes downward in the south and upward in the north, with elevations ranging from approximately 4,640 meters at the base to 4,700 meters at the summit. Mount Kailash is visible from most locations in the town, but due to the obstruction of the surrounding mountains, only a small portion of the summit of the sacred mountain's south face can be seen. However, Mount Namnayi, at 7,694 meters, can be seen in the distance to the south.

For a long time, Darchen was a small settlement, mostly inhabited by nomadic herders. However, since the 1980s, with the influx of pilgrims from other countries, Darchen has gradually developed into a small town. Everyone traveling to Mount Kailash passes through Darchen at least once, and many stay overnight to prepare for the trek around the mountain, purchase hiking supplies, or hire porters or yaks for the trek. Small shops here sell dry food suitable for hiking, as well as instant noodles and oxygen canisters.

How to Get to Darchen?

There are many ways to reach Darchen. The following are the main routes:

Driving from Lhasa: The distance between Lhasa and Darchen is approximately 1,200 kilometers. This distance is often included in tour packages and typically takes 4-5 days, with several scenic stops along the way.

Driving from Nepal: The journey is approximately 160 kilometers via the Nepalese town of Simikot to the Tibetan border town of Purang, but requires acclimatization to the high altitude.

Driving from Ngari in western Tibet: Ngari has two airports with regular flights connecting Ngari and Lhasa. Ngari Gunsha Airport is approximately 200 kilometers from Darchen and can be reached in a day. Ngari Purang Airport is approximately 90 kilometers from Darchen and can be reached in half a day.

Driving from Xinjiang: The Xinjiang-Tibet Highway connecting Xinjiang and Lhasa passes through Darchen and takes about 10 days.

Darchen Town

Basic Facilities in Darchen

The following information will provide a comprehensive overview of Darchen’s amenities, including accommodations, restaurants, shops, banks, hospitals, and transportation etc. This will help you fully understand Darchen and prepare for a smooth journey to Mount Kailash.

Accommodations in Darchen

After rapid expansion and construction in recent years, Darchen has seen a surge in hotels, guesthouses, and other accommodations scattered throughout the town, with varying prices.

A standard room in a mid-range hotel in Darchen currently costs approximately USD 50 in the off-season and USD 85 in the peak season. Hotels with better facilities and amenities tend to charge higher prices. Darchen has become a crucial stopover on National Highway 219. Since the second half of 2023, a large number of new hotels and guesthouses have opened in Darchen, significantly increasing room availability and easing accommodation prices.

Due to local resources and operating costs, the overall quality of hotels in Darchen will likely be lower than in other large and medium-sized cities in Tibet, even at a similar price. We recommend that you be prepared to avoid a significant disappointment.

Also, first-time pilgrims in average health are advised to stay in separate rooms, either alone or with a companion, to minimize distractions and allow for better rest and energy for the pilgrimage.

Restaurants in Darchen

Restaurants of all sizes are scattered throughout the town of Darchen, primarily serving Sichuan cuisine, but also offering Northeastern and Hunanese dishes, as well as halal options. There are also numerous Tibetan restaurants. It's important to note that these restaurants not only offer traditional Tibetan dishes like Tibetan noodles, butter tea, and sweet tea, but also simple Chinese dishes like fried rice and stir-fries. These dishes are lighter than typical Sichuan cuisine, so those who can't tolerate strong flavors can give them a try. Tibetan restaurants also almost always serve curry rice, which contains beef and potatoes and is much lighter than Indian curry.

Due to its remote location and harsh climate, almost all supplies in Darchen are shipped in from other places. This leads to high transportation costs and loss rates, making overall prices significantly higher than in Lhasa. Therefore, even basic meals are more expensive than in other Tibetan cities. It's recommended to pack some snacks or instant noodles before going to Darchen.

Shops and Supermarkets in Darchen

There are numerous supermarkets and small shops throughout Darchen, where you can purchase a variety of food and beverages (including dry goods), daily necessities, and emergency clothing and footwear.

Here are a few supermarkets with a wide selection:

1. Youxuan Shopping Center, located south of the Himalaya Kailash Hotel on Darchen Middle Road;
2. Baihui Supermarket, located in the Commercial Center (also known as the Darchen Tourism Service Complex), southwest of the intersection of Gela Road and Darchen Middle Road;
3. Xingsheng Shopping Center, Building 10, in the core area of the International Tourism Town;
4. Qinghui Supermarket is located northeast of the intersection of Darchen North Road and Renmin Road.

Once you arrive in Darchen, you can visit these shops to purchase items for your pilgrimage.

Hospitals and Pharmacies in Darchen

The Baga Town Health Center (also known as the Baga Town Branch of the Purang County Central Hospital) is located southwest of the intersection of Gela Road and Laqu Road. The health center offers a pleasant environment and provides diagnosis and treatment for general ailments, including oxygen therapy and intravenous drips. Outpatient clinics are available Monday through Friday, with summer hours (May to September) from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 4:30 PM to 7:00 PM, and winter hours (October to April) from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM and 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM. During the rest of the year and on Saturdays and Sundays, only emergency services are available. Outside of outpatient hours, the doctor on duty can be contacted by calling the phone number posted at the hospital entrance.

There is a Zidanma Pharmacy on Darchen North Road and Darchen Middle Road, each selling common medications and offering oxygen therapy. The Gangri Clinic is located above the Zidanma Pharmacy on Darchen North Road. The pharmacy is open daily from 9:00 AM to 11:30 PM, while the clinic is open from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM. There's also the Weilang Pharmacy on Darchen South Road and the Xinyuan Clinic at the intersection of Laqu Road and Renmin Road. Many hotels in Darchen now rent large-capacity portable oxygen cylinders or concentrators for use while on the Kailash kora.

If you feel unwell while doing the Kailash kora, do not force yourself. Immediately inform your guide and descend to a lower altitude to seek medical attention.

Darchen's Weather and Time Difference with Other Areas

Most weather forecast apps and websites only detail the location of "Purang County," which refers to the weather in Purang County itself. Purang County is located in a Himalayan valley about 80 kilometers south of Darchen, at an altitude of only 3,880 meters, 800 meters lower than Darchen. The geographical environment and climate are significantly different, making Purang County's weather forecast less useful for those planning to do the kora. If you're looking for Darchen's weather, you must check the forecast for "Darchen (Tarchan or Taqin)" or "Baga Town (Purang County)." While the weather conditions during the kora are often more variable than during Darchen.

Mount Kailash is located at approximately 81 degrees east longitude, over 3,500 kilometers from eastern China. Therefore, Darchen and the surrounding area are nearly 2.5 hours behind Beijing Time at 120 degrees east longitude. Since China implements a single time zone system, the sunrise time in the Mount Kailash area during the kora season(May-October) is approximately 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Beijing time, and the sunset time is 9:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and noon is approximately 2:30 p.m.

Other amenities you may need include banks, mobile phone service, and post offices. WeChat Pay is accepted by various hotels, restaurants, and shops in Darchen, though Alipay is less popular. There is only one Agricultural Bank in Darchen, located northeast of the intersection of Gela Road and Gangsha Road. Regarding mobile phone services, Darchen has branches for both China Mobile and China Telecom. China Mobile's branch is located on Anju 3rd Road, while China Telecom's branch is southeast of the intersection of Renmin Road and Gangsha Road. There is also a China Post branch on Anju 3rd Road, 60 meters west of the China Post branch. These branches offer EMS, express parcel services, and standard parcel delivery services to destinations throughout the country.

Conclusion

Overall, Darchen is not only a crucial stopover for pilgrims to Mount Kailash kora, but also a site on the Tibetan Plateau steeped in religious atmosphere and natural charm. It retains the pristine charm of traditional Tibetan culture while gradually improving tourism and living facilities to provide convenient accommodations for pilgrims. Whether seeking a brief rest stop or a deeper immersion in Tibetan faith and customs, Darchen showcases its unique charm and is an essential stop on any exploration of Mount Kailash and the surrounding sacred sites. If you'd like to learn more about Darchen or Mount Kailash, please join our journey.