Mount Amnye Machen: Sacred Mountain

The archaic Dun-Hung scriptures described Tibet is being situated centre of the earth with abundant source of rivers, snow capped mountains, a pure high land and well-equipped weather. It was thousand years ago that this place began to evolve mankind from monkeys and orangutans. There were nine deities at the first time of existence of the world and they were dwelling everywhere on the Tibetan plateau as are super mountain gods. Mount Amnye Machen or Machen Bomra is one of the nine and fourth son of eight of the father deity Ode Gonggyal and one of amazing the adventure trekkking package in Amdo.

Mount Amnye Machen, how to get to Amnye Machen

The local mountain god Mount Amnye Machen is to be subsumed under Amdo of three major Tibet provinces. Which other two are U-tsang and Kham. Amdo or Do-med encompasses over one third of the Tibetan plateau and Mt. Amnye Machen is the one and only to impute to be the most sacred mountain in eastern Tibetan regions. It has an area size of 660 acre and has 13 peaks, of which the highest peak rises over 6082m above the sea level and the fifth Dalai Lama called it the Ever-white Peak. The rest of the peaks are equally raised over 4900 meters and snow capped all through out the year. The holy mountain Machen Bomra, thus belongs three hundred sixty genres of surrounding mountains. Which are dating back to thousand year with abundant of snow and glacier all over the years.

This sacred mountain range is not only a geographical marvel but also a spiritual beacon for those who seek its heights. The entire Amne Machin range, an eastern extension of the Kunlun Mountains, holds significant geographical and cultural importance, particularly in Tibetan Buddhism.

Spanning approximately 28 kilometers in length and 10 kilometers in width, the Amnye Machen mountain range boasts 13 mountain peaks that soar above 5800 meters.

The highest peak, Amnye Machen, reaches an awe-inspiring elevation of 6,282 meters (20,610 ft), making it one of the most sacred mountains in Tibet. The Yellow River flows alongside the southwestern and northeastern sides of the range, creating one of its great bends and highlighting its historical importance.

Geography and Location

The Amnye Machen mountain range, a revered part of the Golok Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai Province, China, stands as a testament to nature’s grandeur. Nestled in the southeastern part of the province, near the border with Gansu Province, this range is an eastern extension of the Kunlun Mountains, a major mountain system in Asia. Spanning approximately 28 kilometers in length and 10 kilometers in width, the Amnye Machen mountain range boasts 13 peaks that soar above 5800 meters. The highest peak, Amnye Machen, reaches an awe-inspiring elevation of 6,282 meters (20,610 ft), making it one of the most sacred mountains in Tibet. This sacred mountain range is not only a geographical marvel but also a spiritual beacon for those who seek its heights.

Cultural Significance

The Amnye Machen mountain range holds profound cultural and spiritual significance for both Buddhists and Bon adherents. The highest peak is believed to be the abode of the protector deity Machen Pomra, drawing thousands of pilgrims each year. These devoted individuals undertake the Amnye Machen Kora, a pilgrimage around the mountain, seeking spiritual enlightenment and blessings. The trek is a journey of faith, believed to cleanse the soul and bring divine favor. For the local Golok people, the mountain is a holy site, revered as the dwelling place of the gods. The sacred mountain stands as a symbol of spiritual connection and cultural heritage, deeply embedded in the hearts of those who revere it.

History and Exploration

The history of exploration and climbing in the Amnye Machen mountain range is as rich and storied as the peaks themselves. The first European to document the mountain was the British explorer Brigadier-General George Pereira in 1921-2. Despite its allure, the massif remained unclimbed until 1960, when a Chinese expedition claimed to have reached the summit. However, it was later revealed that they had ascended Amne Machin II (Roche’s Chenrezig, 6,268 m), not the highest peak. In 1981, the true summit, Amne Machin I (Dradullunshog), was finally reached by three separate groups, each under the impression they were the first to receive a permit from the Chinese government. That summer, the mountain remained busy with several teams successfully reaching the summit, marking a significant chapter in the history of this sacred mountain.

How to Get to Amnye Machen Mountain Range

Nevertheless, Amnye Machen halfway trek is awesome and one can do a challenge him self for 4 days starting from the south part of the holy mountain and ends at Lower Tawu. To do this half trekking, one have to start his tour from Xining. If you don’t have a private car, you will have to catch a public bus Machen, the capital city of Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. The altitude there is above 4000m and can enjoy the different city with local nomad herders. Next morning, you will need to hire a car and head into the Amnye Machen range about 80kms. Where yo will start the half trek.

The nearest city from Mount Amnye Machen is Xining. It is about 438km from lower Tawu (the small town rest below the Amnye Machen mountain. Your full or half trek will end at lowe Tawu and Xining is the convenient city. That you might get out for and where you can catch a train or a flight to other cities of Mainland China. But recently Xining had Airport announced opened a direct airline between Xining and Bangkok.

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Travel Tips for Amnye Machen Trekking

Mt. Amnye Machen full trek takes minimum 8 days with local nomads, yaks and horses support while a halfway kora trek takes 4 days to the last. Walking around Amnye Machen mountain gives a rightful landscape. For travellers and it is all about heading mountains like an adventure. The alpine style ascent taken by American climbers Galen Rowell, Harold Knutsen, and Kim Schmitz in 1981, characterized by minimal equipment and self-reliance, is a notable example of such an adventure. The weather looks like rain-cloudy for few days and again show nice weather for the other few days. It seems so hard to do Amnye Machen trek during the raining days but it is so memorable when it is a clear sky with shining sun. Because, the environment, gigantic mountains, wild animals make one feel lucky and blessed.

Amnye Machen kora trek is not same like other trekking spots as it is much easy to rain and one can not cross rivers without horse, especially, during a raining day. It will be even colder in summer times and sometimes snow on the passes. Plan a trip to Amdo with us now.