But Tibet has an even greater role in the ecology of the region. Clues to this function are found in the legend that pre-dates even the ancient Tibetan culture and which still draws pilgrims from all over the world. 

 

Several world religions believe in a mythical mountain, that's equivalent to the Garden of Eden. Its peak has four faces, aligned to the points of the compass. And from its summit,  four rivers are said to flow to the four quarters of the world. Thanks to its life-giving waters, this mountain is known as the axis of the world. In one of the remotest areas of Tibet, there's a place where this legend takes physical form. That place is Mount Kailash.

 

By an uncanny coincidence, Mount Lailash perfectly matches the legend of the mythical axis of the world. Its four faces are roughly aligned to the compass and four major rivers flown from its foothills. 

 

These are some of most significant rivers in Asia. The Yarlung, which becomes India's Brahmaputra. The Indus and Sutlej which flow to Pakistan and the Karnali, a major feeder for the Ganges. Thanks to its connection with the mythical mountain, Kailash is so scared that it's never been climbed. It's Tibet’s most important pilgrimage site. 

 

For Tibetans, pilgrimage is a journey from ignorance to enlightenment. A pilgrimage around the sacred mountain is believed to wipe out the sins of a lifetime, increasing the chance of a better rebirth. 

 

Most pilgrims time their visit for the most important festival in the Tibetan calendar. For over a thousand years, they have gathered at the foot of Kailash for the Saga Dawa Festival to celebrate Buddha's enlightenment. The festival climaxes with the raising of the newly dressed altar, a 25-meter flagpole.