Surendra Saxena was hooked when a friend showed him photographs of his Kailash Yatra on a slide projector in Delhi. That was 1986, and Saxena had embarked on a career in computer engineering. However, life kept getting in the way of his undertaking the Kailash-Mansarovar pilgrimage. He moved to the US, rode the IT wave, founded startups, raised a family, and traveled the world. Finally, at the advanced age of 68, he undertook perhaps the most grueling pilgrimage in the world, overcoming physical challenges.
A story of faith, endurance, and spiritual discovery
In his recently published book, Kailash: Footsteps to the Divine, Saxena has written more than a travel memoir—it is a story of faith, endurance, and spiritual discovery. Through vivid storytelling, supported by numerous photographs he took, he brings readers along on his pilgrimage, offering reflections on resilience, inner strength, and the transformative power of nature and devotion.
When contacted last month, Saxena enthusiastically spoke about the favorable reception his debut book had received. He designed the large-format book himself, painstakingly positioning the photographs. To keep the price low and the book affordable for the average reader, he has not presented it as a coffee-table book. “I have kept the rights, so I may publish it in that format later,” he said. Now that he is a published author, he may write more books, he told ALotusInTheMud.com.
Saxena’s writing stands as a reminder that life’s most meaningful journeys are never bound by age. His story invites readers to embrace the unknown, to listen to the quiet call of their own mountains, and to discover the divine footprints along the way.
Kailash-Mansarovar is a pilgrimage for Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and followers of the Bon religion. As it is in China, it stood barred for Indians for many years, only to reopen in 2025. US-based Saxena did not face that barrier. Last year, he flew to Chengdu, China, and then on to Lhasa in Tibet. From there, he drove to Everest Base Camp and then to Darchen (1,200 km from Lhasa).
Darchen is the gateway to the 52 km sacred Kailash Parikrama (circumambulating the mountain, said to be the center of the world), which is covered on foot over three days. On Day 2, the ascent from Derapuk (17,093 ft) to Dolma La (18,570 ft) is the most challenging. With the weather taking a harsh turn, Saxena’s guide suggested that he return to Darchen. But resolute and so close to fulfilling his life’s dream, he pushed ahead and had a very poignant and mysterious experience. This is how he describes it:
“On the first day of the Parikrama, in the evening, the magnificent North Face of Mount Kailash came into view—a sight so powerful it stopped me in my tracks. Mesmerized, I could only whisper the Shiva Mantra.”
~ Surendra Saxena, in his book, ‘Kailash: Footsteps to the Divine’
A Mysterious Encounter
“By noon, Dolma La still lay far ahead, with each step reminding me of the immense journey still to come. Beauty enveloped me, yet the path had become a patchwork of deep snow and slick ice, testing my every move. The snow-filled wind and sporadic flurries of fresh snow only added to the challenge, slowing me significantly as I carefully made my way upward. The altitude’s effects grew stronger, and with the thinning air, I found myself now pausing every 25 to 30 steps rather than the 50 I had managed before. Yet, even as the terrain demanded more, there was joy—a quiet thrill—in each pause and step forward on this unforgettable journey.
“Gasping lungs, the relentless wind, drifting snow, and slick, treacherous ground – each seemed to conspire as if to test my spirit, my faith, and my resolve. In life, I’ve weathered storms and confronted challenges head-on, fueled by a quiet but unshakable determination. Here, nature’s trials felt no different, only more vivid in their raw force. Every step, however hard-won, added layers to this experience, deepening it and making it all the more exciting and memorable. This was not just a test—it was a gift, nature’s way of honoring the journey itself.
“It was almost 3 pm when I neared Dolma La Pass. Maybe it was the excitement, maybe it was my carelessness, but I stepped onto an icy patch. I slipped, slid, and found myself wedged between two rocks. There I was, sprawled on the icy ground, my body jolted, and my breath knocked out of me. In the surreal silence that followed, a gentle hand reached out, helping me steady myself. …”
What followed was a surreal experience — as if the spirit of Tara, the Bodhisattva of compassion, had descended upon the Dolma La Pass herself. To Saxena, it felt like an intervention, her divine grace guiding the pilgrim’s soul from illusion toward awakening. For this was no ordinary crossing; it was the threshold of the Ishaan direction — the sacred gateway to Shiva’s own abode.
Overcoming Physical Challenges
Early on in his book, Saxena describes pilgrimage – a key part of all religions – as an “opportunity for spiritual cleansing to purify the body and soul, and wash away past sins and past karma. It enables the pilgrim to come closer to the divine or simply enter a higher spiritual plane. The physical challenge in solitude allows for self-discovery, introspection, and an opportunity for personal transformation.”
The physical challenge for Saxena was multifarious: arthritis of the legs, diabetes, high blood pressure, and advancing age. He prepared ahead by walking 5-7 miles and doing low-impact exercises such as half an hour on a stationary bike.
If you are planning the Kailash Yatra, Saxena has some suggestions, not just the logistics of the travel, which he also gives in the last chapter of the book. He cautions, “Your mind must be sharp, the spirit willing and body fit…. Physically, one should build stamina, endurance, and fitness through long hikes. This is not a walk in the park, but a trek at altitudes where oxygen levels stay in and around 50% of the normal, which requires cardiovascular fitness.”
Life Lessons for the Reader
Even if you are not into pilgrimages or spiritual stuff, you will still find life lessons in Saxena’s memoir. While sharing some episodes from his life’s journey from Delhi to Silicon Valley, driven by ‘coin flips that neither land heads nor tails’, the author, who had his early childhood and schooling in Nainital, writes:
“I’ve never approached life’s twists and turns by labelling them as successes, failures, or difficulties. Instead, I see them as challenges, opportunities, and experiences. As I move forward in a stage of life, I always find myself learning something new along the way. And just as I reach that goal, an unexpected event inevitably comes along, forcing me to take a completely different path – one I didn’t plan for. Yet, the new skill I acquired during the previous phase suddenly became exactly what I needed to navigate this new direction.”
Life, as the author observes, is a pilgrimage.
You will find Kailash: Footsteps to the Divine an easy and engrossing read. I finished it in one sitting.
The book is available for purchase on Amazon in print and Kindle versions, as well as Barnes & Noble.
Amazon: http://bit.ly/4fD8cBC
Amazon Kindle: http://bit.ly/4nvDkpi
Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/4oH0uul
Kailash book chat group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/CxcFm4E0B1OLiMy9b9Jj1Y?mode=wwc
