LOCATION OF THE LEGENDARY CITY OF SHAMBALA AND ASCENT OF THE
SACRED MOUNTAIN OF KAILASH BY RUSSIAN EXPEDITION
A Russian expedition has made a sensational geographical discovery in the Tibet Autonomous Prefecture of the People’s Republic of China – the legendary city of Shambala, and mastered the first ascent of the South-eastern slope of the sacred mountain of Kailash in September 2004. The expedition was led by Yuri Alexandrovich Zakharov, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Doctor of Philosophy, Professor, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences and also senior editor of the journal “ZNAT.” Professor Zakharov’s expedition examined the valley of the Sutledge River with the aim of finding the geographical and factual location of the ancient capital of the Zhang Zhung kingdom: Khyunglung Nulkhar (“The Silver Palace of Garuda”) that was part of the legendary “Olmo-lung-ring”, “Shambhu” (“Shambala” in the Sanskrit language). Zhang Zhung was an independent state up to the VII century, but was conquered in the VIII century by Tibet under king Trisong Zhen. The capital Khyunglung Nulkhar was an extremely important spiritual and religious centre, the focal point from which the more esoteric yoga schools of Tibetan tantra spread, in particular the pre-Buddhist religions Bon-po and Dzogchen.
The spiritual and religious influence of Khyunglung Nulkhar was lost only with the invasion of Tibet by Communist China, and access to the city was closed until 2004. Nonetheless, the area was constantly visited by pilgrims and yoga adepts, as is evidenced by findings among the ruins of the ancient spiritual capital.
The country Olmo-lung-ring was a large region bordering with Persia and Tajikistan, that had its center and so-called “internal” and “secret” parts in the region of the mountain of Kailash and the lake Manosarovar. Kailash is considered a sacred mountain by the adherents of four religions: Bons, Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. Synonyms of its name are: Yungdrung Gutset (Tise, Gang-Rinpoche) “The Nine-Level Mountain of the Swastika”. Its height measures 6 714 meters. The traditionally established external circuit of the mountain measures 53 kilometers, and the internal – some 25 kilometers.
There are publications that prove the identical nature of the terms: the kingdom “Shambkhu”, Olmo-lung-ring, Shambala (“The Blue Chronicle of Tibet”), “The History of the Bon Religion” by B.I. Kuznetsov, the works of Professor Helmut Hoffmann and others. However, in view of the limitations of access, no field studies have been conducted to date (with the exception of several expeditions by Giuseppe Tucci in 1935).
Professor Zakharov’s expedition established the following:
1. The precise location of the capital of the ancient state Zhang Zhung (Shambala) in the valley of the Sutledge River. The expedition brought back extensive photographic and video material.
2. The “internal” and “secret” central part of the country Olmo-lung-ring, situated at the foot of the Kailash mountain was studied for the first time. The expedition made the first ever photographic and video record of the “internal core” and the secret valley of the yoga adepts.
3. Professor Zakharov’s expedition accomplished the first successful ascent of the South-eastern slope of Kailash up to an altitude of 6 200 – 6 300 meters. Further progress was rendered impossible without special equipment and due to unfavorable weather conditions. Photographic material is available.
Professor Zakharov’s expedition proved definitively that Shambala is not just an esoteric concept, but a geographic fact (see “Map From The Tibetan-Zhang Zhung Dictionary”).
Future plans: Professor Zakharov is currently planning a unique expedition to Afghanistan and Pakistan in 2005 with the aim of finding the ancient country of Uddian – the birthplace of all the tantric teachings of India and Tibet. The Korean monk Txe Xe visited Shambala and Uddian in the VII century, and left a detailed description of his route. Work on the study and preparation of materials for this unprecedented expedition is already in progress, and further sponsors are invited for the realization of the project “In The Steps Of Txe Xe.”
For further details, see the journal “ZNAT”, and also our Internet sites:
WWW.ZNAT.RU Full-length article in the “Archive” section
WWW.NIRVANA-TOUR.RU Photographs taken by the expedition in the section “TERRA
INKOGNITA”
WWW.ONKOLOGY.RU Information on the author of the project
WWW.YOUNG-LIFE.RU Special programs on rejuvenation
Contact telephones (Russian-speaking): + 7 (095) 106 61 13 and 8 916 408 29 54
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