On my way to Shambala?

Tyungur is the starting place for treks to Belucha mountain, the highest and most sacred mountain in the Altai. For locals it is taboo to climb the mountain, they wouldn’t dare come so close to the place where an important spirit lives. Foreigners don’t respect the old traditions and locals aren’t at all surprised that many of the climbers die each year on the mountain.

"Climb and die," is what Altaians say to climbers.

I am using horses for the trek, and a few friends from Holland will accompany me to Lake Akkem--a sacred lake at the foot of Belucha mountain and the purpose of my trip. I couldn’t reach this lake two years ago due to bad weather, and I desperately want to visit it this time. A valley close to the lake provides a gateway to Shambala, according to followers of Roerich--a Russian mystic, painter and writer--who searched for Shambala in the 1920s.

Can’t wait to find out.

Comments

[Luis Dafos]

Great, getting closer and getting more and more interesting!