PURELAND TRAVELS

Pemako pilgrimage Guru Rinpoche's Blissful Dakini Land
the hidden valley of Pemako
A very difficult but pricelessly rewarding trip
In one of the stamens of the flower of the world is Pemako in the shape of Vajra Yogini lying down.
Outer, inner and secret levels correspond to the levels of the mind. In the secret chakra of Vajra Yogini there are flowers coming in winter also. If people die here, they do not take karmic rebirth; they go to the Pure Lands. I do not tell lies. It is like that. Keep it in mind.
Guru Rinpoche from the Guidebook to Pemako
Pemako is the supreme hidden land, says Guru Rinpoche. Predicting the dark times when the elements will be so imbalanced that it affects meditaters, he concealed 108 valleys in the Himalayas as terma or hidden treasure with guidebooks to be revealed at precisely the right time.
Pemako straddles south-east Tibet and extends into the most north-easterly corner of
India. The word itself means 'lotus display' and is said to be the actual body of Vajra Yogini.
From head to navel she is in Tibet; from the navel downwards she lives in India.
For nearly 2000 years, the notion of an earthly paradise or Shangri La hidden among the peaks of Asia has captivated the human imagination. Western explorers combed the region in search of this hidden land of bliss and nectar described in ancient Buddhist texts as the Pemako or the Lotus land.
According to Buddhist tradition Pemako is one of the 16 earthly paradises, a promised land free of worry, the ultimate hidden haven. The place is where, it is prophesied that the seed of humanity will thrive at the end of the world in famine and calamities.
In the beginning of the 20th century, many Khampas from Tibet made the long, arduous trek to Pemako in quest of succor and refuge. They are one of the major inhabitants of the region, along The Adis, Mishmis who were the original inhabitants here. The region is a melting pot of different tribal cultures, where all the tribes exist in complete harmony among themselves and the nature. Walking through pemako one can see Adi, Memba, khampa and Mishmi villages with their distinctive culture, faith and lifestyle.
The Pemako is consecrated to the female divinity of Dorje Phagmo and its sacred geography is mapped to the body of this sleeping Goddess. Her head is the Kangri Kangpo, her two breasts is Namche Barwa and Gyala Peri respectively. The lower part of her body lies in Yangsang or the innermost pemako, which is the upper Siang region of Arunachal Pradesh. In the confluence of Siang (Tsangpo) and Yangsang is the sacred triangle Kila Yangzom the vulva of Goddess Dorje Phagmo. This the supreme of sacred lands is now open to the world to discover and marvel.
Every year pilgrims traverse the area on Kora (circumambulation). Covering the sacred Devakota, the gathering place of Dakinis, The holy Titapori mountain, Pemashree and Riu Tala (Eko Dumbing for Adis).
Recommended Time to Visit 23 Days
March & September
Photos: Jorgen Novik,Text : N. Levine Web Layout : Jorgen Novik




Custom Itinerary Example
HIGH PEMAKO TREK (ARUNACHAL PRADESH)
DAY 01: Arrival: DIBRUGARH (Sakyamuni Day)
Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 02: DIBRUGARH / PASIGHAT
DRIVE: 07 HRS Overnight at hotel.
DAY 03: PASIGHAT / JENGGING
DRIVE: 07HRS; HOURS DRIVE / 2690 FT
Overnight at the Circuit House.
DAY 04: JENGGING / TUTING
DRIVE: 08/09 HRS; ALTITUDE: 1493 FT
Overnight at the Circuit House.
DAY 05: TUTING / KUGING
ALTITUDE: 2786 FT.; 05 HRS. TREK
Overnight camp next to the village.
DAY 06: KUGING / MABI
ALTITUDE: 7205 FT; 06 HRS Overnight at the camp.
DAY 07: MABI / YUNGCHAK
ALTITUDE: 7925 FT; 03 HRS. TREK
Overnight at the camp.
DAY 08: YUNGCHAK / KANEBENGA
ALTITUDE: 10795 FT; 05 HRS. TREK Overnight at the camp.
DAY 09: KANBENGA / PAO LIPIK (Medecine Buddha Day)
ALTITUDE: 11959 FT; 06 HRS TREK Overnight at the camp
DAY 10: PAO LIPIK / DHANA KOSA ALTITUDE: 13123 FT; 05 HRS. TREK Overnight at the camp.
DAY 11: DHANA KOSA (HOLY CIRCUMBULATION) (Guru Rinpoche Day) Overnight at the camp.
DAY 12: DHANA KOSA / WANGCHEN PHUKPA
ALTITUDE: 13225 FT; 07 HRS. TREK
Overnight at the camp.
DAY 13: WANGCHEN PHUKPA / DUNGCHEN DROMA
ALTITUDE: 12500FT / 03 HRS. TREK Overnight at the camp.
DAY 14: DUNGCHEN DROMA / TASHI DROMA
ALTITUDE: 4663 FT / 08 HRS. TREK Overnight at the camp.
DAY 15: TASHI DROMA / TASHIGANG VILLAGE
ALTITUDE: 3771FT / 04 HRS. TREK Overnight at the camp.
DAY 16: TASHIGANG VILLAGE / DEVA KOTA / MANKOTA (Amitabha Day) 05 HRS. TREK Overnight in the tent. (Maybe in Deva Kota mountain = 1 day extension of total Days of trip)
DAY 17: MANKOTA / PAYENGDAM or Nyukong (Adi Village) ALTITUDE: 4017 FT / 05 HRS. TREK
Overnight in the camp.
DAY 18: PAYENGDAM / TUTING
ALTITUDE: 1493 FT / 07 HRS. TREK Overnight Lodge / Hotel
DAY 19: TUTING / JENGGING
ALTITUDE: 1493 FT / 07 - 08 HRS. DRIVE
After breakfast drive back to Jengging. Overnight at the Circuit House.
DAY 20: JENGGING / PASIGHAT 07 HRS. DRIVE
After breakfast drive back to Pashighat. Overnight at the Circuit House.
DAY 21: PASIGHAT / DIBRUGARH
06 HOURS DRIVE Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 22: DIBRUGARH Departure (FLIGHT)
After breakfast transfer to the airport for the flight to Point of destination.


