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Chapter 02
Three Field Trip Reports
10. Dharma King Norsang
I saw a picture poster, with my colleague, Shashikant Sharma, which was commercially available and bought by him from Tibet. I assumed that the photograph was taken from the south side of Kailash and flight path of helicopter must be from SW to NE i.e. from Darchen side to east of Kailash. I tried to locate the other peak with reference to Kailash with the help of my colleague. We gave names as Kailash and Ashtapad. That time we were not aware of the picture given in Ashtapad volume III (pg. 812).
This was compared with the 1:50,000 scale trekking map of Kailash purchased from Kathmandu, published by Karto Atelier Nepal. After analyzing the data I believe that I am near success in locating Ashtapad with the help of (IRS) and (LISS)-IV data.
The probable site of Ashtapad is located to the south east of Mt. Kailash (Ht. 6638m), at the altitude of Ashtapad that is 5996m. Mt Kailash is known as Gang Rinpoche/ Gang Ti-se. It is 5 km SE of DiraPhuk: 5 km SW of Dolma La. 7.5 km NW of Zutul Phuk: 8km NE of Gyangdrag Monastery: 8.5 km NE of Serlung Gompa. 9 km N/E of Darphoche/ Yam Dwar, or Moksha Dwar. It is 2.5 km to the east of 13 Drigung-Kagyu Chorten: 2 km to the east of Serdung Chuksum La, or 2.5km SW of Gangpo- Sanglam La. The site is easily approachable from Serdung Chuksum La or Gangpo Sanglam La.
TRENCH
Mount Kailash
85
Mount Ashtapad
Fig. 17: Poster picture commercially available (Aerial view of Kailash and Ashtapad Mountain)
Again I tried to analyze the image in the light of this new reference and found a rectangular/ square structure on the image at this new location. When I referred the contour map which I was having with me, to my utter surprise I found the name of the place as Dharma King Norsang. Looking at the meaning of the word I was sure that I was mostly near the target. Before preparing this final report when I saw the same interpretation by someone else, it was confirmed that my assumption was right (vol. III pg. 812). Then I submitted second interim report to JCA, NY.
Field Trip I & II to locate site for...