Asthapad & Nandi Parvat
Asthapad, located approximately 5 km up in the Mountain from Darchen is one of the holiest pilgrimages (Maha Tirth) for Jain followers. Also, this is an auspicious place for both Buddhists & Hindus. From here, Mt. Kailash is just about 2 km further walk. Nandi is even closer than Kailash. Jain followers believe that thousands of years back 'Shri Adinath Bhagwan', the first of 24 Tirthankars, attained salvation at this place. After his salvation his son king Bharat made a palace, known as “Sinh-Nishadha”, of real gemstones with 24 idols of Jain Tirthankars on Ashtapad mountain in his memory. Ashtapad derived its name from the fact that it has eight steps to go up in the mountain (Ashta means eight and pad means step in Sanskrit). Other names for this particular place according to Jain religion are; Ratnamay (made of gemstones), Rajatadri and Sfatikachal (the crystal palace).
At present, there is no Jain temple OR Palace OR any other ruins left. An small isolated Buddhist Monastery on the foot of Asthapad is still remains. Tibetan people called it Sherlung Gompa.
