Inner Trek: A Reluctant Pilgrim in the Himalayas by Mohan Ranga Rao
It is said that people do not freely choose to travel to Mount Kailash. That Kailash chooses you, not the other way around.
If you’re looking for inspiration, then look no further. Mohan Ranga Rao’s Inner Trek is a heart-warming memoir about self-discovery and taking the road less traveled — at an altitude of 18,000 feet.
Surprising Spiritual Clarity
After facing the threats of a Bangalore mob boss, retired businessman Mohan Ranga Rao hesitantly vows to set out on a holy pilgrimage in Tibet known as Kailash Manasa Sarovar.
Revered by many as a location of spiritual significance — as the cosmic axis the earth pivots on, the link between Heaven and Earth, the abode of Lord Shiva — Mount Kailash and Lake Manasa Sarovar are visited by countless pilgrims each year. Only the most devout and strong are able to complete the three-day trek.
It’s said that dipping in the holy waters of Lake Manasa Sarovar and circumambulating Mount Kailash will ward off evil, absolve a person of their sins and bring about enlightenment. But Mohan, ever the rationalist, just sees it as a physically challenging adventure and a way to appease his religious wife.
But then everything changes. What began as just a fun adventure turns into a journey of soul-stirring introspection. Shedding his ego, Mohan discovers a spiritual part of himself he never knew existed as the mountain changes from a spectacular natural wonder to a mystical shrine.
Onward and Upward, Inward and Outward
Author Mohan Ranga Rao tells his inspiring story with a blend of humor, honesty and keen insight. Readers will experience first-hand his feelings of frustration and excitement, as well as his feelings of surrender and reverence.
As he focuses outward along his journey, he reveals a rich tapestry of culture, from his home in India to the villages of Tibet. Vivid scenes burst off the page, including the places that inspire awe and those that … boast less-than-desirable accommodations.
The story reveals much about the author’s life, including his loving relationship with his wife, which comes alive on the page thanks to the animated dialogue. Their relationship is given an extra layer of depth by the inclusion of photographs. There are photos of not only Mohan and his wife, but of many others they met along the way as well — plus some breathtaking sights, including one aerial shot of Mount Everest.
The Beautiful and the Divine
Inner Trek both entertains and enlightens, leaving readers with plenty to think about well past the final page.
I held the view that divine mysteries were not necessarily divine, but simply enigmas of our own making. I felt that people often confused the beauty and intelligence of nature for the embodiment of something holy and mythical … I wondered if perhaps my views were too limited, as they were based wholly in the pigeonhole of rationalism. Perhaps I was the one with a narrow view of the cosmic working.
It is a touching story that’s sure to inspire readers. Mohan undertakes an impressive trek few are able to complete — and he walks away with more than he ever expected to find.
Mohan Ranga Rao is an accomplished businessman, an avid traveler and a generous philanthropist. He has visited over thirty different countries and is drawn to places of natural beauty and physically challenging trails. He plays tennis daily, takes frequent hikes and reads anything from scotch labels to quantum physics to Vedanta.Buy this Book!
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