The Fire Horse symbolises courage, energy and transformation – for better or for worse. This year is particularly significant for Tibetan Buddhists, as a gate opens on the sacred Mount Kailash that is only accessible once every twelve years: the gate to the inner kora. Mount Kailash is one of the most important spiritual sites in Tibetan Buddhism, Bön, Hinduism and Jainism, and is regarded as the holiest mountain. Circumambulating the mountain – known as a ‘kora’ in Tibetan – along a 53-kilometre route that reaches an altitude of 5,700 metres is the most important pilgrimage. The direction of the circumambulation depends on the pilgrim’s religious affiliation (Buddhists, Hindus and Jains go clockwise, while followers of Bon go anti-clockwise). After the 13th circumambulation of Kailash, the pilgrim gains access to the inner kora. However, this is only open every twelve years, which is the case this year. The Tibetan calendar also stipulates that circumambulations have different significance at certain times; for example, in the Year of the Horse, each lap counts sixfold.