Indian’s Dream, Resumed For Kailash Mansarovar Yatra after 5 Year..

Guru Travels 20 January 2025

      Indian’s Dream,  Resumed For Kailash Mansarovar Yatra after 5 Year

Nepali tour operators anticipate over 20,000 Indian bookings for the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra in Tibet, scheduled to resume in June after a five-year hiatus. This decision comes after a key meeting between the Special Representatives of India and China in Beijing on December 18, 2024, where both countries reaffirmed their commitment to reviving the pilgrimage.

While Indian operators have already started taking reservations, Nepali operators are holding off until China's Department of Foreign Affairs designates the primary agency responsible for overseeing the pilgrimage. "A decision on the fees and opening dates for the Indian pilgrimage is expected by mid-February." For travelers from third countries, the yatra is likely to commence in April.

9N/10D Kailash Known as the "roof of the world," the Mansarover journey is a challenging trek across the Tibetan plateau. High elevations, unknown environment, and erratic weather are all encountered by pilgrims. The pilgrimage, which revolves around the renowned Mount Kailash, is highly sacred in Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism. In addition to bathing at Manasarovar Lake, which has been forbidden since 2018, devotees historically practiced the kora, or circumambulation of the mountain, as a means of purifying their spirituality.

Indian pilgrims generally book the yatra through Indian tour operators, while Nepali companies handle transportation to Kailash as subcontractors. This year, the cost of an Indian pilgrimage package is estimated at approximately IRs300,000 (Rs480,000) per person. Before 2018, the China-India Pilgrimage Service Centre in Lhasa issued permits for Indian pilgrims, but this process was halted for internal reasons. A new system is now anticipated to oversee the pilgrimage, including setting prices, taxes, and other arrangements for Indian travelers.

Although Nepal-China border points reopened in May 2023, restrictions have persisted, particularly for Indian pilgrims, due to ongoing geopolitical tensions between India and China. These limitations led to the cancellation of nearly 50,000 bookings for the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra in 2023, causing significant losses for Nepal’s tourism sector.

Before the pandemic, approximately 15,000 Indian pilgrims traveled annually to Kailash Mansarovar via Nepal’s Hilsa border. At the G20 summit in November 2024, discussions between India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, and China’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, focused on strengthening bilateral relations, including the resumption of the pilgrimage.

The Kailash Manasarovar Yatra takes place from April to October, with the monsoon months from mid-June to early September being the busiest and costliest period. This pilgrimage is a crucial contributor to Nepal’s tourism economy, supporting hotels, airlines, restaurants, and other businesses.

There are five primary routes to reach Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar.

The Lipulekh Pass is the most significant for Indian pilgrims but has been restricted since 2015 due to territorial disputes. India has been gradually reopening the Dharchula-Lipulekh route for the Kailash-Manasarovar Yatra, implementing a quota system that permits 18 groups of Indian officials, each with 50 members, to enter through Lipulekh.

For Nepali pilgrims, there are four routes to Manasarovar: Tatopani, Rasuwagadhi, Hilsa, and the Kathmandu-Lhasa flight. The Kathmandu-Lhasa route is the only international gateway to Tibet, while Tatopani remains inaccessible to tourists. The Nepalgunj-Simikot-Hilsa-Mansarovar route is the shortest and most cost-effective. Pilgrims fly from Nepalgunj to Simikot, take a helicopter to Hilsa, and travel overland into Tibet. Acclimatization occurs in Purang before continuing to Lake Manasarovar, located at 4,556 meters.

The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra’s resumption after five years brings hope to thousands of pilgrims and a boost to Nepal’s tourism. Despite challenges, the sacred journey remains a symbol of devotion and cultural significance, benefiting both pilgrims and local businesses. With multiple routes available, it promises spiritual fulfillment and economic recovery for the region.

Guru Travel's Limited 

Durbarmarg-1, Kathmandu