Kailash Mansarovar Yatra to Resume After Five Years; Pilgrims Can Apply Until May 13

New Delhi, 27th April 2025: The Ministry of External Affairs has announced the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra after a gap of five years. The pilgrimage will be held from June 30 to August 25, 2025, and the online application process has begun. Interested pilgrims can apply by visiting kmy.gov.in before May 13, 2025.

This year, the pilgrimage will be organized via two routes — Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand and Nathula Pass in Sikkim. According to the ministry, five batches of 50 pilgrims each will travel via Lipulekh, while 10 batches of 50 pilgrims each will proceed through Nathula.

The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, which leads to the revered Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar in Tibet (occupied by China), has remained suspended since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing border tensions between India and China. The revival of the yatra is being seen as a significant step toward improving bilateral relations.

A senior official said, “The resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is a positive outcome of the diplomatic engagements between India and China over the past year.”

Background: Easing Tensions Between India and China

The breakthrough comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Kazan, Russia, on October 23, 2023 — their first meeting in five years. During their discussion, both leaders agreed on steps to improve ties, which included troop withdrawals from disputed areas such as Demchok and Depsang along the India-China border.

Following these developments, the Ministry of External Affairs also announced the resumption of direct flights between India and China, which had been suspended since the COVID-19 outbreak and the Doklam standoff in 2020. Before the pandemic, around 539 direct flights operated between the two countries every month, offering over 1.25 lakh seats through carriers like Air India, China Southern Airlines, and China Eastern Airlines.

Due to the suspension, travelers had been forced to rely on connecting flights through hubs like Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, and Bangladesh, often resulting in higher travel costs.

Significance of Kailash Mansarovar

Mount Kailash holds immense religious significance for Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and followers of Bon religion. In Hindu belief, it is considered the abode of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. In Jainism, it is revered as the site where the first Tirthankara, Rishabhnath, attained liberation.

Although Mount Kailash, located about 65 kilometers from Lipulekh Pass, stands at 6,638 meters, no mountaineer has successfully climbed it. Unlike Mount Everest, whose summit has been reached by thousands, Kailash remains unclimbed due to its steep gradients — with slopes exceeding 65 degrees — and religious prohibitions.

Pilgrims traditionally undertake a 52-kilometer parikrama (circumambulation) around the sacred mountain.

Agreements Governing the Yatra

Two bilateral agreements facilitate the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra:

• In May 2013, India and China signed an agreement to open the Lipulekh Pass route, under the leadership of then External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
• A second agreement, signed in September 2014 by then External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Wang Yi, opened the Nathula Pass route for pilgrims.

Both agreements automatically renew every five years unless amended by mutual consent.

Alternative Viewpoints to Mount Kailash

Following the suspension of the yatra, Indian authorities, including the Uttarakhand Tourism Department, Border Roads Organization (BRO), and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), explored domestic vantage points. On October 3, 2024, officials reported the first clear sighting of Mount Kailash from the old Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand’s Vyas Valley, offering devotees a glimpse of the sacred peak from Indian territory.