Why in the News?

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has announced that the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, which has not taken place since 2020, will resume this year.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• About Mansarovar Yatra (Background, Suspension, Reasons, Routes, Resumption, etc.)

Resumption of the Yatra after a Four-Year Gap

• The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) recently confirmed that the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, one of the most religiously significant pilgrimages for Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and the Bon religion, will resume in 2025.
• The pilgrimage, suspended since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and strained India-China relations, is now being revived amidst a larger diplomatic rapprochement between the two nations.
• Discussions regarding the resumption began at the Special Representatives’ meeting in Beijing in December 2024, where India’s NSA Ajit Doval met with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
• A follow-up visit by India’s Foreign Secretary to Beijing in January 2025 paved the way for this year’s planned yatra.

Background: Suspension and Diplomatic Reset

• Although COVID-19 was the initial reason for halting the yatra, tensions following the Galwan Valley clash in June 2020 delayed its resumption.
• However, with both countries agreeing to disengage at key border friction points such as Demchok and Depsang in 2024, relations have since improved. The yatra’s reinstatement is symbolic of this shift.
• In October 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping on the side-lines of the BRICS Summit in Kazan, further easing tensions.

The Significance of Kailash Mansarovar

• Located in Tibet Autonomous Region, Lake Mansarovar (Mapam Yumtso) and Mount Kailash (6,638 meters) are considered sacred.
• Hindus believe Mount Kailash is the abode of Lord Shiva, while Buddhists associate it with spiritual enlightenment.
• Every year, hundreds of Indian pilgrims undertake the high-altitude trek, which includes circumambulating the holy mountain (a ritual known as parikrama).
• Before its suspension, the yatra was organized by the MEA during June-September each year.
• Only Indian passport holders aged between 18 and 70 years with sound health were allowed, as the pilgrimage spans 23–25 days and demands considerable physical endurance.

Available Routes for the Yatra

• Lipulekh Pass Route (Uttarakhand)
  • Most direct but physically demanding
  • Involves around 200 km of trekking
  • Lies near the trijunction of India, Nepal, and Tibet
  • Operational since 1981 until halted in 2020
• Nathu La Pass Route (Sikkim)
  • Fully motorable except for the 35–40 km circumambulation of Mount Kailash
  • Longer (approx. 1,500 km), but easier for older or physically less active pilgrims
  • Operational since 2015
• On the Indian side, logistics are arranged by Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (Lipulekh) & Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation (Nathu La).
• The Chinese authorities manage facilities across the border.
• Nepal Route (Private)
  • Operated by private tour agencies
  • Accessible since 2023 but not popular due to high visa fees and lack of support infrastructure
  • Charter flights from Nepalgunj offer darshan of Mount Kailash
  • India is also developing a Mount Kailash viewing point in Dharchula near Lipulekh

Registration Process and Eligibility

• Registration usually opens in April-May on the MEA portal. Due to limited slots, a computerized draw of lots is held.
  • Cost: Over ₹2 lakh per pilgrim.
  • Required: Indian passport, medical and physical fitness clearance.
• Route allocation is computerized, and once assigned, changes are difficult.

Looking Ahead

The yatra’s revival marks not only a religious milestone but also a geopolitical one, indicating a soft reset in India-China bilateral relations. The MEA is expected to release detailed guidelines, dates, and quotas soon.

Meanwhile, preparations on logistics, healthcare, and security fronts are underway to ensure a smooth and safe pilgrimage for all yatris.