Kathmandu, May 1
India has reopened the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage through Lipulekh Pass, a territory claimed by Nepal. The formal announcement was made in cooperation with the Chinese government.
The Lipulekh Pass falls within Nepali land. The pilgrimage, organized by the Government of India, will operate from June to August 2026.
According to a statement issued by India’s Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday, a total of 20 groups will participate in this year’s pilgrimage. Of them, 10 groups will travel via Lipulekh Pass through Uttarakhand, while the remaining 10 groups will take the Nathu La Pass route through Sikkim. Each group will consist of 50 यात्रु.
Interested participants can apply online through the official website, with the application deadline set for May 19.
The Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage, considered highly significant from a religious perspective, attracts thousands of devotees every year.
Despite the route passing through Nepali territory, Nepal has reportedly not been informed. India and China had previously agreed to expand trade via the Lipulekh Pass, a decision that was also made without Nepal’s knowledge.
Nepal has repeatedly objected to India’s actions, stating that Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura are its territories and accusing India of encroachment.
The pilgrimage, which was halted in 2019 following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, resumed last year.
In December 2024, during a meeting in China between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and India’s National Security Advisor, both sides agreed to resume the pilgrimage through this route.
