India Reopens Kailash Mansarovar Pilgrimage After 5 Years

After a five-year hiatus, the sacred Kailash Manasarovar Yatra is set to resume this June. The Ministry of External Affairs announced the reopening on April 26th, 2025, inviting pilgrims to apply for this once-in-a-lifetime journey.

The yatra, which takes pilgrims to the revered Kailash mountain and Mansarovar lake in Tibet, will run from June to August. A total of 750 pilgrims will be allowed to participate, divided into 5 batches of 50 each who will travel through Uttarakhand, crossing the Lipulekh Pass, and 10 batches of 50 each who will travel through Sikkim, crossing the Nathu La Pass.

The selection process will be completely computerized, ensuring fairness and a random, gender-balanced allocation. Pilgrims can register their interest online at https://kmy.gov.in.

The reopening comes after years of negotiations between Indian and Chinese officials. The yatra was suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent border tensions following the Galwan Valley clash.

Interestingly, the issue was also discussed in the Working Mechanism for Coordination and Consultation (WMCC), a body primarily focused on defense and border management, highlighting the significance of the yatra for both countries.

The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is a complex undertaking, organized by a multitude of Indian agencies, including the Ministries of External Affairs and Home Affairs, the Indo Tibetan Border Police, and the governments of Delhi, Sikkim, and Uttarakhand.