For 5 years between 2020 and 2025, the Kailash Mansarovar remained out of bounds for Indian guests within the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Galwan standoff that strained India-China ties.
In late 2024, as New Delhi and Beijing started efforts to restore ties, the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in the summertime of 2025 was the primary tangible takeaway of the thaw.
As folks waited to see how the resumption of the yatra panned out in 2025, when the Ministry of Exterior Affairs (MEA) took 750 Indian passport holders in batches, this yr noticed a rebound within the variety of guests to Kailash Mansarovar after the cautious optimism of final yr.
Whereas the MEA marginally elevated the quota from 750 to 1,000, the non-public operators — who take guests by Nepal checkpoints similar to Rasuwagadhi and Hilsa — noticed a marked surge in 2026. Although an actual rely of the variety of Indians who signed up for Kailash Yatra by non-public operators this yr is just not formally compiled but, China had introduced a cap on the whole permissible quota for Indian passport holders by way of Nepal routes at 24,000 for the season. The quota was 20,000 in 2025.
A significant tour operator primarily based in Kathmandu instructed The Indian Categorical that an enormous variety of experiential Indian travellers, together with over a thousand Indian passport holders residing overseas (NRIs), had signed up for the yatra by their company, with inquiries coming in because the starting of this yr.
“Regardless of rising prices owing to inflation, and elevated charges and costs for allied providers, this yr noticed most bookings thus far,” he mentioned, including that the travellers included not solely pilgrims but additionally an enormous variety of kids in search of experiential journey.
In reality, because the yatra took off in June, there have been stories of a number of Indian residents enterprise non-public excursions being caught in Nepal earlier than with the ability to cross over to Tibet. On June 27, the MEA had even issued an advisory to Indian residents to not begin their journey except all required permits have been acquired.
Story continues beneath this advert
“The Ministry is in receipt of a number of requests for assist and help from Indian residents caught in Nepal whereas enterprise Kailash Mansarovar Yatra with out the required entry allow and visas for China, by excursions organised by non-public operators,” the MEA had mentioned.
Earlier than the yatra suspension in 2020, the federal government programme usually accommodated round 800-1,000 pilgrims yearly. For 2025, the introduced capability was 750 pilgrims — 250 by the Lipulekh route in 5 batches and 500 by the Nathu La route in 10 batches.
Past its non secular significance, the yatra can also be one of many world’s most logistically advanced pilgrimages. Situated in China’s Tibet Autonomous Area, it requires in depth diplomatic coordination between New Delhi and Beijing, meticulous planning and strict medical screening due to excessive altitude and inhospitable terrain.
Pilgrim teams having to halt yatra for days en route owing to inclement climate is a norm slightly than an exception. However a tragedy of this scale has not occurred earlier than. The worst recorded tragedy related to the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra earlier than 2026 has been the 1998 Malpa landslide within the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand, which claimed over 220 lives, together with 60 pilgrims who have been on their option to Kailash.
Story continues beneath this advert
Mount Kailash is about 6,638 m above sea stage, whereas the close by Mansarovar Lake is at an altitude of 4,590 m, amongst one of many world’s highest freshwater lakes. Pilgrims historically undertake the 52-km Kailash Parikrama, or Kora, which is now decreased to 13 km by some routes.
For these taking the government-operated Lipulekh route, the journey from Delhi to the Kailash covers roughly 1,000 km by highway, apart from the 52-km parikrama. The choice Nathu La route by Sikkim is longer by highway however includes comparatively much less trekking. The Nathu La route is mostly thought-about much less strenuous, making it extra appropriate for older pilgrims.
The journey usually lasts about three weeks, together with acclimatisation, medical examinations, border formalities and journey in Tibet, though schedules could fluctuate relying on climate and administrative necessities. In 2025, of the 750 pilgrims who registered for the yatra, 688 participated and accomplished the journey, as per the MEA.
The MEA offers help on self-financing-basis to these enterprise the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra. It offers services similar to transportation, lodging, meals, medical checks and guides, in coordination with the governments of Uttarakhand, Delhi and Sikkim, together with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
Story continues beneath this advert
In instances the place Indian nationals travelling with non-public operators face challenges similar to inclement climate, medical emergencies, or documentation/procedural points in Nepal, the Embassy of India has been mandated to supply help in coordination with the native authorities.
In June-July 2018, roughly 1,500 pilgrims on the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra organised by non-public tour operators by Nepal have been stranded alongside the Hilsa-Simikot-Nepalganj route in Nepal whereas returning because of cancellation of flight operations as a result of inclement climate. The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu had organized their protected return in shut coordination with the federal government of Nepal, tour operators, and native airline/helicopter service suppliers, as per the federal government’s submission in Parliament.
