The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, a revered pilgrimage for Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Bon devotees, is set to resume in June 2025 after a five-year hiatus. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is organizing the Yatra, which will take place between June and August 2025. This year, around 750 pilgrims have been selected to undertake the spiritual journey.
The Yatra holds immense significance, as it involves a trek to Mount Kailash, believed to be the abode of Lord Shiva, and Lake Mansarovar, considered a sacred lake in Hindu mythology. The pilgrimage has been suspended since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, making its resumption a highly anticipated event for devotees.
This year, the MEA will organize the Yatra through two routes: the Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand and the Nathu La Pass in Sikkim. According to the MEA, five batches, each consisting of 50 Yatris, are scheduled to travel through the Uttarakhand State crossing over at Lipulekh Pass, and 10 batches, each consisting of 50 Yatris, are scheduled to travel through Sikkim State crossing over at Nathu La Pass. The Yatra, commencing from Delhi, is expected to last 22 days for each group. The first group is scheduled to enter China via Lipulekh Pass on July 10.
To ensure the safety and well-being of the pilgrims, the MEA has made health checkups mandatory. All pilgrims will undergo thorough medical examinations in Delhi and Gunji to ascertain their fitness for the high-altitude trek. The pilgrims will spend around 3-4 days in Delhi for preparations and medical checkups at the Delhi Heart & Lung Institute (DHLI). A second medical examination will be conducted at Gunji (3,220 meters) on the Lipulekh route and at Sherathang (4,115 meters) on the Nathula route, to evaluate the body's response to the high altitude.
The selection of pilgrims was conducted through a fair, computer-generated, random, and gender-balanced process. The MEA had opened a website (kmy.gov.in) for online applications. The online application process ensures transparency and equal opportunity for all eligible candidates.
The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is not just a pilgrimage but also an adventurous journey through challenging terrains and breathtaking landscapes. Pilgrims will have the opportunity to witness the beauty of Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar, experiencing spiritual and cultural enrichment. It is considered a holy peak in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Bon religion. The Yatra involves traversing high-altitude passes, including the 17,000 feet Lipulekh Pass in the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand.
For those planning to undertake the Yatra independently, it is important to note that the People's Republic of China has updated its visa and travel permit requirements for Tibet and Mount Kailash for 2025. Pilgrims traveling to the Tibet Autonomous Region need a special travel permit issued by China's Foreign Affairs, which is managed by local travel agents in China/Tibet. Foreign travelers, except for Indian nationals, must then submit an 11-page visa application form to the China Visa Center.
