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India and China Reopen Kailash Mansarovar Yatra After Five-Year Pause

Online applications are now open for the June–August 2025 pilgrimage, marking a step toward mending bilateral ties.

The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra stopped five years ago in 2020 because of the COVID-19 outbreak.
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Overview

  • The Ministry of External Affairs has launched registrations for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, set to resume in June 2025 after a five-year suspension.
  • 750 pilgrims will be selected through a digital, gender-balanced process, with five batches traveling via Uttarakhand’s Lipulekh Pass and ten via Sikkim’s Nathu La Pass.
  • The pilgrimage was halted in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and border tensions but is now part of efforts to stabilize India-China relations.
  • Recent infrastructure upgrades, including the Tawaghat–Lipulekh road, have improved accessibility, reducing travel time for pilgrims.
  • The Yatra’s relaunch coincides with the 75th anniversary of India-China diplomatic relations, following sustained dialogue and troop disengagement agreements.