Kailash Mansarovar Yatra to Resume in 2025 After 5 Years, Registration Now Open
After a gap of five years, the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is set to resume in 2025, with online registrations now open. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced that the Yatra will take place between June and August 2025, with pilgrims able to choose between two routes: Uttarakhand’s Lipulekh Pass and Sikkim’s Nathu La Pass.
The Yatra, which was suspended in 2020 due to the Galwan clash and the COVID-19 pandemic, will now proceed after diplomatic negotiations between India and China. Five batches of 50 pilgrims each will travel via Lipulekh Pass, while 10 batches of 50 will take the Nathu La Pass route. The selection process will be computerized, ensuring a fair, random, and gender-balanced system.
The pilgrimage was halted after border tensions and the pandemic disrupted the travel. However, after discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping in October 2024, both countries agreed to resume the Yatra, marking 75 years of diplomatic relations between India and China. This historic pilgrimage will be a symbol of improved bilateral ties and people-to-people connectivity.
The last Yatra took place in 2019, and this year’s event will be a significant milestone. India and China have worked together to resolve differences and allow this revered pilgrimage to continue, promoting mutual respect and cooperation.
Pilgrims can apply for the Yatra at http://kmy.gov.in. The MEA has urged all applicants to follow the official guidelines and use the website’s feedback options for any queries.
