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Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong agreed that the modalities to resume the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in the summer of 2025 would be discussed as per existing agreements. (File Photo)
After a five-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions, the revered Kailash Mansarovar Yatra will finally resume from June 30, 2025, through the Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh district. The pilgrimage holds deep spiritual significance for Nepalese Hindus and other devotees worldwide.
This year’s yatra will allow 250 pilgrims, organized into groups of 50. The journey is particularly historic as, for the first time, the entire route from Tawaghat to the Lipulekh Pass can now be covered by road, thanks to the completion of the Tawaghat-Lipulekh road by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in 2022. This major infrastructure upgrade promises a safer and more accessible pilgrimage experience.
Journey Details and Itinerary
The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra will span 22 days, beginning from Delhi and moving through Tanakpur, Dharchula, and finally Gunji, with overnight stops at each station. Upon reaching Gunji, pilgrims will undergo a mandatory two-day acclimatisation period to adjust to the high altitude.
The first group of pilgrims is scheduled to cross into China via the Lipulekh Pass on July 10, 2025, while return journeys to India are expected around August 22. On their way back to Delhi, participants will make stops at Almora, Chaukori, and Bundi for rest and recuperation.
While the fare for the 2025 yatra has not yet been finalized, applications are expected to open in the next two to three weeks. Interested pilgrims are advised to keep a close watch for announcements by the Ministry of External Affairs and the Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN), which will coordinate the yatra on the Indian side.
Preparations and Advisories
Local authorities, including the district magistrate of Pithoragarh, are actively preparing to ensure the smooth and safe conduct of the pilgrimage. Efforts include enhancing interdepartmental coordination for logistics, medical facilities, and accommodation arrangements along the route.
Given the demanding physical nature of the yatra, prospective participants are encouraged to assess their fitness levels carefully before applying. Maintaining good health will be critical for completing this sacred but strenuous journey.
For many devotees, the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra marks the fulfillment of a long-awaited spiritual aspiration, reconnecting them with a tradition of deep religious devotion.
