The first group of Indian pilgrims undertaking the sacred Kailash-Manasarovar Yatra, has reached Manasarovar Lake, marking the resumption of the journey after a five-year break. Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong posted this on X.

He added, "Pleased to know that the first batch of pilgrims has arrived at Lake Mapam Yun Tso (Manasarovar) in Xizang (Tibet) Autonomous Region, China.”

This group, consisting of 36 pilgrims, is the first to visit the holy site since the pilgrimage was suspended in 2020. Their arrival signals a significant step in the thawing of India-China relations, which had been strained due to the border standoff in Eastern Ladakh since 2020. A breakthrough came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, last year, paving the way for renewed diplomatic and cultural exchanges.

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Meanwhile, India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh who met his Chinese counterpart discussed the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra which was suspended earlier. He shared on X, “Held talks with Admiral Don Jun, the Defence Minister of China, on the sidelines of SCO Defence Ministers' Meeting in Qingdao. He added, “We had a constructive and forward looking exchange of views on issues pertaining to bilateral relations.” He added, “Expressed my happiness on restarting the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra after a gap of nearly six years. It is incumbent on both sides to maintain this positive momentum and avoid adding new complexities in the bilateral relationship.”

China refers to Tibet as 'Xizang', Mount Kailash as 'Gang Renpoche', and Manasarovar Lake as 'Mapam Yun Tso'. These spiritual landmarks hold immense significance for many faiths, particularly for Hindus who consider Mount Kailash the abode of Lord Shiva.

Among the pilgrims is 68-year-old Damina Bendya, who is visiting Tibet for the first time. “China and India are neighbours. China is wonderful, and all the staff here have been very warm and helpful,” she told the state-run Xinhua news agency upon reaching Lhasa, the capital of Tibet.

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On April 28, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun officially announced the resumption of the yatra under a bilateral agreement. He described Mount Kailash and Manasarovar Lake as vital to cultural and religious ties, highlighting their role in fostering people-to-people connections between the two countries.

Guo also noted that this year marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and China and expressed China’s willingness to work with India to promote stability and positive engagement.

A second batch of Indian pilgrims is scheduled to enter Tibet via the Nathu La Pass later this week, as per the regional foreign affairs office.