Located in the Vyas valley of Pithoragarh district, the Old Lipulekh pass holds great religious importance. Earlier, pilgrims had to journey to the Tibet Autonomous Region to view the peak, which makes this the inaugural group to witness the revered mountain from India. "The first group of five pilgrims saw the peak from the Old Lipulekh pass. It was an emotionally charged moment for them," stated Kriti Chandra Arya, the District Tourist Officer of Pithoragarh, according to PTI. The pilgrims arrived at Gunji camp, one of the largest villages on the India-China border, on Wednesday and trekked 2.5 kilometers to reach the Old Lipulekh pass to view Kailash Mansarovar, Arya explained. "All five pilgrims were overwhelmed with excitement and shed tears on seeing the sacred Kailash peak from the designated viewing point at the Old Lipulekh pass," Arya said. This group included Neeraj and Mohini from Bhopal, Amandeep Kumar Jindal from Chandigarh, and Kewal Krishan and Narendra Kumar from Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan, Arya noted. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami commended all involved departments for facilitating this significant viewing opportunity, emphasising the government's dedication to the cause. Now, devotees of Lord Shiva no longer need to wait for the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra; they can pay their respects from Indian territory itself, the chief minister added. Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj celebrated the success of this inaugural trip as a historic moment for Shiva devotees. He affirmed the state government's commitment to ensuring pilgrims have a unique and memorable experience. This expedition was organized by the Uttarakhand Tourism Department as part of a pilot initiative, as the traditional Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through Tibet has been suspended for years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A few months back, officials from the Uttarakhand Tourism Department, Border Roads Organisation (BRO), and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) identified a location from which Mount Kailash is distinctly visible. The Uttarakhand Tourism Department made all necessary arrangements to offer a package tour that includes 'darshan' of Mount Kailash, Adi Kailash, and Om Parvat. The tour package features helicopter tickets from Pithoragarh to Gunji and back, along with accommodations at Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN) or homestays. The four-night, five-day package is priced at ₹80,000 per tourist.