In a major development toward normalising ties between India and China since the 2020 border standoff, New Delhi announced on Saturday that the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra will resume in June this year.
Suspended Since Galwan Clash
The pilgrimage, suspended for five years, is seen as a significant step toward bridging the trust gap created after the violent clash in Galwan, where 20 Indian soldiers lost their lives.
This announcement comes after both sides completed the disengagement process in eastern Ladakh, though around 50,000 to 60,000 troops remain deployed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Normalising Relations
Restarting the yatra has been a top priority for India ever since the dialogue to normalise relations resumed in November 2024.
On Saturday, the Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that the pilgrimage, organised by the MEA, will be held from June to August 2025.
According to the ministry, five batches of 50 pilgrims each will travel via Uttarakhand’s Lipulekh Pass, while 10 batches of 50 pilgrims each will cross over through Nathu La Pass in Sikkim.
Registration Open
Applications can be submitted on the official website (kmy.gov.in), and pilgrims will be selected through a fair, computer-generated, random, and gender-balanced process.
Given that the route has remained largely unused by civilians for five years, organising the pilgrimage will pose logistical challenges.
Spiritual Significance
The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, a sacred journey to Mount Kailash and Mansarovar Lake in China’s Tibet Autonomous Region, holds deep religious importance for Hindus, as well as for Jain and Buddhist communities.
Initially suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the yatra remained halted because of the military tensions between India and China.
However, talks to resume the pilgrimage gained momentum after Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s visit to China in January 2025, where both nations agreed in principle to restart it.
Jaishankar-Wang Yi Meeting
The first official discussions on the yatra’s revival took place when External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro in November 2024.
Further discussions occurred during the Special Representatives’ meeting in Beijing between National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Wang Yi in December.
With the yatra now set to begin in June, attention will turn to resolving other pending issues between India and China, including river data-sharing agreements, the resumption of direct flights, visa facilitation, and exchanges between media and think tanks.
