Kailash Mansarovar Yatra: Stage set for arrival of Indian pilgrims in China
Jun, e 19
India's Ambassador to China, Vikram Doraiswami, on Friday released a video message for the pilgrims ahead of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, providing advice and a warm welcome.
"The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra 2026, organised by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in coordination with the Government of the People's Republic of China, departs Indian territory on 20 June. The Embassy team warmly welcomes all pilgrims travelling to the holy Mt Kailash and sacred Lake Mansarovar through both official and private channels," the Indian Embassy in Beijing posted on X.
Led by Ambassador Doraiswami, the team recently visited key points along the yatra routes from Sikkim and Uttarakhand in India into the Tibet Autonomous Region in PRC, crossing at Nathu La and Lipulekh passes respectively, to review preparations and arrangements for the pilgrimage.
"Here's our Ambassador's message. More visuals and essential travel advisories will follow. Wishing all pilgrims a safe, fulfilling, and spiritually enriching journey!," the Embassy noted while sharing the video.
According to the Ambassador, the pilgrims will be received by the Chinese Customs and immigration Authorities at the Nathula Pass entrance, and they will be transported in buses and taken to Yadong County thereafter.
The diplomat provided further information regarding the travel times and other facilities for food and currency exchange in the video.
The Ambassador also mentioned that more videos will be released on the route of the KMY for pilgrims.
Last week, the Ambassador visited Lhasa, the historical, cultural, and spiritual capital of Tibet, to jointly review arrangements made by local government authorities for Indian pilgrims on the KMY.
Ambassador Doraiswami was received at Lhasa Airport by Yang Lahong, Deputy Director General of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Tibet Autonomous Region.
"The Ambassador later met Zhao Peng, Vice Chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region, who provided a detailed briefing on the facilities and preparations for the pilgrims," the Embassy said.
Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita, on June 13, presided over the flagging‑off ceremony of the first batch of pilgrims undertaking the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra (KMY) 2026 at Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan in New Delhi.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Great to see diplomatic efforts paying off. The visit to Lhasa and coordination with Chinese authorities shows maturity in bilateral relations. But I hope the pilgrims are properly briefed about the high altitude and weather conditions - safety should be paramount.
Finally! After all the tension at the borders, it's heartening to see cultural and religious ties being maintained. This yatra is not just a journey but a soulful experience for millions. Kudos to the MEA and Embassy for their meticulous planning.
My grandparents did this yatra decades ago and they still talk about it with such reverence! So happy that the new generation is getting this opportunity. The detailed travel advisories and video from Ambassador Doraiswami will definitely help first-time pilgrims.
While this is good news, I wish there were more transparency about the costs and logistics. Many devotees from smaller towns struggle with the expenses. Also, it would be great if the government could arrange more affordable options for the common man.
Amazing coordination between India and China on this! The mention of currency exchange facilities and food arrangements shows genuine care for the pilgrims. May Lord Shiva bless all the yatris on this sacred journey! 🚩🌙
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