Sikkim Chief Secretary takes stock of arrangements for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra
Gangtok, May 29
Sikkim Chief Secretary R Telang on Friday chaired a coordination meeting to review preparations for the upcoming Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.
The high-level meeting was held at the Conference Hall of the Tashiling Secretariat in Gangtok.
The meeting was organised by the Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation (STDC), the nodal agency for the Yatra from Sikkim. The pilgrimage is slated to take place in June and will comprise ten batches of 50 Yatris each.
STDC Principal CEO Gyurmee Yousal stated that this year's pilgrimage marks the second edition of the Yatra since its resumption after a five-year hiatus.
According to Yousal, the Yatris will arrive in Gangtok on June 15, 2026, and undergo a two-night acclimatisation at the specialised facilities of 18th Mile and Hangu Lake. The batch will subsequently cross over to China via Nathu La on the fifth day of the itinerary.
Following a ten-day pilgrimage in China, the Yatris will return through Nathu La and be brought back to Gangtok on the same day. They will depart for New Delhi the following day.
Sikkim Chief Secretary R Telang subsequently reviewed the logistical arrangements in place, including hospitality, medical facilities, power and water supply, road conditions, traffic management, network connectivity, customs clearance, and media coverage. The review was conducted in coordination with senior officers of line departments to ensure the smooth execution of the pilgrimage.
Home Department Secretary Tenzing T Kaleon; Information and Public Relations Department Secretary Annapurna Alley; Health and Family Welfare Department PDHS Bikash Pradhan; Check Post SSP Linda Palmoo; Gangtok DC Rohan Agawane; Gangtok SP Mahendra Subba; Sherathang SHO Yogendra Gurung; and officials from BSNL, BRO, NHIDCL, alongside Army personnel from the 17 Mtn Div and other stakeholders, were present during the meeting.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Finally some positive news about the Yatra! The five-year hiatus was too long. But I hope the government also focuses on better road conditions and medical facilities at Nathu La – it's a sensitive border area and any delay in emergency response could be risky. Let's not compromise on safety.
So many departments coordinating – BSNL, BRO, Army, health, police. It's impressive but also a bit worrying that so many are needed. Hope the infrastructure along the route is robust enough. Yatris going to Mansarovar deserve a seamless experience.
As someone who dreams of doing this yatra, it's great to see the arrangements. But I wish the government would also consider a more affordable option for common people. Right now, it still seems like a luxury for the few.
Fascinating to read about this from outside India. The level of detail in planning – from acclimatisation to customs – shows how seriously India takes these pilgrimages. Hope the yatris have an amazing time. 🙏
I appreciate the coordination effort, but a gentle reminder – the Kailash Mansarovar is a sacred site, not just a tourist trip. Hope the officials treat it with the reverence it deserves and don't reduce it to another bureaucratic exercise. The spiritual aspect should remain central.
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