Kailash Mansarovar Yatra to Resume in June: Here’s Why China Had Halted the Pilgrimage
#News Bureau April 29,2025
India and China have agreed to restart the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in June 2025, nearly five years after it was suspended in 2020. Find out the key reasons behind the suspension, how long the Yatra will be allowed, and the conditions that will apply to pilgrims.
India and China have officially announced the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra from June 2025, ending a five-year suspension. The pilgrimage, sacred to followers of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, was halted in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent border tensions between the two countries.
On Saturday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that the Yatra will be conducted from June to August 2025 via two routes: Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand and Nathu La Pass in Sikkim. The decision is seen as a positive step toward normalizing India-China relations.
According to the MEA, a total of 750 pilgrims will be allowed to participate this year. Five batches of 50 pilgrims each will travel through Lipulekh, a more physically demanding route that requires trekking. Ten batches of 50 pilgrims each will take the fully motorable Nathu La route, which is better suited for senior citizens.
Selection will be carried out through a transparent, computerized, and gender-balanced process. Interested individuals can apply online at http://kmy.gov.in.
The Yatra is being organized in coordination with the MEA, Ministry of Home Affairs, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and the governments of Delhi, Sikkim, and Uttarakhand. State-level agencies like the Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN) and Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation will also be involved.
Why Was the Yatra Suspended?
The pilgrimage was initially suspended in 2020 due to the global outbreak of COVID-19. However, even after pandemic restrictions eased, the Yatra did not resume. That same year, a violent clash between Indian and Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley of Ladakh resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers and at least four Chinese soldiers. The incident marked a severe deterioration in bilateral relations, leading to prolonged military standoffs and a freeze in cross-border engagements, including the Yatra.
While China did not issue a formal suspension, it failed to make logistical arrangements through the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), effectively halting the pilgrimage. According to the 2014 India-China agreement, such a suspension required mutual consultation — a point India repeatedly raised in diplomatic discussions.
A Sign of Improving Ties
The Yatra’s resumption follows recent diplomatic breakthroughs. In October 2024, India and China signed an agreement to de-escalate military tensions in Ladakh’s Demchok and Depsang regions. Subsequent high-level meetings, including talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping at the BRICS summit in Russia, helped build momentum.
In early 2025, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held extensive discussions with his Chinese counterpart Sun Weidong in Beijing, where both sides agreed to restart the Yatra, restore direct flights, and share data on cross-border rivers. These commitments were reinforced during the 33rd Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) meeting in March 2025.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also addressed the issue during the G20 summit in Brazil, and further discussions took place between National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Wang Yi at the Special Representatives’ meeting in December 2024.
Guidelines for Pilgrims
The MEA has requested applicants to use the online portal for all queries and feedback instead of sending letters or faxes. Due to the Yatra’s challenging nature, all participants will be required to undergo mandatory health screenings in Delhi and Gunji. Only those who clear these tests will be allowed to proceed.
The resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra marks not only the revival of a significant religious journey but also a symbolic thaw in India-China ties — with diplomacy, health safety, and religious freedom all playing key roles.
