Kailash-Mansarovar Access for Indian Visitors Reopens After Five Years

The Chinese authorities have announced the lifting of restrictions on Indian pilgrims visiting Kailash-Mansarovar, allowing access again from mid-June. The pilgrimage was suspended for Indian tourists in October 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

There are two main routes: from Rasuwa-Kerung and from Simikot-Hilsa. The easier and closer route from Nepal’s Rasuwa-Kerung is currently being arranged, with an expected two-week journey from Kathmandu. After completing all the paperwork which is necessary for travel between the tour operators of Nepal and Tibet, it is most likely that the Indian pilgrims can visit Kailash-Mansarovar from June 15, said Bishnu Pandey, Secretary at Nepal Association of Tours and Travel Agents (NATTA).

Pandey commented, “We welcome the decision taken by the Chinese authorities to resume the visit of Indian nationals to Kailash-Mansarovar and we are very much excited to welcome the Indian pilgrims. As compared to the route from Uttarakhand to visit Mansarovar, which takes around one month, the route from the Himalayas of Nepal is much easier, time-saving and cheap."

“At present we are working out itineraries to organise tour for Indian tourists wishing to visit Kailash through Rasuwa-Kerung route,” he further added.

Permits are being issued to up to 20,000 Indian visitors, and there are options for land or air travel, including chartered flights. The pilgrimage season typically runs from April to September.