India Announces 2026 Kailash Manasarovar Yatra for 1,000 Pilgrims

India's Ministry of External Affairs has announced that the annual Kailash Manasarovar Yatra will occur from June to August 2026, accommodating 1,000 pilgrims across 20 batches of 50 each, traveling via Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand and Nathu La Pass in Sikkim.

The pilgrimage, organized in coordination with the Chinese government, marks the second consecutive year of resumption after a nearly five-year suspension. It was halted in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent military tensions along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh. The Ministry stated that 10 batches will cross through Uttarakhand and another 10 through Sikkim. A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in India, Yu Jing, welcomed the event on social media, saying, "Welcome the resumption of the pilgrimage for Indian friends to Kangrinboqe Feng and Mapam Yuco Kailash Manasarovar Yatra in Xizang Autonomous Region of China 2026! We are pleased to facilitate 1,000 Indian pilgrims this year."

Applications opened on the official website kmy.gov.in, where eligible Indian citizens with valid passports can register online until May 19, 2026. Applicants may select one or both routes, indicating priority if...