Kailash Mansarovar Yatra — Know Date, Significane, Route, And All About This Sacred Pilgrimage

The sacred Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is now scheduled to resume in 2025, the yatra commences on June 30.

Kailash Mansarovar Yatra

Source : Canva

After a five-year break, the sacred Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is now scheduled to resume in 2025, allowing devotees to take on one of the most spiritually exalted pilgrimages in the world. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) officially declared that the yatra commences on June 30. The first group of pilgrims will be entering China on July 10. With respect to the ground logistics, food, accommodation, and travel duty of conducting the yatra, the responsibility has been laid upon the Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam, KMVN.

What Is The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra?

The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is a holy pilgrimage that attracts devotees from multiple religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Bon. It is believed that the yatra provides a unique spiritual experience, with a trek that takes devotees to the sacred Mount Kailash and the pristine Mansarovar Lake, situated in Tibet. The journey requires pilgrims to ascend up to 15,000 feet, making it both a physically demanding and deeply spiritual experience.

Significance Of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra:

The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is important for both Uttarakhand and India. For the first time in history, the Yatra will be begin from the road starting from Dharchula in Pithoragarh. Till now, pilgrims had to walk on foot for several kilometres to reach their destination.

The religious significance of the yatra is enormous. Mount Kailash is regarded as the sacred abode of Lord Shiva among the Hindus, whereas Buddhists, Jains, and adherents of the Bon religion also revere this place. For centuries, devotees from all corners of the world would undertake this arduous journey as act of devotion and spiritual recomposition. 

The Reason Behind The Hiatus Of This Yatra:

The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra ceased in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to restrictions on international travel. The awaited journey was further postponed on account of the still-ongoing border rows between India and China. To everyone's delight, after a long time, the sacred pilgrimage is set to commence.

The Journey Of This Scared Pilgrimage:

The pilgrimage lasts approximately 22 days and has set scheduled stopovers to assist pilgrims in acclimatising to high-altitude conditions. Devotees will be subjected to medical examination in Delhi before the commencement of the journey because of the high-altitude areas that can put heavy demands on one's health. There will be 250 pilgrims who will be part of the journey, divided into five batches of 50. They will proceed via the Lipulekh Pass in the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand, bordering Tibet. Pilgrims will, after the Yatra, fly back to Delhi through Almora.

The Itinerary For The Yatra:

• Delhi: Departure after medical screening
• Tanakpur (Champawat): One-night stay
• Dharchula (Pithoragarh): One-night stay
• Gunji: An overnight stop for altitude acclimatisation.
• Nabhidang: Two nights before crossing into Tibet.
• Taklakot (Tibet, China): Entry into Tibet.

After the yatra is completed, the pilgrimage will resume by this route:

• Bundi: One-night stay
• Chaukori: One-night stay
• Almora: Stop and then return to Delhi.