KATHMANDU, May 1: The Government of India has officially announced the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage for 2026 and opened applications for interested pilgrims.
In a press statement issued on Thursday, India’s Ministry of External Affairs said the pilgrimage would be organised in coordination with the Chinese government.
PM Dahal vows to simplify travel arrangements to Kailash Mansar...
According to the ministry, the pilgrimage will take place from June to August. The Indian government stated that 10 groups will travel via the Lipulekh Pass and another 10 groups through Nathu La. Each group will consist of 50 people, allowing a total of 1,000 pilgrims to participate in the journey. Interested applicants can apply through the official website until May 19. The ministry said pilgrims would be selected through a fair and computerised process.
Responding to the announcement, Chinese Embassy in India spokesperson Yu Jing said, “We welcome the resumption of Indian pilgrims’ visits in 2026 to Kangrinboqe Peak and Mapam Yumco in China’s Xizang Autonomous Region (Kailash Mansarovar Yatra). We are pleased to serve 1,000 Indian pilgrims this year. May this pilgrimage become a bridge of faith.”
However, Nepal has not been formally informed about the development. India has designated two routes for the pilgrimage: one through the Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand and another through Nathu La in Sikkim. Nepal’s Lipulekh and Kalapani areas are currently under Indian control. While India claims the territory as its own, Nepal has officially objected to the claim. Nepal had also protested recently after India and China agreed to reopen the border point through Lipulekh.
Kailash Mansarovar holds immense religious significance for Hindus, Jains and devotees of Lord Shiva. Hindu mythology considers Mount Kailash the abode of Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, Lord Ganesh and Kartikeya. For Jains, Mount Kailash is known as Ashtapada or Sumeru Mountain, where it is believed that Lord Adinath, the founder of Jainism, attained liberation after establishing the Jain faith.
