Kailash Mansarovar Yatra set to resume after four-year hiatus

April 18, 2025 Hot from the Oven Valli Sarvani

In a significant step towards mending ties, India has announced the likely return of the revered Kailash Mansarovar Yatra this year, after a four-year suspension due to border tensions and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pilgrimage, cherished by Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Bon followers, holds immense spiritual importance as it leads to Mount Kailash and the sacred Mansarovar Lake in Tibet, believed to be the abode of Lord Shiva.

India’s External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that preparations are already in progress.

While the exact schedule will be announced shortly, he emphasised that the Yatra is expected to take place this year, bringing relief and excitement to thousands of devotees and adventure-seekers.

This development follows a series of diplomatic engagements between India and China, especially after the two nations finalised the disengagement process in Depsang and Demchok, two key flashpoints along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh.

These breakthroughs stem from high-level discussions, including the Special Representatives (SR) dialogue revived in December during NSA Ajit Doval’s visit to Beijing.

Moreover, both countries have agreed in principle to resume direct flight services, which had also been halted amid the 2020 border standoff.

According to Jaiswal, technical teams from India and China are coordinating to finalise the logistics of the resumed air travel, signalling a broader attempt to enhance people-to-people connectivity.

The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is not just a pilgrimage; it is a symbol of spiritual endurance and cross-border cultural heritage.

Thousands undertake the challenging trek annually, traversing treacherous terrains to seek blessings and inner peace.

Its resumption is viewed not only as a diplomatic thaw but also as a hopeful return to normalcy and religious freedom.

Additionally, recent meetings between officials from both nations underscore a step-by-step rebuilding of bilateral ties, focusing on stability and predictability.

As both sides look to strengthen cultural and civilizational links, the return of this sacred journey may serve as a powerful bridge, both literally and figuratively, between the two ancient civilisations.

Image Credit: Nepalkailashtrekking, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons