India Issues Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Travel Advisory via Nepal

New Delhi has issued an urgent travel advisory for Indian citizens undertaking the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through Nepal, warning against commencing journeys without securing mandatory Chinese visas and entry permits following reports of multiple stranded pilgrims.

The Indian government has issued a formal advisory for citizens undertaking the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra via Nepal, urging them not to begin their journey without obtaining all the required travel documents, following reports of Indian pilgrims being stranded in the neighboring country.

The advisory is particularly aimed at pilgrims traveling through private tour operators.

In a official statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) noted it had received several requests for assistance from Indian nationals stranded in Nepal after attempting to undertake the pilgrimage without the mandatory Chinese visa and entry permit.

The ministry stated that it received multiple emergency appeals from citizens trapped in Nepal who attempted the crossing without valid paperwork through unauthorized private tours.

The MEA advised pilgrims not to commence their journey from India until they have secured all the necessary travel documents for the entire pilgrimage.

The government strongly warned that beginning the transit from India without complete documentation increases the risk of being stranded mid-journey.

The ministry cautioned that traveling without confirmed documentation, or in the expectation of obtaining the required permits later, significantly increases the risk of being stranded.

Pilgrims were also urged to ensure that their tour operator is duly registered and authorized before booking the pilgrimage.

The advisory comes after Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) MP Supriya Sule said that around 52 Indian pilgrims were stranded in Kathmandu and sought urgent government intervention.

Sule posted on social media that dozens of citizens required immediate consular intervention in the capital of Nepal.

She appealed to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, the Indian Embassy in Nepal, the Embassy of India in Beijing, and the MEA to extend necessary assistance to ensure the pilgrims’ safe onward journey. The first batch of Indian pilgrims undertaking the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra 2026 crossed into China through the India-China border at Nathu La Pass on June 20, marking the resumption of the pilgrimage after a gap of several years.

History of the Pilgrimage Resumption

The annual Kailash Mansarovar Yatra operates from June to August via two official corridors: Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand and Nathu La in Sikkim. These locations serve as temporary immigration posts where pilgrims are restricted to 20 kg of baggage upon entering Chinese territory.

The pilgrimage initially faced suspension in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent military standoffs along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. It resumed last year as part of ongoing bilateral efforts to normalize diplomatic relations between India and China.

FAQs

Why did India issue a travel advisory for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra?

The Ministry of External Affairs issued the advisory after numerous Indian pilgrims became stranded in Nepal. These individuals attempted to cross into Chinese territory through private tour operators without obtaining the mandatory Chinese visas and entry permits.

Can pilgrims acquire their travel documents during the journey?

No. The MEA strongly advises against traveling in anticipation of getting permits later. Pilgrims must secure all authorized travel documentation for the entire journey before departing India to avoid being stranded.

What are the authorized routes for the 2026 Yatra?

The designated routes for the 2026 pilgrimage season run through the Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand and the Nathu La Pass in Sikkim, both of which serve as official temporary immigration checkpoints.