The ninth batch of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra will enter India on Wednesday, August 19, the Uttarakhand government said. The batch comprises 48 members, including three cooks from Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN).
The 10th batch, comprising 44 members, including three KMVN cooks, is currently in Tibet and is scheduled to enter India on August 23, 2026, according to the state government.
The development comes days after Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said the Centre had taken several measures to make the pilgrimage more affordable, accessible and safe, including improvements in pilgrim safety, medical support and connectivity.
Responding to an unstarred question by BJD MP Sulata Deo in the Rajya Sabha, Singh said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) organises the Yatra in coordination with the governments of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Sikkim, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and other government agencies.
The pilgrimage is conducted through two official routes — Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand, which has been operational since 1981, and Nathu La Pass in Sikkim, introduced in 2015.
“MEA coordinates with the Government of the People’s Republic of China as well as various Indian agencies for the smooth conduct of this yatra,” Singh said.
He said medical tests are conducted to assess pilgrims’ fitness for “high altitude endurance”. Arrangements have also been made to airlift pilgrims by helicopter on the Indian side in case of medical emergencies.
Road connectivity to Lipulekh Pass has also been established in recent years to facilitate the movement of pilgrims by vehicles, Singh said, adding that transport, lodging and food facilities are being upgraded along the route to ensure safe and secure travel.
On the Nepal route, Singh said private tour operators organise the pilgrimage and Indian citizens travelling through third countries, including Nepal, do not require government approval to undertake the Yatra.
The Embassy of India in Kathmandu coordinates with Nepali authorities and other stakeholders to ensure the safety and well-being of Indian pilgrims, including timely evacuation, shelter, medical treatment and other assistance when required.
The minister’s response followed another written reply in the Rajya Sabha on August 6, in which he said the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu was coordinating with Nepali authorities in cases involving documentation issues, medical emergencies and adverse weather.
Singh said the MEA had received several requests for assistance from Indian citizens stranded in Nepal after travelling for the Yatra through private tour operators without obtaining the required Chinese visas and entry permits.
The MEA had issued an advisory on June 27, 2026, urging pilgrims not to begin their journey from India until they had obtained all necessary travel documents for the pilgrimage.
The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is organised by the MEA annually from June to August/September through the Lipulekh Pass and Nathu La Pass routes. Private operators conduct the pilgrimage through Nepal.
The Yatra holds significant religious and cultural importance and is undertaken by hundreds of people every year. Mount Kailash is revered by Hindus as the abode of Lord Shiva and also holds religious significance for Jains and Buddhists.
The pilgrimage is open to eligible Indian citizens holding valid Indian passports who wish to travel to Kailash-Mansarovar for religious purposes.
(ANI Inputs)
