New Delhi, June 14: Preparations for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra 2026 have entered their final phase. On June 12, Minister of State for External Affairs, Pabitra Margherita, formally flagged off the first group at the Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan in New Delhi. This initial team will travel to Kailash Mansarovar via the Nathu La Pass, beginning their journey on June 15.
During the event, the minister wished the selected pilgrims well and noted that arrangements for their stay have been made at newly inaugurated acclimatization centers, virtually launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He praised the collaboration among various ministries and departments, including the governments of Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Uttar Pradesh, emphasizing their joint efforts to ensure a safe and enriching travel experience for the pilgrims.
Earlier, Lukendra Rasaili, Chairman of the Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation (STDC), mentioned that the first group of travelers arrived in New Delhi on June 11. Here, they underwent mandatory health checks, fitness assessments, visa processing, and other formalities under the supervision of the Ministry of External Affairs. This group is scheduled to reach Gangtok on June 15 and will enter Tibet through the Nathu La Pass on June 20.
The Nathu La route, developed as an alternative pathway for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, was initiated in 2015. This year, 500 pilgrims were selected through a computerized lottery from approximately 1,500 applications. They will be sent in batches of 50, with the final group departing in August.
Upon reaching Gangtok, special programs will be conducted to acclimatize the pilgrims to high-altitude conditions. They will spend two nights at an acclimatization center located at an elevation of 10,500 feet, followed by another two nights near the Hungo Lake area at around 13,000 feet. During this time, health assessments, medical monitoring, and local excursions will be organized. The final health check will be conducted by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), after which the pilgrims will be permitted to cross the Nathu La Pass at 14,140 feet.
Once in Tibet, the travelers will proceed through Khangma, Lazi, Zhongba, and Darchen to reach the sacred Mount Kailash. The journey will include a circumambulation of Kailash, with key stops at Dirapuk and Juthulpuk. All pilgrims will return via the same route.
The STDC chairman stated that after a hiatus of several years, the Yatra resumed in 2025, and significant improvements have been made this year in infrastructure, accommodation facilities, medical assistance, and communication systems. He assured that the administration is far better prepared compared to last year.
This approximately 22-day journey includes four days in Delhi for document and health checks, several days in Sikkim for acclimatization, and around 12 days in Tibet. Throughout the journey, officials from the Ministry of External Affairs, ITBP, the Ministry of AYUSH, medical teams, and the Sikkim government will assist and monitor the pilgrims.
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