Kailash Manasarovar Yatra Resumes After Five Years As First Batch Of Pilgrims Flagged Off

The first batch of pilgrims of the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra 2025 began their journey on Friday (13 June) after a flag-off ceremony held in New Delhi.

Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita presided over the flag-off ceremony for the first batch of pilgrims embarking on the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra 2025 at Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan, New Delhi.

The minister felicitated the Yatris on their selection and wished them a safe and fulfilling Yatra, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

Addressing the gathering, Margherita recognised the role of various Central ministries and departments, such as the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Home Affairs, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, the state governments of Delhi, Uttarakhand and Sikkim, and the National Informatics Centre for seamless coordination to realise the Yatra on a short timeline.

He appreciated the Chinese side for its cooperation for the resumption of the Yatra.

The Yatra, organised annually by the Government of India, takes place via two key routes: the Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand and the Nathu La Pass in Sikkim.

The Yatra was suspended in 2020 after border tensions between India and China.

However, after the tensions eased last year, both sides agreed to resume the Yatra from this year after multiple round of diplomatic engagements.

​Kailash Manasarovar Yatra organized by Ministry of External Affairs is set to commence from June, and will go on till August 2025.

Yatris were selected in the draw through a fair, computer-generated, random, gender-balanced selection process, according to the MEA.

"This year, 5561 applicants had successfully registered online, which included 4024 male applicants and 1537 female applicants. A total of 750 selected Yatris, including 2 LOs (Liaison Officers) per batch, will travel in 5 batches of 50 Yatris each via the Lipulekh route, and 10 batches of 50 Yatris each via the Nathu La route. Both routes are now fully motorable, and involve very little trekking," the MEA said.

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