Our Bureau
Sikkim
The revered Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, a pilgrimage of immense spiritual significance for Hindus, Jains, and Buddhists, is set to resume through the Nathu La Pass in Sikkim after a five-year suspension. The Ministry of External Affairs will organize the yatra from June to September, marking a significant moment as Sikkim celebrates 50 years of statehood.
The pilgrimage was halted in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, followed by a prolonged closure amid military tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. With improved conditions, the government has announced the reopening of the Nathu La route, one of two official passages to the sacred Mount Kailash and Mansarovar Lake in Tibet—the other being the Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand.
According to officials, ten batches of pilgrims will undertake the journey via Nathu La, each spending 21 days on the route. The first group will depart from Delhi on June 15, crossing into Tibet through Nathu La on June 20. The final batch is scheduled to leave Delhi on August 7, with border crossing set for August 12. The estimated cost per pilgrim is ₹2.83 lakh.
In preparation, the Sikkim government has accelerated infrastructure development along the route. Two acclimatization centers are being established between Gangtok and Nathu La to help pilgrims adjust to the high altitude, where thin air and cold temperatures pose health risks. Additional facilities, including rest houses and toilets, are also under construction.
The Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation (STDC), the nodal agency for the yatra, will oversee logistics and support. Pilgrims, all Indian citizens with valid passports, will undergo medical tests in Delhi before embarking on the journey. No government subsidy is provided for the pilgrimage.
