When faith meets diplomacy: Kailash Mansarovar Yatra returns after 5 years
Geopolitics | India
Naima Sood
01 JUL 2025 | 10:11:38
In 2025, the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra — one of Hinduism’s most sacred pilgrimages — resumes after being halted in 2020 due to the Galwan clash and COVID-19. This year, 750 Indian pilgrims will journey in 15 batches through the Lipulekh and Nathu La passes between late June and August, selected via a gender-balanced, computerized draw.
The resumption reflects a subtle thaw in India-China diplomacy following high-level meetings in 2024 and 2025. But beyond faith, it’s a diplomatic test: access remains fragile, logistics immense, and the pilgrimage is a reflection of both devotion and diplomacy.
A Mountain Beyond Borders, a Journey Beyond Politics
Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar, located in Tibet, are revered across multiple faiths — Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. For Hindus, Kailash is the abode of Lord Shiva; Buddhists see it as the home of Demchok (a wrathful deity), Jains revere it as the site where their first Tirthankara attained liberation. The pilgrimage represents spiritual purification, liberation from the cycle of rebirth, and ultimate enlightenment.
Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar, located in Tibet, are revered across multiple faiths — Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. For Hindus, Kailash is the abode of Lord Shiva; Buddhists see it as the home of Demchok (a wrathful deity), Jains revere it as the site where their first Tirthankara attained liberation. The pilgrimage represents spiritual purification, liberation from the cycle of rebirth, and ultimate enlightenment.
When Faith Meets the Border
The pilgrimage route has historically been subject to geopolitical tensions. Open before 1962, it was closed during the Sino-Indian War and only reopened in 1981. The Yatra continued until 2020, when the deadly Galwan Valley clash and the COVID-19 pandemic forced its suspension.
The pilgrimage route has historically been subject to geopolitical tensions. Open before 1962, it was closed during the Sino-Indian War and only reopened in 1981. The Yatra continued until 2020, when the deadly Galwan Valley clash and the COVID-19 pandemic forced its suspension.
The 2025 resumption is deeply tied to diplomacy. Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s October 2024 meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, and NSA Ajit Doval’s December 2024 talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, both nations agreed to disengage troops and resume border patrols, unlocking the pilgrimage route.
2025: The Yatra Resumes — Cautiously
By the end of June, 750 Indian pilgrims, selected through a computerized, gender-balanced lottery from over 5,500 applicants, will embark on the journey in 15 batches. Five batches will take the Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand — a challenging 200 km trek over rugged terrain. The other ten batches will travel via the Nathu La Pass in Sikkim, a shorter and more motorable route involving approximately 35 km of trekking.
By the end of June, 750 Indian pilgrims, selected through a computerized, gender-balanced lottery from over 5,500 applicants, will embark on the journey in 15 batches. Five batches will take the Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand — a challenging 200 km trek over rugged terrain. The other ten batches will travel via the Nathu La Pass in Sikkim, a shorter and more motorable route involving approximately 35 km of trekking.
The Logistics of Devotion
The journey spans 22 days, beginning in Delhi and moving through the Mahakali valley — from Tanakpur and Dharchula to Gunji and Navidhang — before crossing into Tibet at Taklakot. The return route passes through Bundi, Almora, and Chaukori. Army escorts, landslide patrols, and medical teams accompany the pilgrims throughout, underscoring the immense logistical effort behind the pilgrimage.
The journey spans 22 days, beginning in Delhi and moving through the Mahakali valley — from Tanakpur and Dharchula to Gunji and Navidhang — before crossing into Tibet at Taklakot. The return route passes through Bundi, Almora, and Chaukori. Army escorts, landslide patrols, and medical teams accompany the pilgrims throughout, underscoring the immense logistical effort behind the pilgrimage.
The Politics of Pilgrimage
The Yatra’s return is more than a religious event; it is a diplomatic milestone. The pilgrimage acts as a barometer of India-China relations, where permits, passes, and political trust determine whether faith can flow freely.
The Yatra’s return is more than a religious event; it is a diplomatic milestone. The pilgrimage acts as a barometer of India-China relations, where permits, passes, and political trust determine whether faith can flow freely.
A Fragile Timeline of Access
- Pre-1962: Free movement
- 1962–1981: Closed due to war
- 1981–2020: Open, thousands of pilgrims annually
- 2020–2025: Suspended due to Galwan clash and COVID-19
- June 30, 2025: Resumption with 15 batches totaling 750 pilgrims
Faith Shouldn’t Have to Wait for Peace
The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is more than a spiritual journey — it's a quiet gauge of diplomacy. The route has reopened, but access is still shaped by geopolitics. As a new wave of pilgrims sets out, their prayers may go beyond personal salvation — carrying a deeper hope for enduring peace between nations.
The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is more than a spiritual journey — it's a quiet gauge of diplomacy. The route has reopened, but access is still shaped by geopolitics. As a new wave of pilgrims sets out, their prayers may go beyond personal salvation — carrying a deeper hope for enduring peace between nations.
