Indian Government Issues Advisory On Kailash Mansarovar Pilgrimage
India has issued an advisory for its citizens planning to undertake the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage through private tour operators, urging pilgrims not to start their journey until they have obtained all the necessary travel documents, including permits and visas required to enter China.
The advisory comes after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) received several requests for assistance from Indian nationals who were stranded in Nepal while trying to travel without the necessary entry permits and Chinese visas.
According to the MEA, many of the affected pilgrims had opted for trips organised by private tour operators.
In its statement, the ministry cautioned travellers against starting their journey based on the expectation that the required documents would be arranged later.
“Citizens are advised not to commence their journey from India until they have received all the necessary travel documents for the entire journey. Commencing the journey without confirming the documents or in the hope of receiving the necessary documents increases the chances of getting stranded,” the MEA said.
The ministry has also advised prospective pilgrims to carefully verify the credentials of private tour operators before making travel arrangements. “Pilgrims are also strongly advised to confirm that their tour operator is properly registered and authorised,” the ministry added.
The advisory comes amid reports that around 52 Indian nationals who were travelling to Kailash Mansarovar are currently stranded in Kathmandu, Nepal and are seeking immediate assistance to continue their journey safely.
The issue was earlier raised on Saturday by Nationalist Congress Party (SP) MP Supriya Sule, who urged the Ministry of External Affairs and the concerned Indian diplomatic missions to intervene and provide immediate assistance to the stranded pilgrims.
She urged the authorities to ensure that the affected Indian nationals get timely assistance so that their travel woes are resolved and they can proceed with their journey without any hassle.
The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is considered one of the most important religious pilgrimages for Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and followers of Bon religion, attracting thousands of pilgrims every year.
The pilgrimage requires pilgrims to obtain several approvals and travel documents, including permits issued by Chinese authorities for entry into the Tibet Autonomous Region.
Meanwhile, the official Kailash Mansarovar Yatra for 2026 has already begun. On June 20, the first batch of pilgrims undertaking the annual pilgrimage entered China through the India-China border at the Nathu La Pass, formally beginning this year’s pilgrimage under approved arrangements.
