The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through the Lipulekh Pass route is scheduled to begin in June 2026, with pilgrims to be taken in 10 batches, each comprising 50 members. The pilgrimage, organised by the Ministry of External Affairs in coordination with the Government of China, will run from June to August via both the Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand and the Nathu La Pass in Sikkim, with 20 batches of 50 yatris each planned for the 2026 season.
The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, one of the most sacred Hindu‑Buddhist pilgrimage routes, was suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and later due to the military standoff between India and China in eastern Ladakh. It resumed in 2025 after improved bilateral coordination, and the 2026 edition marks the second successive year of revival, with the government treating the resumption as a key element of India’s spiritual‑diplomatic outreach as well as a deep‑faith journey for Lord Shiva’s devotees.
Registrations for the 2026 Kailash Mansarovar Yatra are being conducted fully online, with age and medical‑fitness criteria in place, given the high‑altitude terrain and extreme weather conditions. Each batch is accompanied by liaison officers and medical staff, and the route is now largely motorable, with minimal trekking, aiming to balance accessibility and the spiritual austerity associated with the journey to Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar, both sacred sites in Sanatana Dharma and other Himalayan traditions.
