The Indian government has urged pilgrims undertaking the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through Nepal not to begin their journey without securing the required Chinese travel documents….reports Asian Lite News Desk
The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu is working closely with Nepali authorities to ensure the safety and well-being of Indian pilgrims undertaking the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through Nepal, particularly in cases involving documentation issues, medical emergencies and adverse weather, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh informed the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.
In a written reply, Singh said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had received several requests for assistance from Indian citizens who were stranded in Nepal after travelling for the pilgrimage without obtaining the required Chinese visas and entry permits through private tour operators.
He said the MEA had issued an advisory on June 27, 2026, urging pilgrims not to begin their journey from India until they had secured all the necessary travel documents required for the yatra.
The ministry warned that travelling without confirmed visas and permits, or in the expectation of obtaining them later, significantly increases the risk of being stranded in Nepal.
The advisory also urged pilgrims to verify that their chosen tour operator is duly registered and authorised before undertaking the pilgrimage.
Singh told Parliament that the MEA-organised Kailash Mansarovar Yatra was suspended between 2020 and 2024 following the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent non-renewal of pilgrimage arrangements by the Chinese authorities.
He said the Indian government consistently raised the issue with China through diplomatic channels, resulting in the resumption of the pilgrimage in 2025. According to Singh, 688 pilgrims participated in the MEA-organised Kailash Mansarovar Yatra last year.
Highlighting the assistance provided to Indian nationals in Nepal, Singh said the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu maintains close coordination with local authorities whenever pilgrims face challenges arising from bad weather, health emergencies or documentation-related issues.
“The Embassy of India in Kathmandu maintains effective coordination with Nepali authorities and other stakeholders to ensure the safety and well-being of Indian pilgrims. This includes activities such as timely evacuation, shelter, medical treatment and other support to Indian nationals, wherever required,” Singh said.
In a separate written reply, Singh clarified that the government does not provide direct financial assistance, subsidies or reimbursements to individual Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims, including senior citizens and economically weaker sections.
He said the pilgrimage is conducted on a self-financing basis, with the MEA facilitating transport, accommodation, meals, medical examinations, guides and other logistical arrangements. The ministry also coordinates with the governments of China and the Indian states of Uttarakhand and Sikkim to ensure the smooth conduct of the annual pilgrimage.
