The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has announced the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra 2025 officially, after a four-year suspension. The Yatra, of great spiritual importance to Hindus, Jains, and Buddhists, will be conducted between June and August. The government has picked 750 pilgrims through a computerised and gender-balanced draw to ensure an inclusive and transparent process.

These yatris will go by batches through two fully motorable routes—Lipulekh and Nathu La. The MEA has also published exhaustive travel information on the official Yatra portal.

Fair Selection Process for the Pilgrimage

On May 21, Union Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh organized the digital draw from New Delhi. As many as 5,561 individuals had registered online for the Yatra successfully. The computerized draw selected 750 names randomly, ensuring gender balance.

The ministry sent out intimation to all winners informing them via SMS and email. Pilgrims can now access their travel details by logging on to the official Yatra website, https://kmy.gov.in.

Route Details and Group Allocation

This year’s Kailash Mansarovar Yatra will be conducted on motorable roads only, eliminating the challenging treks. Five groups of 50 pilgrims each will travel through the Lipulekh route. The Nathu La route will also have ten groups of 50 pilgrims. Two liaison officers, trained for the purpose, will accompany each of these groups to guide and assist them throughout the journey.

These routes provide a safer and easier route to the sacred sites—Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar in Tibet.

Yatra Resumes After Diplomatic Progress

The COVID-19 pandemic and the military confrontation with China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh caused India to halt the Yatra in 2020.

The tensions dissipated after the two nations disengaged from the last two points of friction—Demchok and Depsang—on October 21 last year. In January, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held talks with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong in Beijing. The two agreed to resume the Yatra and brought in some people-centric steps to stabilise bilateral relations.

The revival of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra 2025 reflects a new spirit of collaboration between India and China. It also provides pilgrims with a special chance to undertake a spiritually uplifting journey many cherish dearly. With better access and robust logistic support, the pilgrimage is expected to be safe and memorable.