Pilgrimage to proceed via Lipulekh and Nathu La passes; applications open on official portal with computerised, transparent selection process
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Saturday that the revered Kailash Manasarovar Yatra will officially resume between June and August 2025, after a three-year suspension caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Applications are now open on the official website (kmy.gov.in), with selection set to take place through a fair, computer-generated, random, and gender-balanced process.
This year’s Yatra will see five batches of 50 pilgrims each travelling via Uttarakhand’s Lipulekh Pass, and ten batches of 50 pilgrims each through Sikkim’s Nathu La Pass. Since 2015, the entire application and selection process has been fully digitised, ensuring complete transparency and efficiency without the need for manual correspondence.
The pilgrimage is scheduled to begin on June 30, 2025, jointly organised by the Government of Uttarakhand and the Ministry of External Affairs. Special efforts by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami have facilitated the Yatra’s resumption, with the Adi Kailash Yatra initiative playing a significant role in improving accessibility to the traditional routes.
Earlier this week, detailed discussions regarding the Yatra’s safe conduct were held at the MEA in New Delhi. It was decided that the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra-2025 will be operated by Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam. Pilgrims will commence their journey from Delhi, with stops at Tanakpur, Dharchula, Gunji, and Nabhidang before crossing into China via Lipulekh Pass.
The first group of pilgrims is expected to enter China on July 10, 2025, while the final group will return by August 22, 2025. Each batch’s complete journey will last 22 days, concluding with the return to Delhi after stops at Bundi, Chaukori, and Almora.
Mandatory health check-ups will be conducted at Delhi and subsequently at Gunji, with assistance from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). The MEA has advised all applicants to closely follow the official guidelines and updates available on the portal to ensure a safe and smooth pilgrimage experience.
