Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Begins: Lipulekh Pass Pilgrimage Now Mostly Vehicle- All You Need To Know | Today’s news
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami flagged off the first batch of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through Lipulekh Pass from Tanakpur in Champawat on Sunday.
Addressing the pilgrims, the Chief Minister said he prayed to Lord Shiva for their safe, smooth and peaceful journey, adding that the yatra is a matter of divine blessings and devotion.
He noted that in a country of 1.4 billion people, only 49 pilgrims were selected for this rare spiritual journey, which he called a reflection of Lord Shiva’s grace.
“Praying to Lord Shiva for your pleasant, smooth and safe Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. May Mahadev bless you all. As I said at the beginning, his grace is truly upon you; otherwise, in a country of 1.4 billion, only 49 people got this rare opportunity. From the sacred land of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand, the first duty of the group is not the flag for me, but only the flagging. an opportunity to bow at the feet of Lord Shiva and remember him through you, it is a moment of great devotion,” said CM Dhami.
Kailash Manasarovar Yatra is undertaken by thousands of pilgrims every year through two different routes – Lipulekh Pass (Uttarakhand) and Nathu La Pass (Sikkim).
Kailash Manasarovar Yatra 2026
As the annual pilgrimage kicked off, the Border Roads Organization (BRO) said the route for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra via Lipulekh Pass has been upgraded to a mostly vehicular corridor after extensive road infrastructure work, improving accessibility for pilgrims and improving connectivity in the border region.
“With sustained efforts in one of the toughest terrains in the world, 765 BRTF under Project Hirak @BRO transformed the pilgrimage route through Lipulekh Pass,” BRO said in a post on X.
“What was once an arduous trek has now largely become a vehicle journey, making the Yatra safer, faster and more accessible, while improving strategic border connectivity and improving the lives of remote border communities,” he added.
According to the organization, improved road infrastructure also strengthens strategic border connectivity and contributes to the development of remote border villages by improving access and mobility.
Kailash Manasarovar Yatra
The Kailash Manasarovar Yatra is organized by the Ministry of External Affairs from June to August/September every year and is open to eligible Indian citizens holding valid Indian passports.
Application for Kailash Manasarovar Yatra 2026 closed on 19 May.
Kailash Manasarovar Yatra Routes, Costs & More
The Kailash Manasarovar Yatra via Lipulekh Pass is open for a total of 10 batches and has a duration of about 22 days. The estimated cost per person is Rs.2.09 Lakh.
The Kailash Manasarovar Yatra via the second route, Nathu La (Sikkim) is also open for 10 batches and has a duration of about 21 days. The estimated cost per person for Kailash Manasarovar Yatra via Nathu La is Rs. 3.31 lakhs.
