The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra has once again made headlines after nearly 400 pilgrims, including at least 108 Indians , went missing following devastating flash floods in Nepal’s Rasuwa district near the Tibet border.
The floodwater came from the Tibetan side of the border, causing extensive damage and washing away several villages in Nepal, according to news agency AFP.
It is officially organised by the Ministry of External Affairs in collaboration with the Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam. recent road development now extends almost up to the border While it traditionally involves high-altitude trekking. Lipulekh Pass Route (Uttarakhand): This route begins in Delhi and passes through Almora and Dharchula before continuing as a trek via Gunji and the Lipulekh Pass (5,200 metres) into Tibet.
The 2026 yatra resumed on a large scale after years of disruption, with thousands of Indians participating through government and private routes.
Nathu La Pass (Sikkim): The route travels from Delhi to Gangtok, crosses the Nathu La Pass and continues into Tibet with vehicle support. Kathmandu (Nepal): Pilgrims fly or drive from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj or Simikot and then travel via Hilsa or overland into Tibet. Unlike the government-organised routes, this one is managed by private tour operators. It is highly flexible and popular, with helicopter options available to avoid arduous trekking. However, the current flash floods have hit this route the hardest. To visit Kailash Mansarovar, travellers must obtain a Chinese visa, a Tibet Group visa, and specialised regional entry permits processed exclusively through approved tour operators or government bodies. Independent travel is not allowed. TgQPHd|||[]
Conducted through government channels, it involves less trekking and more vehicular travel, making it relatively easier for senior citizens, though the journey still takes over 20 days. The Ministry of External Affairs {C}%3C!%2D%2DTgQPHd%7C%7C%7C%5B%5B%26quot%3Bhttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.mea.gov.in%2Fpress-releases%3Fdtl%2F41365%26quot%3B%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2Cnull%2Cnull%2Cnull%2Cnull%2Cnull%2Cnull%2Cnull%2Cnull%2Cnull%2Cnull%2Cnull%2Cnull%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%7B%26quot%3B1218%26quot%3B%3A%5B16%5D%7D%5D%5D%2C16%2Cnull%2C%26quot%3BAdvisory%20for%20Indian%20Citizens%20undertaking%20Kailash%20Manasarovar%20…%26quot%3B%2C%26quot%3BAdvisory%20for%20Indian%20Citizens%20undertaking%20Kailash%20Manasarovar%20Yatra%20through%20tours%20by%20private%20tour%20operators.%20This%20Ministry%20is%20in%20receipt%20of%20several%20requests%20for%20help%20and%20assistance%20from%20Indian%20citizens%20stuck%20in%20Nepal%20while%20undertaking%20Kailash%20Mansarovar%20Yatra%20without%20the%20required%20entry%20permit%20and%20visas%20for%20China%2C%20through%20tours%20organized%20by%20private%20tour%20operators.%202.%20Citizens%20are%20advised%20not%20to%20commence%20their%20journey%20from%20India%20until%20all%20required%20travel%20documents%20have%20been%20obtained%20for%20undertaking%20the%20complete%20journey.%20Commencing%20travel%20without%20confirmed%20documentation%20or%20in%20anticipation%20of%20obtaining%20the%20necessary%20documentation%20increases%20the%20likelihood%20of%20being%20stranded.%203.%20Pilgrims%20are%20also%20strongly%20advised%20…%26quot%3B%2C%26quot%3Bhttps%3A%2F%2Fencrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com%2Fimages%3Fq%5Cu003dtbn%3AANd9GcQsIOA6RyATvhoXyFpgPrfPh4MnBruIr0dbR4mhMleE32a3xV68coaw8c9Jf-D14bRA6dg-9rmos9V0DXI%26quot%3B%2C%26quot%3BMinistry%20of%20External%20Affairs%26quot%3B%2C%26quot%3Bhttps%3A%2F%2Fencrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com%2FfaviconV2%3Furl%5Cu003dhttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.mea.gov.in%5Cu0026client%5Cu003dAIM%5Cu0026size%5Cu003d128%5Cu0026type%5Cu003dFAVICON%5Cu0026fallback_opts%5Cu003dTYPE%2CSIZE%2CURL%26quot%3B%2C%5B%5B1787754074172829%2C107770345%2C1108647293%5D%2Cnull%2Cnull%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5B2%2C0%2C0%2C34%5D%5D%5D%2Cnull%2C%26quot%3B82c490b9-19c5-4926-aaf0-ad8e21302507%26quot%3B%5D%5D%2D%2D%3E strongly warns pilgrims not to start their journey or move into transit areas like Nepal until all Chinese visas and travel permits are physically confirmed and issued to avoid being stranded.
Through Government (MEA): TgQPHd|||[] Indian citizens can apply through the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Portal TgQPHd|||[[“https://kmy.gov.in/howToApply?langu003den”,null,null,[null,null,null,null,null,null,null,null,null,null,null,null,null,null,null,[{“1218″:[16]}]],16,null,”Applying for Kailash Manasarovar Yatra”,”Conditions for Application (a) Applicant should possess an ordinary Indian passport valid for at least six months as on 01 September of the current year. (b) It is the applicant’s responsibility to feed accurate information complete in every respect including name spellings,date of birth etc. (c) Incorrect or false information, concealing any material facts in the application form will be ground for disqualification at any stage, including during the Yatra. All payments made earlier will, thus, be forfeited. (d) Applicants are required to indicate their choice for both the routes in the order of their preferences. (e) Applicants can also select a place as END-POINT to terminate their Yatra on return leg: (i)Route-1 (Lipulekh): DHARCHULA or DELHI. (ii)Route-2 (NathuLa): GANGTOK or DELHI. (f) All fields in the application format are compulsory.”,null,”Kmy.gov.in”,”https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/faviconV2?urlu003dhttps://kmy.gov.inu0026clientu003dAIMu0026sizeu003d128u0026typeu003dFAVICONu0026fallback_optsu003dTYPE,SIZE,URL”,[[1787754074172829,107770345,1108647293],null,null,null,null,[[2,0,0,29]]],null,”12d5049f-aa6c-42b9-bc68-af58539ec8af”]] when applications are open, subject to age limits (typically 18–70 years) and fitness criteria.
