India and China signed a six-point agreement in Beijing this week to improve relations strained since the 2020 Galwan clash. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs announced that the discussions included the potential resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, which has been on hold for four years.
Kailash Mansarovar holds spiritual significance for Hindus, who believe it to be the abode of Lord Shiva. It is also revered by Buddhists, Jains, and other religious practitioners. Nepali travel agencies facilitating the pilgrimage are eager for Indian pilgrims to return, as their visits significantly contribute to Nepal’s tourism industry.
Krishna Prasad Dhakal, managing director of Kathmandu Holiday Tours and Travels, highlighted the economic challenges caused by China’s restriction on Indian access to Kailash Mansarovar.
“The closure has impacted hotel occupancy and transportation businesses, especially those catering to Indian tourists. Forty percent of Indian pilgrims spend time in Nepal during their journey,” he explained.
Nepal offers three popular routes to Kailash Mansarovar. The first is via Nepalgunj and Humla-Simikot. Indian pilgrims often travel from Nepalgunj to Hilsa in Humla by helicopter before proceeding to Kailash. The second route is through the Rasuwagadhi checkpoint, which 50 percent of Indian pilgrims reportedly use. The third option involves flying directly to Lhasa and traveling to Mansarovar from there.
Tourist-oriented hotels in Nepalgunj, Humla, Hilsa, and Rasuwagadhi have long relied on Indian pilgrims. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Indian visitors to Kailash Mansarovar steadily increased, reaching over 18,000 in 2019. Businesses are optimistic about a resurgence if China reopens the pilgrimage to Indians.
Travel companies have already begun accepting bookings for the 2025 season. Narayan Prasad Pokharel, managing director of Fishtail Tours and Travel Pvt. Ltd., reported that tour operators have booked over 2,500 pilgrims. Many of these travelers are from countries like the US, UK, Malaysia, and Singapore, where Indian diaspora communities are prevalent.
Despite this progress, Pokharel noted that there has been no official confirmation from China regarding Indian access to Kailash Mansarovar. “We are hopeful that the 2025 season will see the tour reopened to Indian pilgrims,” he said. However, he clarified that bookings targeting Indian pilgrims will only commence after official approval to avoid the issues faced in previous years when expectations were not met.
Businessmen predict that if the tour opens to Indian pilgrims for the 2025 season, more than 25,000 Indian tourists will visit Kailash Mansarovar via Nepal, providing a much-needed boost to the tourism sector.
