Kailash Mansarovar Yatra: Government proposes Shipki La Pass as additional pilgrimage route

Key facts

• The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is in dialogue with China to explore opening the Shipki La Pass in Himachal Pradesh as an additional route for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.
• The MEA successfully organised the pilgrimage between June and August 2025 through the Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand and Nathu La Pass in Sikkim.
• The programme is conducted in coordination with the state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Sikkim, and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
• The yatra is managed on a self-financing basis, providing pilgrims with transportation, accommodation, food, medical tests, and guides.
• Safety protocols for the pilgrimage include provisions for airlifting pilgrims by helicopter on the Indian side in the event of medical emergencies.
• The pilgrimage is of spiritual significance to followers of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Bon.