In a significant step towards normalising India-China ties since the border standoff began in 2020, New Delhi announced on Saturday that it will resume the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra from June this year. The resumption of the yatra after a gap of five years is an important measure towards rebuilding the trust deficit that emerged since the border standoff in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed in Galwan. This is the first move taken after the disengagement process was completed in eastern Ladakh, where 50,000 to 60,000 troops are still stationed along the India-China border. The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra was on top of India’s wishlist since the talks to normalise the ties began in November this year. On Saturday, the Ministry of External Affairs said, “Kailash Mansarovar Yatra organised by Ministry of External Affairs is set to take place during June to August 2025.” “This year, 5 batches, each consisting of 50 Yatris, and 10 batches, each consisting of 50 Yatris, are scheduled to travel through Uttarakhand State crossing over at Lipulekh Pass, and through Sikkim State crossing over at Nathu La Pass, respectively,” the ministry said. “The website at kmy.gov.in has been opened for acceptance of applications. The Yatris will be selected from among applicants through a fair, computer-generated, random and gender-balanced selection process.” Considering that the route has been largely unused for civilians for the past five years, it will be a challenge to organise that pilgrimage. The pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and Mansarovar Lake in China's Tibet Autonomous Region holds religious significance to Hindus as well as Jains and Buddhists. The yatra was suspended initially in 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequently because of the military standoff between the two sides on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. The negotiations for the yatra picked pace after Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s visit to China in January, where the two countries agreed in principle to resume it. The resumption of the yatra was officially discussed for the first time when External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in November 2024 on the sidelines of the G-20 leaders’ summit in Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro. It was again discussed at the Special Representatives meet in Beijing between National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in December. With the yatra beginning in June, the focus will now shift to the remaining items on the wish-list, that includes the sharing of data on trans-border rivers, direct flights, easing of visas and exchange of media and think tanks between the two countries.
