A Complete Guide to the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra for Indian Citizens in 2025. Over the years, Indians have contributed to making the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra a famous pilgrimage. Since Mount Kailash is believed to be the home of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, the Kailash pilgrimage is a means for people to connect with Lord Shiva.
The pursuit of Moksha, or liberation, is another important factor. Completing the Kailash Kora, or circumambulation of Mount Kailash, is thought to provide Moksha and break the cycle of birth and death. Similarly, taking a dip at Lake Mansarovar is believed to cleanse the soul.
This Kailash Mansarovar yatra has played a significant role in Indian cultural and spiritual traditions for ages. However, reopening for Indian people and periods of pause have made the process difficult.
Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic caused the yatra to be stopped from 2020 to 2023. Due to many factors, the Yatra has now been made available to people other than Indians.
By 2025, things are going to alter. In the summer of 2025, the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra will formally restart after discussions between China and India earlier this month.
In 2025, would Indians be able to visit Kailash Mansarovar?
Many people want to know if the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is still available to Indian nationals in 2025. Yes, indeed! In 2025, the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra will be accessible to Indians. The yatra is expected to formally resume in the summer.
Indian passport holders’ eligibility and permits for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra
Indian passport holders must fulfill specific conditions and secure the necessary licenses in order to participate in the Kailash Mansarovar trip in 2025.
Requirements for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra:
Age restriction:
Visitors to Kailash Mansarovar must be between the ages of 12 and 80.
Health Conditions:
Due to the great altitude of the area, visiting Kailash Mansarovar requires physical fitness. Therefore, you need a certificate of medical fitness.
Required Paperwork for the Yatra of Kailash Mansarovar:
- Travelers must have current passport-size pictures and a valid passport.
- A Chinese visa and a Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) travel permit are required for visitors. According to the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, the Chinese visa must be sought via the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi rather than the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu.
- A licensed tour operator is the only source of the military permit and the alien’s travel permit, which travelers need to get.
The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra registration procedure:
- Travelers must make their travel arrangements through a certified travel agency or tour operator because individual applications are not accepted.
- Travelers should provide the required paperwork, including copies of their passports and photos when reserving the Kailash Mansarovar tour package.
- On behalf of the tourists, the tour operator then applies for a Tibet travel permit.
- The agency will apply for a Group Tourist Visa from the Chinese Embassy upon approval of the permission. Since it is forbidden to visit Kailash Mansarovar alone, visitors must go in groups that are planned by tour companies.
Which is the best route for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra from India?
The Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, organized two main routes for Indian tourists to travel to Kailash Mansarovar over the years: the Lipu Lekh Pass in Uttarakhand and the Nathu La Pass in Sikkim. In addition, it took between 21 to 23 days to do the Mount Kailash Pilgrimage using these routes, which made it a difficult trek for pilgrims and tourists.
Thanks to the fast and easy routes from Nepal, Indian travelers no longer have to worry about the lengthy journey. There are several ways to get from Nepal to Kailash Mansarovar.
Route between Simikot and Hilsa
Only a small plane can fly from Nepalgunj to Simikot, a distant town in the Humla region of northwest Nepal. Similarly, visitors may take a helicopter to Hilsa, a border settlement in Humla that is located directly on the Nepal-Tibet border. It takes 16 to 20 days to do the Kailash trip on this route. It consists of a flight from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj to Simikot, followed by a drive to Kailash Mansarovar, where the Parikrama is completed, and a return trip. The trip gets stressful because it involves several transfers. Additionally, flights to Simikot and Hilsa are expected to be delayed due to weather conditions.
Rasuwagadhi-Kerung Route
About 125 kilometers north of Kathmandu, in the Rasuwa district, lies Rasuwagadhi, a border post that can be reached by car in 6–7 hours. Similar to Rasuwagadhi, Kerung is a border town in Tibet, located close to the Nepal-Tibet border. Due to straight overland travel, this route is far smoother and quicker, requiring just 10 to 15 days to complete the journey.
Helicopter route to Kailash Mansarovar
Furthermore, a helicopter route to Kailash Mansarovar is available. This does not imply that you can fly over Mount Kailash directly. Why not, if you’re wondering? The Chinese authorities in charge of the area forbid helicopters from flying above the holy mountain. Taking a helicopter from Kathmandu to Timure, a tiny Nepalese town close to the Tibet border, is part of the helicopter route to Kailash Mansarovar. It’s an overland trip from there. For people who are time-constrained and dislike lengthy car trips, this helicopter option is ideal.
Lucknow and Nepalgunj routes
Travelers can also use the Lucknow and Nepalgunj routes to complete the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. Travelers and pilgrims take this road, which takes four to five hours to drive from Lucknow, India to Nepalgunj, Nepal. From Nepalgunj, passengers fly to Simikot, then fly to Hilsa by helicopter, and then drive to Lake Mansarovar from Hilsa. This trip might be quicker, but it involves a lot of transfers, which can be very taxing.
The cost of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra for Indians in 2025
The price of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra for Indians varies according to the routes, means of transportation, and package that is chosen.
For Indians, an overland tour from Kathmandu is expected to cost between INR 2 lakhs and 2.5 lakhs per person. It involves going via Kyirong on the way from Kathmandu. In the same way, a helicopter tour of Kailash Mansarovar from Kathmandu costs about INR 3 lakhs.
It costs about INR 3.2 lakhs to travel via Nepalgunj and Simikot. The least expensive alternative is to use the Indian government-organized Lipulekh Pass route across Uttarakhand. This is expected to cost between INR 1.8 lakhs and 2 lakhs per individual. The cost of the Nathu La Pass route via Sikkim is little more than that of the Lipulekh Pass route. The price range is between INR 2.2 and 2.4 lakhs.
The Ideal Time to Travel from India to Kailash Mansarovar
Only seven months of the year, from April to mid-October, is Kailash Mansarovar open. Due to weather and climatic circumstances, travel is banned during other months. May through June or September through October are the ideal months to go from India to Kailash Mansarovar. The climate is pleasant and controllable throughout these months.
Advice for Indian tourists visiting Kailash Mansarovar Yatra
The following crucial advice can help Indian tourists have a smooth trip to Kailash:
- To minimize crowds and overbooked facilities, schedule the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra between May and September, avoiding full moon days. However, be sure to make reservations in advance if you intend to visit during the full moon days.
- Engage in activities like hiking, yoga, walking, running, and more three months before the trip.
- Before beginning the Yatra, have a complete physical examination.
- If you’re sick, don’t force yourself togo ahead Kailash Parikrama. For your own and your travel group’s safety, you can always skip the parikrama.
- Develop the practice of researching the weather before you go. Avoid traveling while it’s raining a lot or when the weather is awful.
- Make sure you get the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) travel permit and Chinese visa from the travel agency or tour organizer.
- For your protection, choose travel insurance that includes evacuation, emergency medical assistance, and high altitude illness coverage.
- Remember to include any prescription drugs you may need, such as Diamox for severe altitude sickness.
- To prevent altitude sickness, make sure you stay hydrated throughout the journey.
- Bring enough cash because there won’t be any ATMs available while traveling. (The Chinese Yuan is required.)
- Due to Tibet’s restriction on other applications, use a SIM card with international roaming and install WeChat.
- Warm layers, windproof jackets, thermal clothing, gloves, wool socks, hiking shoes, trekking poles, sunscreen, toiletries, dried fruits, and energy bars are essentials to bring.
- It is forbidden to dip directly into Lake Mansarovar. However, you are permitted to bathe with holy water that you have collected in a bucket from the lake.
