The External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has announced that the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through the Nathu La route in Sikkim will resume this year.
Pilgrimage was stopped by China in the aftermath of the military face-off with India last year at Doklam.
However, the announcement was made during talks between Sushma Swaraj and her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing on Sunday.
Registration for Kailash Manasarovar Yatra organized by Ministry of External Affairs was commenced on 20 February, 2018. Last date for registration was 23 March, 2018.
This year the Yatra is scheduled during the period 08 June to 08 September through two routes.
There are two routes for this Yatra. The route through Lipulekh Pass (Uttarakhand), which involves some trekking is estimated to cost about Rs.1.6 lakh per person. It will be conducted in 18 batches of 60 pilgrims each. The duration of the Yatra is 24 days for each batch including 3 days in Delhi for preparatory work. This route passes through important sites like Narayan Ashram, Patal Bhuvaneshwar etc. Yatris can also see the scenic beauty of Chialekh Valley, or the ‘Om Parvat’ which has the natural occurrence of snow in the shape of ‘Om’ on this mountain.
The route through Nathu La Pass (Sikkim) is motorable and suitable for senior citizens unable to undertake arduous trekking. From Gangtok the route passes through scenic places like Hangu lake, and through the vast landscape of the Tibetan plateau. It is estimated to cost about Rs.2 lakhs person, and duration would be 21 days including 3 days in Delhi for preparatory work. This year 10 batches of 50 pilgrims each are scheduled for this route.
Hindusthan Samachar/Shri Ram Shaw
