Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Set To Resume In 2025 After Four-Year Suspension, Preparation Underway: MEA

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Thursday that India and China have scheduled to resume the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, a sacred pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar in Tibet, after it remained suspended since 2020.

The MEA spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, confirmed in a weekly media briefing that preparations for the yatra are underway and a public notice will soon be issued, according to ANI.

"The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra will happen this year, and we are making preparations. We will soon issue a public notice regarding the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. There is a possibility of resumption of the Yatra soon," said Jaiswal, adding that thousands of devotees are awaiting for reopening of the sacred pilgrimage route.

Direct Flights For Yatra

The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra has remained on hold since the COVID-19 outbreak. However, India and China have now reached a broad agreement to resume direct air connectivity, with technical teams from both sides currently working out the necessary details and a revised framework.

According to MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, direct flights were discussed between both nations during Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri's visit to Beijing in January 2025.

"In principle, both countries have agreed that flight operations will resume. The technical teams on both sides are looking into the technical arrangements for the flight services to resume. When the foreign secretary had visited Beijing, both sides had agreed to resume direct air services. It was also agreed that relevant technical authorities would meet and negotiate. An updated framework is necessary to initiate direct flight services. The two civil aviation authorities have met and are discussing the relevant modalities, including the updated framework," Jaiswal said.

"I don't have a timeline at this point in time, but technical level discussions are happening, which means that things are moving in the right direction," he added.

Addressing the issue of visas, Jaiswal mentioned that talks are underway with China on multiple levels. "We are having talks with China regarding visas, and it is happening at multiple levels. During the talks, we discussed several issues, including people-to-people ties, connectivity, direct air services, and the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. So it's evident that when we talk about these issues, in the matter of visa, there will be some kind of consensus between the two countries," he further added.

The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is highly significant for followers of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, and its resumption is expected to strengthen tourism and interpersonal exchanges between the two nations.

This renewed cooperation comes as the two countries prepare to mark 75 years of diplomatic ties, an opportunity both sides plan to use to boost public diplomacy and promote greater mutual understanding.

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