New Delhi: The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, a sacred pilgrimage for thousands, is set to resume in 2025 after a five-year hiatus, signaling a significant thaw in India-China relations. This development follows a series of diplomatic engagements, including a pivotal meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping in Kazan, Russia. The resumption of the yatra highlights the constructive dialogue between India and China, with ongoing discussions aimed at finalizing the modalities for the pilgrimage.
An understanding has been reached between India and China to restart the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in 2025. However, the specifics of how the pilgrimage will be conducted remain to be finalized. The yatra will take place between June and September, utilizing the traditional routes via Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand and Nathu La Pass in Sikkim. The pilgrimage was suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent non-renewal of arrangements by the Chinese side.
In a move to enhance connectivity for the pilgrimage, India and China agreed in January to restore direct flights. This decision follows a series of constructive dialogues between the two nations, initiated after the Kazan meeting. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reviewed bilateral ties and the yatra’s resumption during the G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting in Johannesburg. Their discussions underscored the commitment to peace and tranquility along border areas, setting a positive backdrop for the yatra’s revival.
