The Kailash Manasarovar Yatra is a sacred, annual religious pilgrimage to Mount Kailash (6,638 meters) and Lake Manasarovar (4,590 meters), both located in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. It is considered a spiritual journey of immense importance for followers of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and the Bon religion. For Hindus, Mount Kailash is the abode of Lord Shiva, and Lake Manasarovar, whose name means "Lake of Consciousness," is believed to have been created in the mind of Lord Brahma.
The Yatra is organized annually by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India in collaboration with the Government of China. The system of an organized Yatra from India has been in use since 1981. The pilgrimage's core mechanism involves traveling to the region and performing the Kailash Kora or Parikrama, a circumambulation around Mount Kailash.
Historically, the MEA-organized Yatra used two main overland routes: the traditional route via the Lipulekh Pass (5,334 m) in Uttarakhand and a second, more motorable route via the Nathu La Pass in Sikkim (introduced in 2015). The Yatra was suspended from 2020 to 2024 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and India-China military tensions along the Line of Actual Control. The Yatra resumed in 2025, with the MEA announcing the resumption for 2026 to be conducted between June and August. The Lipulekh Pass route is open for 2026, with a new motorable road built by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) now reaching the pass, significantly reducing the trekking component. Pilgrims must travel in a group and obtain a Tibet Travel Permit, an Aliens Travel Permit, and a Chinese Group Visa. The Yatra connects to the broader concept of India-China religious diplomacy.