The Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra is a sacred spiritual pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar, located in the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China. It is revered by four major faiths: Hindus believe Mount Kailash is the eternal abode of Lord Shiva, Buddhists consider it the home of the deity Demchok, Jains regard it as the site where the first Tirthankara, Rishabhdev, attained liberation, and the Bon religion also holds it sacred. The pilgrimage involves a 52 km circumambulation (Parikrama or Kora) of Mount Kailash and a holy dip in Lake Mansarovar, which is believed to cleanse sins and lead to Moksha (liberation).
The Yatra's origins are ancient, with references in Hindu texts like the Rigveda and Puranas. The modern, organized pilgrimage for Indian citizens was first allowed in 1954 but was restricted after the 1959 Tibetan uprising and closed completely after the 1962 Sino-Indian War. It was officially resumed in 1981 following a new agreement between the governments of India and China.
The Yatra is primarily organized by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India, and pilgrims are selected through a computerized lottery system. The MEA-organized routes include the arduous high-altitude trek via Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand and the motorable route via Nathu La Pass in Sikkim. Since the sites are in China, the mechanism requires Indian pilgrims to obtain a Chinese Group Visa, a Tibet Travel Permit (TTP), and an Alien's Travel Permit (ATP), and they must travel in groups.
The Yatra was paused from 2020 to 2023 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions, but it officially resumed for Indian pilgrims in 2025. A recent development is the upgrading of the road between Dharchula and Lipulekh Pass, which is expected to significantly shorten the journey that previously required an eight-to-nine-day trek.