After a five-year suspension, the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra is set to resume this summer, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry. The pilgrimage, a significant cultural exchange between China and India, was initially halted in 2020.
Spokesman Guo Jiakun highlighted the mountain and lake's sacred importance to Tibetan Buddhists and Hindus. Both sides are currently advancing preparations for the pilgrimage, as agreed upon by China and India.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced the yatra will occur from June to August via Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand and Nathu La in Sikkim. Five batches of 50 yatris each will travel through Uttarakhand, and ten batches of 50 yatris each will travel through Sikkim.
The yatra was initially suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic and later due to the military standoff in eastern Ladakh. Following troop disengagement and talks between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping, efforts to normalize relations have been underway.
Reviving the yatra is seen as a key step in normalizing relations between the two countries. This year marks the 75th anniversary of China-India diplomatic ties, with Beijing expressing readiness to advance bilateral relations.