The Chinese Embassy in India said it will facilitate travel for 1,000 Indian pilgrims for the 2026 Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, embassy spokesperson Yu Jing announced on Friday. In a post on X, Yu welcomed the resumption of the pilgrimage to Kangrinboqe Feng and Mapam Yuco (Kailash Mansarovar) in the Xizang Autonomous Region and said, “We are pleased to facilitate 1,000 Indian pilgrims this year. May this Yatra become a bridge of faith, friendship, and people-to-people bonds between our two great civilizations.”
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the Yatra, organised in coordination with the Government of China, is scheduled to run from June to August 2026. The MEA outlined that 1,000 pilgrims will travel in 20 batches: 10 batches of 50 pilgrims each via the Uttarakhand route through Lipulekh Pass, and 10 batches of 50 each via the Sikkim route through Nathu La Pass.
Applications are open at kmy.gov.in. The MEA said yatris will be chosen through a fair, computer-generated, random and gender-balanced selection process. The entire application and selection procedure is fully computerized; applicants must register and apply online. Prospective pilgrims are advised not to send letters or faxes and to use the website’s feedback options for queries, observations, or suggestions to improve the Yatra. Applicants may indicate both routes in order of priority or choose a single route. The last date to register is May 19, 2026.
The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is organised annually by the MEA, typically between June and August (sometimes extending into September), via the Lipulekh (Uttarakhand) and Nathu La (Sikkim) routes. The pilgrimage draws hundreds each year and is an important spiritual journey for Hindus, who revere Mount Kailash as the abode of Lord Shiva; it also holds religious significance for Jains and Buddhists. The Yatra is open to eligible Indian citizens holding valid Indian passports.
