New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs has advised Indian citizens planning to undertake the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra through private tour operators not to begin their journey until they have obtained all mandatory travel documents. This advisory comes after dozens of pilgrims were stranded in Nepal for lack of the required Chinese entry permits.
The MEA received multiple requests from Indian pilgrims who travelled to Nepal as part of privately organized tours but were unable to proceed into China’s Tibet Autonomous Region because they did not possess the mandatory Chinese visa and entry permit.
The ministry said travellers should not leave India unless all documentation required for the entire pilgrimage has been secured in advance. It cautioned that commencing the journey in anticipation of receiving permits later significantly increases the risk of being stranded and requiring consular assistance.
The ministry also urged prospective pilgrims to ensure that the tour operator handling their travel is duly registered and authorized. It said verifying an operator’s credentials before booking the pilgrimage could help prevent avoidable disruptions and logistical complications.
The advisory came after around 52 Indian pilgrims were reportedly left stranded in Kathmandu after travelling through private operators without obtaining the mandatory documentation required for entry into China. The incident prompted appeals for government intervention to facilitate their onward journey.
Unlike pilgrims travelling under the government-organized Kailash Manasarovar Yatra, participants using private operators are responsible for ensuring that all travel formalities, including Chinese visas, Tibet travel permits and other clearances, are completed before departure.
The Kailash Manasarovar Yatra, regarded as one of the holiest pilgrimages for Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and followers of the Bon faith, resumed after nearly five years as India and China gradually restored bilateral exchanges following improvements in relations. The pilgrimage had been suspended in 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic and remained on hold amid the prolonged military standoff between the two countries along the line of actual control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.
For the 2026 season, the pilgrimage is being conducted through the traditional Lipulekh pass in Uttarakhand and the Nathu-la route in Sikkim under arrangements coordinated by the MEA in consultation with the Chinese authorities. The government-run pilgrimage involves a structured selection process, mandatory medical examinations and coordinated travel clearances before pilgrims are allowed to depart.
The latest advisory underscores the government’s effort to prevent a repeat of recent incidents in Nepal and serves as a reminder that possession of a valid passport alone is insufficient for undertaking the cross-border pilgrimage. Pilgrims travelling through private operators must ensure that every required permit and visa has been issued before commencing the journey.