Motorable route to Kailash-Mansarovar to open in June -Governance Now

Motorable route to Kailash-Mansarovar to open in June

Modi announces the second route for the pilgrims that passes through Tibet

GN Bureau | May 15, 2015

#Kailash #Mansarovar #China #Tibet #India #pilgrimage

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday announced that the second route for the Kailash-Manasarovar Yatra will become operational next month (June), allowing more Indians to undertake the pilgrimage.

“The Nathu La route for Indian pilgrims to visit Kailash Mansarovar will become operational in June. I want to thank China for that,” the Prime Minister said in Beijing.

The Nathu La pass is a motorable route and comfortable to use. The old and people with mobility issues can also go this time by car till Mount Mansarovar.The Nathu La pass, 4,000 metres above sea level, will allow more Indians to undertake the pilgrimage, in addition to the existing Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand.

The only route – Lipulekh Pass – was badly damaged in the floods in Uttarakhand in 2013.

The Ministry of External Affairs currently takes more than 1,000 pilgrims a year in 18 batches involving a 22-day journey and officials expect that the number of pilgrims could rise considerably once the new route is opened.

Modalities for opening the second route for the Kailash- Manasarovar Yatra in Tibet via Sikkim by June were finalised on February 1 when External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj went to China.

China had promised opening the new route for the Yatra during president Xi Jinping maiden visit to New Delhi in September last year and the two sides had agreed to work closely to ensure smooth commencement of the pilgrimage through the new route.

Modi had made a strong pitch for the second route during his first meeting with Xi on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Brazil.

The new motorable route is via Nathu La on the India-China border from east Sikkim to Shigatse, the second biggest city in Tibet.

Eighteen batches of 60 people each will pass through the old route whereas five batches of 50 people each will use the new route to reach Kailash Mansarovar in Tibet.

In a first, a dedicated interactive website - http://kmy.gov.in - will have details like fares for the journey from both routes and other information people need to plan for the pilgrimage that will end in September.

The Kailash Mansarovar yatra helpline number is 011-24300655, where the caller will have a menu of options to choose from and learn more about the pilgrimage.

Comments

Other News

WEF, MMRDA ink deal to transform MMR into global fin hub

The World Economic Forum (WEF) will provide funds to Maharashtra government for making Mumbai Metroplolitan Region (MMR) a global financial hub. An MoU between MMRDA (Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority) and WEF was signed by Klaus Schwab, founder and executive Chairman, World

How to be prepared for the next pandemic

NITI Aayog on Wednesday released an Expert Group report, titled ‘Future Pandemic Preparedness and Emergency Response — A Framework for Action’. The expert group in the report has provided a blueprint for the country to prepare for any future public health emergency or pandemic and have a

The Shinde Saga: From humble beginnings to union home minister

Five Decades in Politics By Sushilkumar Shinde (as told to Rasheed Kidwai) HarperCollins India, 240 pages, Rs 599.00

How India can offer data protection to SMEs

Cyberattacks have become a daily phenomenon around the globe, especially in India. In the first half of 2024 alone, India has witnessed 593 cyber incidents, comprising of 388 data breaches, 107 data leaks, and 39 ransomware attacks. With an average of 3,201 cyberattacks per week in Q2 2024,

Sopan Joshi on writing “that mango book”, research and a “memorable” feast

Mangifera indica: A Biography of the Mango By Sopan Joshi Aleph Book Company, 432 pages, Rs 799 The mang

Shorter, more efficacious treatment for drug-resistant TB approved in India

The union ministry of health & family welfare has approved the introduction of the BPaLM regimen, a novel treatment for Multi-Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) under its National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) as a highly effective and shorter treatment option. This regimen includes