KATHMANDU: The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has officially announced the Kailash Mansarovar Pilgrimage for 2026, reopening a high-altitude route through the disputed Lipulekh Pass.

The pilgrimage, coordinated with the government of the People’s Republic of China, will take place between June and August 2026, following a December 2024 agreement between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.

According to the MEA press release on April 30, a total of 1,000 pilgrims will travel in 20 batches. Ten batches will use the Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand, while the remaining ten will go via the Nathu La Pass in Sikkim.

The use of the Lipulekh route has triggered diplomatic friction, as Nepal claims the area as its sovereign territory. The Government of Nepal was not consulted or informed of the announcement.

Nepal maintains that Lipulekh, Kalapani, and Limpiyadhura are part of its national map and has previously lodged protests over bilateral agreements involving the region.

The route, suspended after the 2019 COVID-19 pandemic, is now set to fully reopen for the pilgrimage.

The Lipulekh area has been under Indian administrative control since the 1962 Sino-Indian War.