SIMKOT: The arrival of Indian religious tourists for this year’s Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage began on Wednesday, with the first group of 25 pilgrims reaching Simkot in Humla by air from Nepalgunj.

Pilgrims will travel through the Simkot-Hilsa route to enter China for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. Helicopter flights from Simkot to Hilsa have also resumed for the season.

Local tourism entrepreneurs are optimistic that the pilgrimage season will benefit hotels, transport operators, farmers and porters in Humla.

According to tourism businesses, bookings have already been made for more than 15,000 Indian pilgrims this year.

Last year, around 6,500 Indian pilgrims travelled to Kailash Mansarovar through the Hilsa route after China reopened access following the Covid-19 pandemic.