Kailash Mansarovar Yatra

GS Paper I – Geography & GS Paper II – International Relations

Context:

The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is set to resume from June 30, 2025, after a five-year suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Indo-China border tensions. The resumption is being seen as a cultural revival and diplomatic milestone in India–China relations.

GEOGRAPHICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Location:

• Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar lie in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

• Mount Kailash (6,638 m) is part of the Trans-Himalayan range, close to the Karnali and Sutlej river sources.

• Lake Mansarovar is one of the highest freshwater lakes in the world at an altitude of 4,590 m.

Routes in India:

1. Lipulekh Pass Route (Uttarakhand): Trek-based; geopolitically sensitive due to Nepal’s claims.

2. Nathu La Route (Sikkim): Vehicle-based, more accessible; passes through high-altitude military zones.

Geostrategic Importance:

• Located near the India–China–Nepal tri-junction.

• Close to critical Himalayan passes and origins of major rivers (Indus, Brahmaputra, Karnali).

• High vulnerability to climate change and glacier retreat in the region.

CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS SIGNIFICANCE

Sacred to Multiple Faiths:

• Hindus: Abode of Lord Shiva; parikrama around Mount Kailash is considered a path to moksha.

• Jains: Site where Rishabhdev attained nirvana.

• Buddhists: Associated with Mount Meru, the cosmic center of the universe.

• Bon religion: Ancient Tibetan faith also considers it a sacred site.

Pilgrimage Practices:

• Parikrama (kora): A 52-km circumambulation around the mountain.

• Holy dip in Mansarovar: Believed to cleanse sins.

• Limited pilgrimage season (June–September) due to harsh weather and altitude.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS DIMENSION

India–China Dynamics:

• The resumption of the yatra in 2025 signals confidence-building between the two nations post-Galwan.

• India had suspended the yatra due to China’s border restrictions and COVID protocols.

• Recently, diplomatic talks led to China reopening the route as a gesture of goodwill.

India–Nepal Sensitivities:

• Nepal has objected to India’s use of the Lipulekh route, claiming territorial rights.

• India maintains that the route falls within its sovereign territory.

Soft Power and Cultural Diplomacy:

• The yatra is a symbol of India’s spiritual diplomacy and strengthens cultural ties with Nepal, Tibet, and China.

• Acts as a tool for people-to-people contact, even amidst strategic competition.