(TibetanReview.net, Jul15’24) – For the fifth consecutive year since 2020, both the official routes for the holy Kailash-Mansarovar pilgrimage for Indians has remained closed. And the private route through Nepal, which was re-opened last year by China, is also practically unavailable to Indians due to onerous rules that especially targets them, as reported earlier by the Nepali media.
Covid-19 rules remain the ostensible reason for the suspension of the pilgrimage to Mt Kailah, the holy abode in western Tibet of the Hindu God Lord Shiva. However, the reason for the continued closing of the pilgrimage routes in a world free of Covid restrictions could only be attributed to the souring of bilateral relations since Galwan Valley clash in eastern Ladakh between Indian and Chinese border troops.
India signed two agreements with China, in 2013 and 2014, to open two official routes for Indian pilgrims. Both make it clear that China cannot unilaterally terminate the agreements without prior notice, noted news18.com Jul 15, citing copies of the agreements obtained from India’s Ministry of External Affairs in response to a RTI application.
The first one, dated May 20, 2013, was signed between then Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid and Wang Yi, then Foreign Minister of China. This opened the Lipulekh Pass route for the yatra. The second agreement was signed by Sushma Swaraj as Foreign Minister with Yi on Sep 18, 2014 to start the Nathu La Pass route for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.
Both the agreements were valid for a period of five years, and to be automatically extended for a further period of five years at a time. Either side could give a notice to the other in writing, six months ahead of the date of expiry, if it intends to terminate the protocol.
The first agreement permits Indian pilgrims to visit Mt Kailash and Mansarovar through Lipulekh Pass, a Mt Kailash-viewing point in Uttarakhand state, by commercial tour operators and travel agents. “The Chinese side agrees to provide necessary facilities and support to these pilgrims as well in accordance with its domestic laws and regulations,” the agreement was quoted as saying.
The second agreement allows Indian pilgrims, who go through tour operators and travel agents, to enter or exit “China” through the Nathu La Pass from Sikkim. The implementation of modalities of this route was through diplomatic channels.
The third option for Indians was to enter Tibet from Nepal through private operators there. China opened its borders from the Nepal side last year, but tightened rules for foreigners, especially Indians, and put multiple restrictions, including hiking the fee, making it practically impossible for Indians to go to Mt Kailash through Nepal. Nepali tour operators have expressed dismay that the virtual ban on Indian pilgrims had ruined their business.
In all cases, Indians needed visas from China to visit Mt Kailash and Mansarovar, a requirement which did not exist when Tibet was free until the first half or so of the last century.
This year in January, 38 Indians were the first to take a chartered flight, ‘Kailash Mansarovar Darshan Flight’, from Nepalgunj in Nepal to get aerial darshan of Mt Kailash from 27,000 feet in the air, the report said.
And now, India has also developed a spot in its territory at Lipulekh peak in Dharchula of Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, from where Mt Kailash can soon be clearly viewed from a distance of just 50 km.
Earlier this month, the Uttarakhand government announced that pilgrims would be able to view Mt Kailash from this spot from Sep 15 this year. This will involve a vehicle drive up to Lipulekh and a trek of about 800 metres on foot to reach the vantage point to view the holy spot.