India has dismissed Nepal’s fresh objections to the use of the Lipulekh Pass for the annual Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, calling Kathmandu’s claims "neither justified nor based on historical facts." In a statement on 4 May, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated that Indian pilgrims have travelled through Lipulekh since 1954 and that the route—linking Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh district with Tibet’s Purang—will remain open for the 2026 yatra season beginning next month. The diplomatic spat reignites a long-running boundary dispute in the tri-junction area where India, Nepal and China converge. Nepal’s Foreign Ministry last week objected to what it called "unilateral" use of Nepali territory and urged India to choose an alternative corridor. India maintains that Lipulekh lies within its sovereign territory and that any delimitation issues should be addressed through established bilateral mechanisms, not public statements. For mobility and travel-risk managers coordinating sizeable corporate or employee-wellness pilgrim groups, the confirmation provides welcome clarity. Last year more than 8,000 Indians undertook the high-altitude trek—many sponsored by employers under CSR or faith-based leave programmes—and tour operators had warned that a late-stage route change would trigger costly re-permits and logistical realignments. China, which issues the actual entry permits for Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar in the Tibet Autonomous Region, has so far remained silent. Agencies in New Delhi say Beijing is expected to release its 2026 yatra guidelines within the next fortnight, including any post-pandemic health-screening rules. Applicants typically require an Indian passport valid for six months, a Chinese group visa and specialised high-altitude medical insurance. While border tensions between India and Nepal occasionally flare, past yatras have rarely faced outright suspension. Still, organisations sending employees are advised to monitor MEA advisories, keep contingency funds for helicopter evacuation (costing up to ₹250,000 per sortie), and ensure travellers carry hard-copy permits, which expedition leaders must present at multiple checkpoints on both sides of the frontier.
Source: News On AIR (Prasar Bharati)
