The Ministry of External Affairs has issued an urgent advisory after 52 Indian citizens were stranded in Kathmandu, Nepal due to incomplete documentation for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. According to reports from Firstpost, the advisory came after several Indian pilgrims travelling through Nepal were left stranded due to the absence of mandatory Chinese entry permits and visas. Nationalist Congress Party MP Supriya Sule raised the issue on social media, writing "Around 52 Indian citizens travelling to Kailash Mansarovar are currently stranded in Kathmandu, Nepal and are in need of urgent assistance." She further appealed to Dr S Jaishankar, Embassy of India in Kathmandu, Nepal, Embassy of India in Beijing, China and Ministry of External Affairs, India to extend necessary support for the safe onward journey. The matter was flagged by NCP MP Sharadchandra Pawar's daughter Supriya Sule on Saturday, who urged the Ministry of External Affairs and Indian embassies to intervene and provide immediate support to the stranded pilgrims.
The MEA has issued a specific advisory for Indian citizens planning to undertake the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through private tour operators. According to the latest advisory, several Indian pilgrims travelling through private tour operators sought help after being unable to continue their journey from Nepal because they did not possess the required entry permits and visas for China. The ministry has urged travellers to be cautious and well-prepared before starting the pilgrimage and advised pilgrims not to begin their journey from India until all required travel documents for the entire trip have been obtained. This includes valid visas, entry permits, and any other approvals needed to complete the pilgrimage. The advisory warns that commencing travel without confirmed documentation or with the expectation of obtaining permits later can significantly increase the chances of being stranded. The MEA specifically stated that it has received several requests for help from Indian citizens who travelled to Nepal for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra without the necessary Chinese entry permit and visa through tours organised by private operators.
The MEA has identified essential documents that pilgrims must secure before departure, including valid Chinese visas and entry permits. According to Firstpost, the ministry specifically warns against commencing the pilgrimage without confirmed documentation, stating that "commencing the pilgrimage without confirmed documentation or in anticipation of obtaining the necessary documentation increases the likelihood of being stranded." The ministry also advises pilgrims to verify that their private tour operator is duly registered and authorised before undertaking the journey. Officials noted that some private tour operators had facilitated travel to Nepal without ensuring that pilgrims had obtained the mandatory documents needed to enter China, leading to the current situation. The MEA has strongly advised pilgrims to verify that their chosen tour operator is duly registered and authorised, as booking through a legitimate operator can help ensure that documentation, permits, and travel arrangements comply with official requirements.
On June 20, the first batch of pilgrims undertaking the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra 2026 crossed into China through the India-China border at Nathu La Pass. The batch was flagged off by Sikkim Governor Om Prakash Mathur in the presence of Tourism Minister Tshering Thendup Bhutia and officials of the Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation (STDC). Sikkim Tourism Minister TT Bhutia described the operational timeline of the yatra, saying, "This year, we expect at least ten such groups to undertake the journey, similar to the ten groups we handled last year. They are scheduled to return to the border on the 30th." He emphasized that the resumption of this journey, after a hiatus of at least five years, is adding significant value to tourism in Silicing. The operational resumption comes as the MEA continues to advise against travel without proper documentation, highlighting the importance of proper planning for this sacred pilgrimage.
Tibet has been under Chinese control since the 1950s. According to Business Standard, the pilgrimage was suspended in 2020 when border clashes between India and China left at least 20 Indian fighters and an unknown number of Chinese troops dead. Diplomatic and economic relations between the world's two most populous nations plunged after the dispute. The pilgrimage's revival was part of a broader thaw in India-China ties that began last year.
