For five years between 2020 and 2025, the Kailash Mansarovar remained out of bounds for Indian visitors due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the Galwan standoff that strained India-China ties. In late 2024, as New Delhi and Beijing began efforts to repair ties, the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in the summer of 2025 marked the first tangible takeaway of the thaw.
As people awaited the outcome of the yatra's resumption in 2025, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) facilitated the journey for 750 Indian passport holders in batches. This year, a rebound in the number of visitors to Kailash Mansarovar was observed, following cautious optimism from the previous year. The MEA slightly increased the quota from 750 to 1,000, while private operators, who facilitate travel through Nepal checkpoints such as Rasuwagadhi and Hilsa, experienced a marked surge in 2026.
Although an exact count of Indians who signed up for the Kailash Yatra through private operators is not yet officially compiled, China announced a cap on the total permissible quota for Indian passport holders via Nepal routes at 24,000 for the season, up from 20,000 in 2025. A major tour operator based in Kathmandu reported a significant number of experiential Indian travelers, including over a thousand NRIs, had signed up for the yatra through their agency, with inquiries beginning early this year.
““Despite rising costs owing to inflation, and increased fees and charges for allied services, this year saw maximum bookings so far,” the operator stated, adding that the travelers included not only pilgrims but also many youngsters seeking experiential travel.
As the yatra commenced in June, reports emerged of several Indian citizens on private tours being stuck in Nepal before crossing over to Tibet. On June 27, the MEA issued an advisory to Indian citizens, urging them not to start their journey unless all required permits were secured.
““The Ministry is in receipt of several requests for help and assistance from Indian citizens stuck in Nepal while undertaking Kailash Mansarovar Yatra without the required entry permit and visas for China, through tours organised by private operators,” the MEA stated.
Before the yatra suspension in 2020, the government program generally accommodated around 800-1,000 pilgrims annually. For 2025, the announced capacity was 750 pilgrims — 250 through the Lipulekh route in five batches and 500 through the Nathu La route in ten batches.
