Mount Kailash Yatra is one of the most revered pilgrimages in the world for Hindus, Buddhists, Bon religion, and Jains. Hindus consider Mount Kailash the abode of Lord Shiva and Mansarovar the lake of purity, where impurities are washed away. Thousands of pilgrims embark on the spiritual journey to witness the divine Mount Kailash and the sacred lake Mansarovar. However, embarking on the pilgrimage tour to Mount Kailash from India involves many official steps and requires permits. Here is the complete Mount Kailash Yatra Guide, including permits, routes, and travel tips—everything you need to know to undertake this spiritual journey.
Before delving into the routes, permits, and travel tips for Mount Kailash Yatra, it is important to know where Mount Kailash is located.
Mount Kailash is situated in the remote south-western part of the Tibetan Plateau. It is a vast region perched on high altitudes. The peak of Mount Kailash is located at an elevation of 6,638 m. This region is called Ngari prefecture, which lies in the western trijunction of Nepal, India, and China. While this spiritual peak is not the tallest mountain in the world, it is famous for its symmetrical shape. Mount Kailash is a beautiful diamond-shaped mountain. And what makes it even more distinctive is its unclimbed status. Yes, no one had ever made it to the peak of this mighty mountain.
Before we know about the famous route of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and other travel tips, it is imperative to know who can travel to Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar.
Remember that a medically fit person can go on the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. The person should be between 12 and 70 years old. People older than 70 years are not allowed to apply for the permits. However, recently, the Chinese authorities have informed that people above 70 years old and less than 75 years old can also apply, but only under certain conditions. They must be declared fit by a doctor. And when the pilgrim is below 12 years old and above 70 years old, then it is mandatory that a family member must accompany them.
Often called the “Stairways to Heaven,” Mount Kailash is believed to be the abode of Lord Shiva. It is the most mysterious and revered mountain in the world. Also, the Mount Kailash and Mansarovar Yatra is one of the world’s most challenging pilgrimages. While people use different transportation modes like train, car, bus, flight, and helicopter, some pilgrims trek to Mount Kailash. Here are the different routes available for the Mount Kailash and Mansarovar Yatra, which offer different accessibility and challenges.
Our Mount Kailash Yatra Guide includes the most common and popular routes for the pilgrimage:
Lipulekh pass is a mountain pass nestled in the eastern part of Uttarakhand state near the Indo-Tibetan border. It serves as a significant pilgrim route to Mount Kailash. This pilgrimage route is organized by the Ministry of External Affairs in association with Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam. This is one of the most historic and spiritually significant routes from India to Mount Kailash and Mansarovar Yatra. Pilgrims will have an attractive but challenging tour through this. Here are the important details of the Lipulekh Pass route to the Kailash Mansarovar tour.
It is a new route to Mount Kailash and Mansarovar lake through Nathu La Pass, located approximately. 56 km from Gangtok at an altitude of 14450 ft. The best part of this route is that it is a shorter, safer, and more comfortable route for the Mount Kailash Yatra. It is one of the highest motorable roads that allow pilgrims to travel the route from Nathua La to Mount Kailash by bus.
One of the most popular routes to Mount Kailash Yatra via Nepal is the Kathmandu route. This route takes you through the stunning beauty of western Nepal, allowing you to explore the links of Nepal and the Tibet border. Here are the major destinations this route includes to reach Mount Kailash:
This is one of the unique and scenic routes to the Mount Kailash Yatra. The trip involves air travel, helicopter rides, and road tripping, which makes it an even more exciting journey and a unique experience for pilgrims. The trip starts from Lucknow and can last around 10-12 days based on the Mount Kailash tour package itinerary you have selected.
Another popular route for Mount Kailash Yatra is via Lhasa in Tibet. It is a more comfortable pilgrimage because of the well-established infrastructure of this route. Pilgrims enjoy a beautiful and spiritual journey with Tibetan cultural experiences.
These are the most popular routes for Mount Kailash and Mansarovar Yatra. Depending on your Kailash Mansarovar Yatra package, you can opt for the route. However, to visit Mount Kailash, you need some permits and submit important documents, as the mountain is located in Tibet, which is a province of China. Now, let’s discuss the permits all international tourists and Indians need to obtain before embarking on this spiritual journey.
As you know, the mighty Mount Kailash is located in Tibet, China. So, you need a special permit to undertake the Mount Kailash pilgrimage tour. Here are the types of permits and documents you need:
To embark on the Mount Kailash Yatra, pilgrims need a Chinese visa. Some countries are exempted, but not India. So, you will have to get a visa before you travel. Also, this is not a regular travel/tourist visa that is provided to any individual. It is a group visa that is only provided to a licensed and certified tour agency that organizes Mount Kailash Tours.
Your tour operator will collect passports from all the pilgrims along with other documents. Then they will arrange the Tibet Travel Permit, which is one of the most essential documents to get the Chinese Visa. After this, they submit the documents to the Chinese embassy and consulate. The process may take 3-5 days. Also, it is recommended to double-check all the details submitted by the pilgrims before submitting, and this may cause a delay.
One of the most important documents that you will be carrying to your Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is the Tibet Travel Permit. It is also known as the Tibet Visa. Without this permit, you cannot take a train or a plane from China to Tibet. Hence, you must obtain this permit. But remember, you cannot get this permit by yourself. This is applied by an accredited tour agency. To fill out this application form, your tour operator requires your full name, occupation, nationality, passport, passport-sized photographs, and a Chinese visa.
Our Mount Kailash Yatra Guide includes complete and detailed information on the permits. Apart from the two main permits—Chinese Visa and Tibet Travel Permit, you will need three more documents that are as follows:
This travel permit is provided by the Public Security Bureau. Hence, it is also called the PSB permit. This permit allows tourists to visit the restricted areas. Since your Kailash Mansarovar tour package may include these destinations, like Mount Everest, Mount Kailash, Mansarovar Lake, and Tsedang Samye Monastery, you will need this travel permit. Also, it is way easier to obtain an Alien’s Travel Permit than a Tibet Travel Permit. This is obtained after you visit Tibet by your travel agency.
When your Kailash tour itinerary includes some military restricted areas, like Nyingchi, Ngari, or Chamdo, you must get a Military Area Entry Permit and a Foreign Affairs Permit. The permits will be obtained from the Military Office and the Foreign Affairs Office in Lhasa. Your travel agent will help you obtain these permits if required.
We have just discussed the type of permits and documents needed for the Mount Kailash tour as foreigners. Now, let’s see the type of documents and permits required for Indians. The application process to obtain a visa and permits for Indian pilgrims is special.
Different entities work together to verify the permits of the Indian pilgrims. In fact, only two organizations can authorize Indians for the Mount Kailash Pilgrimage tour. These are the Foreign Affairs Office (Governmental) and the Tibet-India Pilgrim Reception Center (Non-governmental), also known as the Pilgrim Center. The agents of the Pilgrim Center are authorized to help you plan your Mount Kailash Yatra.
The permits’ process takes 15-20 days. In some cases, it can take up to 30 days. Hence, it is advised to begin the application process as early as possible.
Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is organized by the Ministry of External Affairs in association with Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam and the Tibetan Autonomous Region Authorities. The entire process is streamlined by these authorities for a well-managed experience for pilgrims.
Here are the steps to apply for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra:
The first step is to go to the official website of MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) and fill out the form. Applications for the Mount Kailash Yatra open between January and March. Pilgrims should fill out the form and provide all the details, like name, contact number, passport details, and medical history. They must ensure that the information is correct, otherwise, the application will be rejected.
The shortlisted pilgrims will be contacted by the tour operator. These shortlisted pilgrims then have to go through medical screening conducted at any authorized centres in India. There, they will be tested to check if they are medically fit for this physically demanding Yatra. The doctors will provide a medical certificate to the pilgrims claiming they are medically fit to undertake this yatra. If you are not medically eligible, you will not be able to undertake this spiritual journey.
After this, the details of the shortlisted pilgrims are sent to the Chinese Embassy for visa processing by MEA. Along with this, the other permits, like TTP and RAP, are processed. At this stage, the pilgrims are required to submit their passports.
After all these steps, finally, the MEA officials will conduct an orientation session. They will give you all the details on the Mount Kailash Yatra, including guidance on the tour itinerary, health precautions, and cultural etiquette.
Since the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra requires pilgrims to travel outside India, we always recommend booking a tour package from a reliable travel agency in your city. The entire registration process and applying for a visa, and obtaining permits, the tour operator handles everything. You will have to fill out a Yatra application form. This lets the travel agency know your details. So, go to the official website of the travel company you have chosen and download the PDF file of the application form. Read it carefully before filling and submitting it.
Since Kailash Mansarovar Yatra occurs at an altitude of 15000 m. Hence, the pilgrims are advised to be physically and mentally prepared for the expedition. Whether you choose Kailash Mansarovar Yatra via Aerial Darshan or you plan to trek, it’s important to do some preparation. Here’s how you will prepare yourself for the yatra.
Kailash Mansarovar is one of the toughest pilgrimages in the world. It is physically challenging for pilgrims to trek to Mount Kailash. Hence, it is imperative to prioritize physical fitness. We suggest doing regular exercise, especially cardio and breathing exercises like pranayama. Regular exercise keeps your body fit as well as helps in adapting the high-altitude trekking. Start doing it at least 2 months in advance. Focus on strength training, breathing exercises, and cardio, like walking, running, stair climbing, etc.
It’s important to keep your body hydrated. So, drink 3-4 litres of water every day and take nutritional foods. This will give you adequate strength to embark on this physically demanding trek. Also, when you keep yourself hydrated, it prevents you from getting sick.
Since Mount Kailash Yatra is outside India, every pilgrim must carry the legal documents and permits. Keeping every essential document like your passport, valid ID proofs, and photographs handy will be easier for you. You can use them whenever you need them. You will get a group permit to travel to Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar. This group permit will be provided to you by your tour agency. Hence, it is imperative to book a reliable tour agency.
The next most important thing our Mount Kailash Yatra Guide includes is the travel tips for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.
We highly recommend booking the Kailash Mansarovar yatra tour package from a reputed and trusted travel agency near you. It is because organizing the trip and arranging everything is difficult on your own. Moreover, you don’t get an individual permit from the Chinese Embassy. They provide a group permit for the Mount Kailash pilgrimage only to a reliable tour agency.
We all know that the Mount Kailash Yatra is an arduous sojourn. People will have to be physically fit for this journey. Kailash Mansarovar Yatra by Helicopter or the aerial darshan is are much better option for people who cannot undertake this physically challenging expedition. In fact, this also consumes less time than other yatra.
We suggest not carrying extra luggage with you. Try to pack as light as possible so that you will not be burdened by carrying extra weight. Also, the weather of Mount Kailash is unpredictable. We advise you to pack woollen clothes and layered clothing. Besides, you must have a pair of trekking shoes, gloves, and a jacket.
Although your tour operator will take the best care of this, you should also carry medications. From the most common medicines for headaches, pain killers, and band-aid, you should pack your medication that you regularly take.
Whether it is within the country or outside the country, a tourist must respect the local customs. Tibet has strict rules on behaviour and photography. You must follow the rules and respect the customs. Ensure you attend the orientation session carefully and focus on the details your tour operator shares. If they ask you to refrain from doing something, then make sure you follow that rule.
After the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, you will complete the journey with Kailash Parikrama. This is also a challenging trek that covers 52 km at an altitude of 5000 meters. This takes approx. 3 days to complete. Completing this journey with Kailash Parikrama connects you with the divine. Immerse yourself in the divinity and express gratitude for the experience. From the breathtaking view of the Mansarovar lake to the challenging Mount Kailash Parikrama, you will cherish every moment of this spiritual journey. Embark on Mount Kailash Yatra with a reliable tour operator in India to experience the sacredness of this mystical expedition.
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