India and China Near Agreement on Kailash Mansarovar Yatra
- MGMMTeam
- 7 days ago
- 3 min read
India and China are nearing an agreement to resume the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra as both nations continue their lengthy efforts to normalize relations following the more than four-year standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), according to sources familiar with the discussions.
The revival of the pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and Mansarovar Lake in China’s Tibet Autonomous Region, which has been suspended since 2020, is part of a broader set of confidence-building measures being explored by the two sides. These discussions follow a breakthrough last October, when an understanding was reached on disengaging troops at the remaining friction points in Demchok and Depsang.
Just two days after this agreement on troop disengagement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping met in Kazan, Russia, and decided to restart several mechanisms to address the border dispute and restore bilateral relations. One such mechanism—the Special Representatives on the border issue—focused on resuming the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage, sharing data on trans-border rivers, and discussing border trade during a meeting in Beijing last December.
Following further discussions through these channels, both sides are now close to finalizing plans for the pilgrimage's return, according to sources familiar with the talks, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The pilgrimage, which was suspended in 2020 due to the pandemic and later impacted by the LAC standoff, has been a key demand from India.
However, it is expected that this year's pilgrimage may begin slightly later than usual and extend beyond the normal schedule. The Chinese side has requested additional time to refurbish facilities for the pilgrims, which have been unused for almost five years. An official announcement regarding the pilgrimage’s resumption is expected soon.
Indian officials have not yet commented on the development.
The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, organized by India’s external affairs ministry between June and September, operates via two routes: Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand and Nathu La in Sikkim. The site holds significant religious importance for Hindus, Jains, and Buddhists, with pilgrims trekking at altitudes of up to 19,500 feet in extreme weather and rugged terrain.
If the pilgrimage proceeds, it will represent another step in the gradual process of normalizing bilateral relations following the 2020 LAC standoff, which began with skirmishes in April-May 2020. A violent clash in Galwan Valley in June 2020, which resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers and at least four Chinese troops, brought relations to their lowest point since the 1962 border war.
The Chinese side has also urged India to act on several economic measures, including resuming direct flights and easing visa restrictions for Chinese nationals. Additionally, China is keen on reviving the practice of both countries allowing more journalists to be posted in each other’s capitals. Currently, there is only one Indian journalist in Beijing, and no representatives from China’s state-run media are based in New Delhi.
At an event earlier this month to mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations, Chinese Ambassador Xu Feihong emphasized that the two nations should "properly handle differences through dialogue and never allow bilateral relations to be defined by the boundary question."
During the same event, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri emphasized that maintaining peace and tranquility in border areas is “critical for the smooth development of our overall bilateral relations”. He also clarified that both sides have addressed several border-related issues and are collaborating on a roadmap to ensure that their relationship follows a “stable, predictable, and amicable” course.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also noted last week that India-China relations are heading in a “positive direction,” although he acknowledged that “work still remains” to fully normalize ties.
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