A Sacred Journey Restarts: With ‘Om Namah Shivaya’ on Their Lips, Pilgrims Return to the Divine Path of Kailash Mansarovar

Dipanjan Mondal

30 June, 2025:

With chants of “Har Har Mahadev” echoing through the Himalayan valleys, the sacred Kailash Mansarovar Yatra resumed in June 2025. This marked the return of one of the world’s most spiritually significant pilgrimages. 

After a five-year halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic and tensions between India and China, the yatra restarted earlier this month. The first group of pilgrims set foot on the ancient trail. Organized by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the yatra symbolizes the strength of faith and represents a step forward in diplomacy between New Delhi and Beijing.

As this year's Kailash Mansarovar Yatra begins, devotees can take two routes to reach Lake Mansarovar from India. They can either travel via the Nathu La pass in Sikkim or the Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand. 

At an altitude of 4,310 meters, the Nathu La pass is located on the border between Sikkim and the Tibet Autonomous Region. The route to Mansarovar Lake from this pass is nearly 1,500 km and fully accessible by vehicles. Devotees only need to trek 35-40 km for Parikramas, which means circling the mountain and the lake.

The Lipulekh pass from Uttarakhand is near the trijunction of India, Nepal, and China. While the lake is about 50 km from the border between the Indian state and TAR, the terrain is challenging. This route involves 200 km of tough trekking.

Only those aged 18 to 70 can take part in the yatra, which usually takes over 20 days. Pilgrims must be physically and medically fit and possess a valid Indian passport.

According to the MEA, 750 Indian pilgrims have been selected through a computerized draw from over 5,500 applications. The chosen pilgrims are split into 15 batches of 50 each. Five batches will travel via Lipulekh (Uttarakhand) and ten via Nathu La (Sikkim). This year marks an important change: both routes are fully motorable, making the trek more accessible to a wider age group.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his 123rd episode of 'Mann ki Baat,' wished well to all devotees taking part in the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. He emphasized the significance of this pilgrimage, noting that Kailash Mansarovar is honored in several traditions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. 

"After a long time, the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra has had an auspicious restart. Kailash Mansarovar is the abode of Lord Shiva. Kailash is the center of faith in every tradition: Hindu, Buddhist, or Jain," said PM Modi.

“There is another important aspect to these journeys. These pilgrimages also create great opportunities for service. Whenever a pilgrimage takes place, more people help the pilgrims than those actually going on the pilgrimage. Free community kitchens and food stalls are organized everywhere. People set up drinking water stations alongside the roads with a spirit of service, medical camps and facilities are established, and many even provide lodging and rest areas for pilgrims,” he explained.

For centuries, Mount Kailash, which rises 6,638 meters above sea level in the Tibet Autonomous Region, has been revered as the home of Lord Shiva, the destroyer and transformer in the Hindu trinity. According to Hindu faith, it is believed that Shiva resides here in eternal meditation with Goddess Parvati. Every rock, stream, and gust of wind in the area is thought to carry divine vibrations.

Next to the sacred mountain lies Mansarovar Lake, formed from the mind (manas) of Lord Brahma, the creator. Pilgrims take a dip in the icy waters, which are believed to cleanse lifetimes of sins and free the soul. The lake is also mentioned in Buddhist, Jain, and Bon religious texts, making the region special for interfaith respect.

In Jain belief, Kailash is called Ashtapada, the site where Rishabhdev, the first Tirthankara, attained salvation. Tibetan Buddhists refer to it as Kang Rinpoche (Precious Snow Mountain), home of Demchok, who represents supreme bliss. The Bon religion, Tibet’s pre-Buddhist faith, sees it as the seat of spiritual power.

The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is more than just a religious journey—it is an act of surrender. In every dusty footprint and frozen breath, there is a prayer, a hope, a remembered myth.

By resuming the yatra, India has not only reopened a route to the Himalayas, but it has also revived a sacred path that connects earth and heaven, the past and the eternal. 

As the 2025 batches cross borders, they carry with them not just passports and permits, but also the timeless chant: “Om Namah Shivaya.”