At least 120 more pilgrims would be able to go on the holy Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage this year, against the 16 batches of 60 pilgrims each.
DK Sharma, divisional manager of Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN), told The Pioneer that two more batches will be sent this year. Additionally, the Mansarovar yatra will start from June 12 this year, in place of June 1.
Travel duration has also been reduced by at least two days. These changes have been made following past experience and feedback received from devotees, added the KMVN officials.
However, the interesting fact is that along with increasing the number of pilgrims this year, travel expenses of the pilgrimage have also been hiked by `5,000. Earlier, pilgrims had been paying `27,000, which will now be `32,000, according to KMVN officials.
The Kailash Mansarovar yatra commences from Delhi and is conducted under overall supervision of the Ministry of External Affairs, as parts of this pilgrimage fall in Tibetan territory.