1,000 pilgrims selected for Kailash Manasarovar Yatra
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar conducted the computerised draw for the selection of pilgrims for the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra 2026 on Wednesday.
The Ministry of External Affairs announced that the 2026 edition of the pilgrimage will commence in June and conclude in August.
A total of 1,000 Yatris have been selected through a fair, computer-generated, random, and gender-balanced process.
According to the ministry, the selected pilgrims will travel in 20 batches, with each batch comprising 50 Yatris. The pilgrimage will be conducted through the Lipulekh Pass and Nathu La Pass routes, both of which are now fully motorable, significantly reducing the need for trekking.
The Yatra was resumed last year after a gap of nearly five years as part of efforts to normalise the relation between India and China.
It was suspended initially in 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequently because of the military standoff between the two sides on the Line of Actual (LAC) in easter Ladakh.
Officials stated that detailed information regarding routes and batch allocations is available on the official Yatra portal.
Notifications regarding selection have been sent to shortlisted applicants via SMS and email. Applicants can also check their selection status by visiting the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra Portal.
The Kailash Manasarovar Yatra is considered one of the most significant spiritual pilgrimages for Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and followers of Bon tradition, attracting devotees from across India every year.
