India warns against unauthorised Mansarovar yatra tours
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has issued a strong advisory cautioning Indian citizens against undertaking the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through private tour operators without obtaining the mandatory travel documents, following multiple cases of pilgrims being stranded in Nepal due to the absence of valid Chinese visas and entry permits.
The advisory, issued late on Saturday, comes after the ministry received several requests for assistance from Indian nationals who had begun their pilgrimage through privately organised tour packages but were unable to proceed to Tibet because they lacked the necessary documentation required by Chinese authorities.
“This Ministry is in receipt of several requests for help and assistance from Indian citizens stuck in Nepal while undertaking Kailash Mansarovar Yatra without the required entry permit and visas for China, through tours organised by private tour operators,” the MEA said in its advisory.
The ministry stressed that pilgrims should not commence their journey from India until all mandatory travel documents have been obtained for the entire pilgrimage. It warned that travelling in the hope of securing permits or visas at a later stage significantly increases the risk of being stranded, leading to financial losses, logistical challenges and considerable hardship.
