MEA advises Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims against travelling without all required travel documents

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has issued an advisory urging Indian citizens undertaking the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through private tour operators not to begin their journey until they have obtained all the mandatory travel documents required for the complete pilgrimage.

The advisory comes after several Indian pilgrims travelling through Nepal were left stranded due to the absence of the mandatory Chinese entry permit and visa. According to the ministry, it has received multiple requests for assistance from devotees who were unable to continue their journey after arriving in Nepal without the necessary documentation.

The MEA cautioned that commencing the pilgrimage without confirmed travel documents could result in significant inconvenience and disruptions.

"Commencing travel without confirmed documentation or in anticipation of obtaining the necessary documentation increases the likelihood of being stranded," the ministry said.

Pilgrims urged to verify tour operators

Apart from securing all travel documents before departure, the ministry has also advised pilgrims to ensure that the tour operator they choose is duly registered and authorised.

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Officials said the advisory aims to ensure a safe and hassle-free pilgrimage while preventing avoidable hardships for devotees travelling to Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar.

The ministry noted that some private tour operators had facilitated travel to Nepal without ensuring that pilgrims had obtained the mandatory documents needed to enter China, leading to the current situation.

Around 52 pilgrims stranded in Kathmandu

The advisory follows reports that around 52 Indian citizens travelling to Kailash Mansarovar are currently stranded in Kathmandu and require urgent assistance to continue their journey.

The issue was highlighted by Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) MP Supriya Sule, who appealed to the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian embassies in Nepal and China to intervene.

"Around 52 Indian citizens travelling to Kailash Mansarovar are currently stranded in Kathmandu, Nepal and are in need of urgent assistance," Sule wrote in a post on X.

She also urged authorities to facilitate their onward travel.

"Requesting Dr S Jaishankar, Embassy of India in Kathmandu, Nepal, Embassy of India in Beijing, China and Ministry of External Affairs, India to kindly look into the matter and extend the necessary support to ensure their safe onward journey," she added.

Kailash Mansarovar Yatra resumed this year

The development comes shortly after the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through the Nathu La Pass route.

On June 20, the first batch of pilgrims undertaking the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra 2026 crossed into China through the India-China border at Nathu La Pass, marking the restart of the pilgrimage after a prolonged suspension.

The MEA reiterated that devotees planning the pilgrimage should not rely on the expectation of securing permits during the journey. Instead, they should ensure that all required visas, permits and travel authorisations are in place before leaving India.

By issuing the advisory, the ministry hopes to prevent further cases of pilgrims being stranded abroad and to ensure that the pilgrimage proceeds smoothly and safely for all participants.