First Batch of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra 2026 Flagged Off from Delhi

New Delhi, June 2026 : Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita on Saturday flagged off the first batch of pilgrims embarking on the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra (KMY) 2026 at a ceremony held at Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan in the national capital.

Addressing the pilgrims, the Minister congratulated them on their selection for one of India’s most revered spiritual journeys and highlighted the government’s efforts to ensure a safe and comfortable pilgrimage experience. He informed the yatris that accommodation would be provided at newly established acclimatisation centres, which were recently inaugurated virtually by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Minister also acknowledged the coordinated efforts of various ministries, departments and state governments in making the pilgrimage smooth and enriching. He specifically lauded the contributions of the governments of Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Uttar Pradesh, which have been working closely to facilitate the yatra.

The annual Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, considered sacred by Hindus, Buddhists and Jains, draws devotees from across India who undertake the pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar in Tibet. The journey resumed with enhanced infrastructure and improved travel arrangements to ensure greater accessibility for pilgrims.

Earlier this week, Indian Ambassador to China Vikram Doraiswami visited Lhasa in the Tibet Autonomous Region to jointly review arrangements made by Chinese authorities for Indian pilgrims. The visit marked his first official trip to Tibet and focused on ensuring smooth logistical support and coordination for the yatra.

The Embassy of India in Beijing stated that the Ambassador and embassy officials held discussions with local authorities to assess facilities and preparations for the pilgrims undertaking the sacred journey.

Last month, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar conducted the computerised draw for the selection of pilgrims for KMY 2026. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the yatra will run from June to August 2026, with 1,000 pilgrims selected through a transparent, computer-generated, random and gender-balanced process.

The selected yatris have been divided into 20 batches, each comprising 50 pilgrims. They will travel via the Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand and the Nathu La Pass in Sikkim. Both routes are now fully motorable, significantly reducing the need for strenuous trekking and making the pilgrimage more accessible to a wider range of devotees.

The MEA noted that the entire process—from online applications to the final selection of pilgrims—is fully digitised and conducted in coordination with the Chinese government, ensuring transparency and efficiency.

The flagging off of the first batch marks the formal beginning of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra 2026, a pilgrimage that holds immense religious and cultural significance for thousands of Indians each year.