The reopening of the Nathula route marks a milestone in restoring Indo-Tibetan spiritual ties and showcases improved coordination between India and China post-pandemic
BY PC Bureau
June 20, 2025 – After a gap of six years, the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra via the Nathula Pass in Sikkim resumed on Thursday with the first batch of 33 pilgrims and two liaison officers setting out on the sacred Himalayan pilgrimage. The route had remained closed since 2019 due to a combination of geopolitical tensions, natural disasters, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ceremonial flag-off was led by Sikkim Governor Om Prakash Mathur at a function organized by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) near the Indo-China border in East Sikkim. Addressing the gathering, Governor Mathur described the yatra’s revival as a moment of spiritual and cultural reconnection, praising the central government’s sustained diplomatic and infrastructural efforts.
The Nathula Pass route to Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar, both located in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, was suspended in 2019 following a landslide that severely damaged the road infrastructure on the Chinese side. That same year, diplomatic relations between India and China began to strain over border disputes, further complicating matters.
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Subsequently, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 brought all cross-border pilgrimages to a halt. China enforced strict travel restrictions, and India too suspended the yatra due to public health concerns. In the years that followed, additional tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC)—including the 2020 Galwan Valley clash—delayed the reopening of the route.
While the Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand offered an alternative, the Nathula route, being motorable and less arduous, remained a preferred choice for many pilgrims, especially elderly ones. Its reopening signals not only a logistical achievement but also a thaw in border cooperation.
#KailashMansarovarYatra resumes after 5 years from Nathula, Sikkim
🔹First batch of pilgrims to cross over to China from Nathula.
▶️Sikkim Governor Om Prakash Mathur says, “We are fortunate enough to witness this historical moment of resuming Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.”… pic.twitter.com/D2FRnTKj7c
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) June 20, 2025
Officials Ensure Safety and Coordination
C S Rao, Additional Chief Secretary of Sikkim’s Tourism and Civil Aviation Department, welcomed the pilgrims and assured that robust arrangements were in place for their safety and well-being. “We have worked closely with paramilitary forces and local administration to ensure the comfort and security of all yatris,” he stated.
This year, 750 Indian citizens have been selected to undertake the pilgrimage. Of these, 500 will travel via Nathula in 10 batches, while the remaining 250 will go through the traditional Lipulekh Pass route.
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Governor Mathur also expressed his gratitude to the people of Sikkim for upholding the Indian tradition of “Atithi Devo Bhava” (Guest is God) and advised pilgrims to take care of their health during the high-altitude journey, which often poses risks such as altitude sickness and extreme weather conditions.
The reopening of the Nathula corridor stands as a symbolic and practical step forward in strengthening India’s cultural and spiritual ties with Tibet, and in demonstrating the government’s commitment to restoring heritage pilgrimage routes long interrupted by natural and geopolitical upheavals.
