Indian pilgrims resume Tibet pilgrimage after 5 years
After a long break since 2020, a group of 39 Indians set out on the sacred trip to Manasarovar Lake and Mount Kailash in Tibet.
This journey matters to people from Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain backgrounds—and had been paused due to COVID-19 and border tensions.
More than just travel
Restarting the pilgrimage is more than just travel—it signals improving India-China relations after recent talks between PM Modi and President Xi at the BRICS summit.
The pilgrimage is considered an important part of cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
Pilgrims were picked from over 5,500 hopefuls by lottery for this summer's season.
Another batch of Indian pilgrims will follow soon
The group was greeted with real warmth in Lhasa, Tibet's capital.
Their route through Nathula Pass in Sikkim is shorter and now safer thanks to new infrastructure like acclimatization centers.
Another batch of Indian pilgrims will follow soon—showing these cross-border connections are picking up again.