Your next yatra to the abode of Lord Shiva is about to turn shorter, cheaper and more comfortable, all thanks to a new route inaugurated by the Govt of India. The long and arduous trip to the holy pilgrimage site of the Kailash Mansarovar, nestled in the Himalayas in Tibet, will now be cut short by SIX whole days because of a new and faster road route through Uttarakhand. You can drive to Kailash Mansarovar by car. The Govt has sanctioned ₹60 crores to develop the border road from Ghatiabagar to Lipulekh Pass. Thanks to the development, Gunki, the border village at Kailash Mansarovar, situated 10,000 feet above will turn into a bustling tourist spot. The Union Minister revealed that this will boost homestays, and other tourism-related businesses in the area.
Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Will Now Be Shorter and Cheaper!
Taking to social media to announce the development, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated a new road for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, which is being constructed in full swing by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) even during this coronavirus pandemic.
Delighted to inaugurate the Link Road to Mansarovar Yatra today. The BRO achieved road connectivity from Dharchula to Lipulekh (China Border) known as Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra Route. Also flagged off a convoy of vehicles from Pithoragarh to Gunji through video conferencing. pic.twitter.com/S8yNeansJW
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) May 8, 2020
The new route to the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra will connect an 80-km road from Dharchula in Uttarakhand to the Lipulekh pass, which is 17,000 feet high and close to the tri-junction of India, China and Nepal. From there, Mount Kailash is located around 97 km north of the pass in Tibet.
With the construction of the road, pilgrims can travel to Lipulekh from Delhi in just two days, which significantly cuts travel time for the yatris. Also, except for a 5-km trek on the Chinese side across the Lipulekh Pass, the travel will now be fully completed by vehicles, so people of all ages and fitness levels, even your dadis and dadas can make it to Kailash Mansarovar.
Also Read: Char Dham Temples To Reopen Only For Rituals, Pilgrims Won’t Be Allowed To Enter
No Air Travel Required For New Route To Kailash Mansarovar Yatra
At present, there are two routes available to undertake the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, one via Sikkim and other via Kathmandu. Both require long hours of road travel and trekking, and even include travel by air.
However, this new route doesn’t not require air travel and is just one-fifth distance of road travel compared to these routes. Also, majority of the travel is in India (84%,) and only 16% is in China compared to the other routes where 80% of the road travel is in China.
Kailash Mansarovar is a major pilgrimage destination for the followers of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and the Bon religion. Every year, thousands of pilgrims from India visit Kailash Mansarovar in batches. The yatra is organised by the Ministry of External Affairs while the journey beyond our border is managed by the Chinese authorities.
Also Read: Kedarnath Temple Opens Doors Only For The Pilgrims Of Uttarakhand