Centre clears Nathu La, Lipulekh La for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra from June 20

Newdelhi,UPDATED: Jun 19, 2026 21:53 IST

The Centre has designated the Nathu La check post in Sikkim and the Lipulekh La check post in Uttarakhand as temporary immigration posts for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, which is set to begin on June 20.

The move comes as the first batch of pilgrims for the journey to Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China has reached Sikkim for its onward travel.

In a gazette notification issued on Friday, Joint Secretary Sandeep N Mahatme said, "In exercise of the powers conferred by ... the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025 (13 of 2025), the Central government hereby designates Nathu La check post located in the East Sikkim district ... as an authorised Immigration Post on a temporary basis for entry into (and) exit from India (for pilgrims) with valid travel documents for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra 2026."

In a separate notification, the government also declared the Lipulekh La check post in Uttarakhand's Pithoragarh district as an authorised immigration post for pilgrims with valid travel documents for the yatra.

Officials said the first batch of pilgrims arrived in Sikkim on Monday evening for the onward journey through the Nathu La check post. The group has 44 people, including two liaison officers and one medical officer. Of them, 32 are men and 12 are women.

The pilgrims have completed a four-day acclimatisation programme. Officials said they will leave for Gyangze on June 20. The town in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China serves as a transit point for those travelling through the Nathu La Pass route.

With the two check posts now temporarily notified as immigration points, the yatra is set to begin with the first batch moving ahead after acclimatisation in Sikkim.

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