Kailash Yatra Bookings Surge in 2026 Following Four-Year Suspension
· World · Indian Express
Kailash Mansarovar Yatra bookings saw a marked surge in 2026 after remaining suspended for four years due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the Galwan standoff. The pilgrimage partially resumed in the summer of 2025 when the Ministry of External Affairs took 750 Indian passport holders in batches. For the 2026 season, the Ministry marginally increased its quota to 1,000, while private operators through Nepal checkpoints like Rasuwagadhi and Hilsa recorded heavy bookings. China established a total permissible quota for Indian passport holders via Nepal routes at 24,000 for the season, up from 20,000 in 2025. Despite rising costs from inflation, travel agencies reported high demand from both pilgrims and youngsters seeking experiential travel, leading the MEA to issue an advisory in June warning citizens against traveling without required permits.
Why it matters
The resumption and surge of the Kailash Yatra mark a tangible thaw in India-China relations, directly impacting thousands of Indian pilgrims and private tour operators.
Read the original report — Indian Express
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