Kailash Yatra to be held from June 8-Sep 8 registration begins, announces MEA

The Ministry of External Affairs announced that Kailash Yatra will commence from June 8 and will go on until September 8 for which the registrations opened on Tuesday. The Yatra will take place through the routes of the Nathu La and the Lipulekh passes.

The External Affairs Ministry also added that the registration for the Yatra on Tuesday is open for applicants from age 18 to 70 years of age, until May 9. 

READ: Meet Salim Sheikh, The Man Who Drove 60 Pilgrims To Safety During The Amarnath Yatra Attack

The first route that is through Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand, involves some trekking, with an estimated cost of about Rs. 1.8 lakh per person. It will be conducted in 18 batches of 60 pilgrims each, MEA added.

The duration of the Yatra is 24 days for each batch including thee days in New Delhi for preparatory work. This route also passes through important sites, namely Narayan Ashram, Patal Bhuvaneshwar, and others. 

"Yatris can also see the scenic beauty of the Chialekh Valley or the 'Om Parvat' which has the natural occurrence of snow in the shape of 'Om' on this mountain," said the ministry.

Whereas the second route that passes through Nathu La Pass in Sikkim is motorable and suitable for senior citizens, unable to undertake taxing trekking, the statement also added. From Gangtok, the route passes through picturesque places like Hangu lake and through the vast landscape of the Tibetan plateau.

The Yatra involves an estimated cost of around Rs. 2.5 lakh per person, while the duration would be 21 days, including three days in Delhi for the preparatory work. According to the statement, this year, ten batches of 50 pilgrims each are scheduled for this route. 

It also stated that as in the case of previous years, first-time applicants, medical doctors, and married couples would have priority. Moreover, senior citizens would have priority on the Nathu La route if they opt for it. Two persons may also apply and undertake the Yatras together under the applicable rules and regulations.

"Yatris can either select both the routes indicating priority or select only one of the routes. They will be allotted a route and batch through computerised draw of lots," the ministry said. Following which the selection of the applicants will also be through a fair computer-generated, random, gender-balanced process.

READ: Braving Snowfall, Over 13,000 Pilgrims Visiting Vaishno Devi Daily: Officials

(With PTI inputs)