Kailash-Mansarovar yatra resumes after 5 years: history of a storied pilgrimage

Paper: GS – I, Subject: Geography, Topic: Physical Geography of India, Issue: Kailash-Mansarovar yatra Resumes.

Context:

The Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra has resumed in 2025 after a five-year pause due to the Covid-19 pandemic and India-China tensions.

This year, the Ministry of External Affairs has selected 750 pilgrims.
Five batches of 50 will travel via the Lipulekh pass in Uttarakhand, while ten batches of 50 will take the longer but easier Nathu La route in Sikkim. The first groups are currently enroute.

Key Takeaways:

Mount Kailash and the Sacred Lakes: Spiritual and Geographical Significance:

Rising 6,638 metres in Tibet’s Ngari Prefecture near India and Nepal, Mount Kailash holds deep religious importance for Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Tibetan Bon followers.
Hindus believe it is Lord Shiva’s abode; Jains see it as the site of their first leader’s enlightenment; Buddhists call it the universe’s centre, and Bon traditions consider it the home of the sky goddess Sipaimen.
South of the mountain lie two lakes freshwater Manasarovar and saltwater Rakshastal both central to these spiritual traditions.
Mount Kailash also serves as the source of four major rivers: the Brahmaputra, Indus, Sutlej, and Karnali, making it both a spiritual and geographical landmark.

Kailash – Mansarovar Pilgrimage Popularity and Evolution:

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-history/kailash-mansarovar-yatra-resumes-after-five-years-history-of-a-storied-pilgrimage-10121108

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Kailash-Mansarovar yatra resumes after 5 years: history of a storied pilgrimage