NEPAL AIMING AT FACILITATING 100 CRORE HINDU PILGRIMS TO KAILASH MANSAROVAR

Post the Covid-19 pandemic-induced lockdowns, China officially permitted the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage this year. Nevertheless, the substantial increase in fees and various visa restrictions, particularly affecting Indian pilgrims, resulted in the virtual cessation of the Yatra

- 

Banking on the shortest route for Hindu pilgrims to reach Kailash Mansarovar in Tibet, Nepal plans to tap 1 billion travellers to the holy site once the agreement with China is in place, Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Prakash Saud said on Thursday. Situated in the Ngari prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region, the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage is considered the most sacred by Hindus across the world. The two natural sacrosanct places are also revered by Buddhists, Jains and Tibet's indigenous Bonpa faith. Saud's ambitious plan assumes significance as scores of Indian Hindus from across the world prefer to go for the revered Kailash Mansarovar Yatra via Nepal. In fact, even Indians who want to save time and escape the arduous trek through the Indian terrain, prefer to go via Nepal through private operators. That translates into a rich foreign exchange for the Nepal government. Post the COVID-19 pandemic-induced lockdowns, China opened the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage this year. However, the mas