Lipu Lek Pass: India to Send 500 Pilgrims to Mansarovar via Kalapani This Year; What Will Nepal Do?

Following India’s announcement that it will commence the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage via the Lipu Lek pass from next month, experts have emphasized the need for Kathmandu to seek resolution through diplomatic prudence rather than reactive responses. The Indian Foreign Ministry disclosed this week that 500 Indian pilgrims, divided into 10 groups, will undertake the pilgrimage between June and August via Kalapani and Lipu Lek. This information arrived just one month after the formation of Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s government.

Departing from New Delhi, on the seventh day of their journey, the pilgrims will cross the Lipu Lek pass, which lies over 5,000 meters above sea level, and reach Taklakot. After entering China, the group’s arrangements will be managed by Chinese authorities, as stated in India’s 2025 Mansarovar pilgrimage publication from the Ministry of External Affairs.

The border dispute between Nepal and India remains a complicated issue with ongoing accusations from both sides, though formal dialogues have yet to take place. According to the Indian Foreign Ministry’s statement released Thursday, this year’s pilgrimage will include 10 groups entering from Uttarakhand and another 10 from Sikkim. Applications will be accepted until May 19, and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force will support the pilgrims during their time in Indian territory. Earlier this month, Indian Minister of State for External Affairs, Krishna Vijay Singh, stated in the Rajya Sabha that the pilgrimage had been halted from 2020 to 2024 due to COVID-19, but resumed last year following consultations with Chinese officials.

According to the Indian Foreign Ministry website, the first group will assemble in Delhi on June 30 to complete medical checks, passport and visa collection, and fee payments, before departing for Mansarovar on July 4. This group is scheduled to return to Delhi on July 21. Another group will assemble on August 5 and conclude the journey by August 26. Pilgrims on the Lipu Lek route will also visit the Kalapani temple. On the fifth day of the 2025 pilgrimage, the plan is to visit Kalapani temple via Gunji and Nabidhang. Indian security forces have established a post in the Kalapani area, which Nepal consistently claims as its territory.

On the sixth day, the pilgrims will rest, and on the seventh, they will traverse a narrow and challenging path to reach Lipu Lek. Situated at an altitude of 16,730 feet, the trek there will be guided by Chinese personnel. With scarce vegetation and no availability of pack animals or porters, the pilgrims will ascend about 7 kilometers uphill; upon successfully navigating this stretch, Chinese officials will then guide them through a descending route. The guide for this year’s journey has not yet been made public, so it remains unclear whether previous arrangements will continue. Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi announced on X (formerly Twitter) plans to facilitate the pilgrimage for 1,000 Indian pilgrims in 2026.

What do diplomatic experts say? Last month, officials from the Uttarakhand state government indicated that after six years, India and China are preparing to reopen border trade via the Lipu Lek pass. Specialists have suggested that the Nepalese government should approach the Lipu Lek issue with sensitivity, seeking diplomatic dialogue for resolution. Former Nepali ambassador Jaya Raj Acharya called the map publication sanctioned by Parliament in June a form of audacity. He remarked, “Countries like Nepal should not make bold moves in diplomacy. Everything must be settled through talks.” He recalled an example from the Panchayat era when Indian wireless operators were withdrawn from Nepal, cautioning King Mahendra. “Even now, mere statements are insufficient. It is necessary to restrain oneself and engage in talks. Since we are neighboring countries and small, the dispute could affect us adversely, so significant advice is needed to resolve it,” he added.

Former Nepali ambassador to India, Nilambar Acharya, also endorsed dialogue and discussions as the sole means for resolution. He said, “We are two friendly nations; there are disputes and disagreements, but these must be resolved through talks. Let’s start the conversations first.” He added, “The approach may differ, but issues have to be resolved through communication. We have to use it until the end. If there is a dispute, it should be maintained as is. We must find out how the situation will evolve and ensure all parties hear the facts.” Since 2015, Nepal has repeatedly drawn India’s and China’s attention to this issue through diplomatic notes. Following the India-China agreement last August, Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed that Limpiyadhura, Lipu Lek, and Kalapani east of the Mahakali River are integral parts of Nepal. In response, the Indian Foreign Ministry dismissed Nepal’s claim as ‘unjustifiable’ and ‘lacking historical basis.’

An Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated that any unilateral expansionist claims over territory, considering Nepal’s position, were unacceptable. India has reportedly conducted trade with China via the Lipu Lek pass since 1954. Is immediate trilateral boundary demarcation feasible? Border expert Buddhi Narayan Shrestha noted that if Nepal proposed establishing a tripoint boundary with India and China, this could resolve the Lipu Lek issue. He explained, “Once the tripoint where the three countries meet is established, the Lipu Lek problem will resolve itself.” During the 1961-62 Nepal-China international boundary delimitation process, efforts were also made to involve India in tripoint discussions. “At that time, China asked Nepal to write to India to fix the tripoint because India was still grappling with the aftermath of war. Nepal did send the letter, but India did not participate,” he said. Consequently, the tripoint has not yet been declared, and the problem persists. India and China also have numerous border disputes and there is little chance of trilateral discussions with Nepal currently. Both countries are focusing primarily on expanding their trade and economic relations. India reportedly faces a bilateral trade deficit exceeding $100 billion.

Last month, Indian news agency Press Trust of India quoted district officials from Pithoragarh that the central government is preparing to resume trade activities from June to September.