Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari recently said ‘a new route will be in operation soon, and Indian Pilgrims will no longer have to go via China or Nepal.’
The Ministry of External Affairs currently organizes the Kailash Yatra via Lipulekh Pass (Uttarakhand) & Nathu La Pass (Sikkim). It takes 23-25 days to complete the whole yatra via these two routes.
Kailash Parvat and Mansarover Lake, the Abode of Lord Shiva, hold religious importance to Hindus, Jains, and Buddhists.
The new route is being constructed in Pithoragarh District of Uttarakhand, involving three stretches: Pithoragarh to Tawaghat stretching 107.6 km, Tawaghat to Ghatiabgarh stretches a single lane of 19.5 km, Ghatiabgarh to Lipulekh pass at the China Border this stretch is of 80 km and can be covered by foot only. However, Border Roads Organizations (BRO) covers the second stretch from Tawaghat to Ghatiabgarh into a double lane.
Also, the Dharchula-Lipulekh Lane, which our Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated in May 2020, is an extension of the Pithoragarh – Tawaghat – Ghatiabgarh road; it originates from Ghatiabgarh and terminates at Lipulekh Pass it is an 80 km road, and the altitude rises from 6000 ft to 17,060 ft. Once the Pithoragarh project is complete, Kailash Mansarovar’s journey time will be reduced by about two weeks.
Now pilgrims can make use of this shorter, comfortable route to Kailash Mansarovar! Keep your bags ready!
