Halfway Through 2026 Kailash Mansarovar Yatra as Fifth Batch Returns
Halfway Through 2026 Kailash Mansarovar Yatra as Fifth Batch Returns
Pithoragarh, Aug 4
The 2026 Kailash Mansarovar Yatra via the Lipulekh Pass has reached its halfway mark, with the fifth batch of pilgrims successfully completing the pilgrimage and reaching Chaukori on Tuesday.
According to officials of the Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN), the nodal agency for the yatra, five of the ten scheduled batches have now returned after completing the pilgrimage.
“Out of the ten batches, each comprising 50 pilgrims, sanctioned for this year’s Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through the Lipulekh Pass, five batches have successfully returned. The sixth and seventh batches are currently in Tibet, while the eighth batch is undergoing mandatory medical examination at Gunji today,” said Dhan Singh, in-charge of the KMVN base camp at Dharchula.
He said that the remaining two batches are expected to reach Tanakpur in the coming days. “Once they arrive, all ten batches will have commenced their onward journey from the Dharchula base camp towards Gunji by August 12. The pilgrimage is scheduled to conclude on August 24,” he added.
Dhan Singh credited the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) for ensuring uninterrupted movement of pilgrims despite frequent landslides along the Dharchula-Gunji route.
“The BRO has responded promptly whenever landslides have disrupted the road, ensuring that traffic is restored without significant delay. With half of this year’s pilgrimage completed successfully, we are hopeful that the remaining phase of the yatra will also proceed smoothly,” he said.
