Resumption of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra from Lipulekh pass bring cheers to locals

Resumption of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra from Lipulekh pass bring cheers to locals
B.D.Kasniyal
Pithoragarh, Jan 28
With India and China agreeing to resume the Kailash Mansarovar yatra from Lipulekh route of Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand which was suspended since outbreak of Covid pandemic, the news has been greeted with much relief and joy by the officials of the Kumoan Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN), a state government undertaking which used to organise the yatra and other stake holders.
The traders involved in the Indo -Tibet border trade from Lipulekh pass, are also in high spirits following declaration by Ministry of External Affairs, on Monday regarding resumption of Kailash Mansarowar Yatra from Lipulekh pass as agreed by China and India in the recently concluded meetings.
“We are happy that Lipulekh pass would be opened for Yatra again, the border trade would follow, giving a big relief to the traders who were involved with it since 1992 and have left their goods in Taklakot mart of Tibet in 2019, the last year of the trade before its’ closure,” said Jeewan Singh Rongkaki, president of Bharat Cheen Vyapar Sangh at Dharchula.
The KMVN officials, the nodal agency for Mansarowar Yatra, have said that the last batch of yatra, they sent to Tibet was in the year 2019.”After that yatra was stopped following outbreak of Covid pandemic. Since then, we have been upgrading lodging and boarding facilities on all camps of yatra, in hope of it’s resumption,” said Dhan Singh, in charge of KMVN base camp at Dharchula.
The Nigam officials have said that some more modern facilities are on anvil if the Yatra gets commenced from this year.” The Nigam is to install solar powered water geasers in all four high altitude camps of Bundi, Gunji, Kalapani and Nabhidhang, besides new linen and beddings to give more comforts to the pilgrims,” said Bisht.
According to Nigam sources, if resumed, the Kailash Mansarowar Yatra will be welcomed via Tanakpur and Pithoragarh and would likely to return via Chaukiori, Almora, Jageshwar and Bhimtal route.”Due to better road transport facilities available upto Lipulekh camp, the pilgrims after staying at Pithoragarh, Dharchula and Gunji, (2 days), might directly be sent to Taklakot on third day after taking breakfast at Nabhidhang,” said the Nigam officials.