Desk : A fresh dispute has surfaced between India and Nepal over the proposed route of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. The Nepal government has raised objections to the use of the Lipulekh Pass for the pilgrimage, asserting that the area falls within its sovereign territory.
The government led by Balen Shah has reiterated that regions including Lipulekh, Kalapani, and Limpiyadhura belong to Nepal. It has stated that any activity conducted through this route would be considered a violation of its territorial integrity.
India has announced plans to resume the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in 2026, in coordination with China, using the Lipulekh route. Following this announcement, Nepal has formally lodged its protest.
Reports indicate that Nepalese authorities may attempt to regulate or even restrict activities along the route. At the diplomatic level, Nepal is actively communicating its concerns to both India and China.
The Lipulekh Pass is a strategically significant location situated at the tri-junction of India, Nepal, and China (Tibet). While India considers it part of Uttarakhand, Nepal bases its claim on the 1816 Treaty of Sugauli.
Experts believe that the decision by India and China to resume the pilgrimage via this route has placed Nepal in a diplomatically sensitive position, potentially leading to renewed regional tensions.
Overall, what is traditionally a spiritual journey to Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar has once again become entangled in geopolitical complexities involving all three nations.