The cost of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra has risen by 20 per cent this year, taking the total pilgrimage fee to Rs 2.09 lakh, officials said on Wednesday, citing currency fluctuations. The annual pilgrimage through the Lipulekh Pass in Pithoragarh district is scheduled to begin on July 4 this year.
Officials said the strengthening of the US dollar has directly increased travel expenses in Tibet. Revised travel and logistical costs within the country have also contributed to the overall rise in the pilgrimage fee.
The Ministry of External Affairs collects payments for the Tibet portion of the yatra in US dollars. This amount covers visa charges, medical facilities, accommodation and other expenses during the stay in Chinese territory.
The Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN), which manages the Indian leg of the pilgrimage, has also revised its charges. The agency has increased its fee by Rs 8,000 to cover transportation, accommodation and guide services.
With the revision, the cost for the Indian leg of the journey is now estimated at Rs 65,000 per pilgrim. Overall, the total pilgrimage fee has increased from Rs 1.74 lakh last year to Rs 2.09 lakh this year, officials said.
KMVN General Manager Vijay Nath Shukla said the revised fee structure has been finalised and registrations for the pilgrimage are currently ongoing.
Shukla said 10 batches will undertake the yatra this year, with each batch consisting of 50 pilgrims.
The pilgrimage was suspended after the 1962 India–China war and resumed in 1981. It was again halted during the COVID-19 pandemic before restarting in 2025. Mount Kailash and Mansarovar Lake, based in Tibet under Chinese control, hold deep religious significance for devotees.
Hindus believe Mount Kailash is the abode of Lord Shiva. Pilgrims consider circumambulating the sacred mountain and taking a holy dip in Mansarovar Lake essential for spiritual purification and salvation.
Also read: India rejects Nepal’s claim over Lipulekh Pass
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