Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has urged the Central Government to explore the feasibility of opening the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra (KMY) via the Shipki-La route in Himachal Pradesh.
Addressing Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Chief Minister said that the Shipki-La region has historically served as a vital Indo-Tibetan trade route, predating modern borders. He noted that it has also functioned as a cultural corridor for Tibetan Buddhism and ancient pilgrimage paths, reflecting India’s enduring civilizational ties to Kailash and Mansarovar.
Sukhu highlighted that the Kinnaur region of Himachal Pradesh, being semi-arid and situated in a rain-shadow zone like Spiti, is less prone to monsoon disruptions, which keeps the route accessible for most of the year. He added that the path from Shipki-La via Gartok towards Darchen and Mansarovar is comparatively shorter on the Tibetan side. He further said that Shipki-La offers a more stable and unambiguous corridor, making it well suited as a long-term, dependable route for pilgrimage and cross-border connectivity.
The Chief Minister said that Himachal Pradesh already has road connectivity up to Shipki-La via Rampur and Pooh. He stated that with focused development of base camps and supporting infrastructure, this route can be seamlessly integrated into the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra framework. He emphasised that opening this route would significantly contribute to the socio-economic upliftment of the tribal people of Kinnaur, aligning with the Government’s vision for border development and tourism promotion under the Vibrant Villages Programme.
The Chief Minister assured that the state government would extend all logistical and administrative support to the Central Government if the Shipki-La route is opened for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.
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