Kailash Mansarovar Yatra 2026: MEA Advisory Issued After 52 Indian Pilgrims Stranded in Nepal
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has issued a travel advisory urging citizens intending to undertake the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra to secure all necessary documentation before starting their journey. The warning follows reports that 52 Indian pilgrims are currently stranded in Kathmandu, Nepal, due to incomplete travel papers.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has issued a travel advisory urging citizens intending to undertake the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra to secure all necessary documentation before starting their journey. The warning follows reports that 52 Indian pilgrims are currently stranded in Kathmandu, Nepal, due to incomplete travel papers. The advisory specifically cautions those planning the pilgrimage via private tour operators. According to the ministry, commencing travel in anticipation of receiving documents, rather than having them confirmed beforehand, significantly increases the risk of being stranded at transit points.
The MEA has strongly advised pilgrims to thoroughly verify that their chosen tour operators are officially registered and authorized by competent authorities before booking any travel packages. The situation came to light after Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) MP Supriya Sule raised the issue on social media. In a post on X, Sule noted that approximately 52 Indian nationals were stuck in Nepal's capital and required immediate government assistance to proceed. She appealed directly to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and the Indian embassies in both Kathmandu and Beijing to intervene and facilitate the safe passage of the travelers. MEA Advises Kailash Manasarovar Yatra Pilgrims Not to Commence Journey from India Without Required Travel Documents.
The standard route for the pilgrimage frequently crosses borders where rigorous permissions are required. The MEA noted that the stranded individuals lack the valid Chinese visas and entry permits necessary to move forward into the Tibet Autonomous Region, where Mount Kailash is located. This development comes shortly after the official resumption of the pilgrimage. The first organized batch of travelers for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra successfully crossed into China through the Nathu La Pass along the India-China border on June 20, marking the official opening of the 2026 yatra season. 52 Indian Pilgrims Stranded in Kathmandu During Kailash Mansarovar Yatra; NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule Urges MEA, Embassies to Intervene.
'Do Not Start Your Journey Without Required Documents'
MEA- This Ministry is in receipt of several requests for help and assistance from Indian citizens stuck in Nepal while undertaking Kailash Mansarovar Yatra without the required entry permit and visas for China, through tours organized by private tour operators. Citizens are… pic.twitter.com/kOE0wCqq4w
— ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2026
Government officials have reiterated that while bilateral diplomatic channels are being utilized to assist those currently stranded, future travelers must exercise strict diligence regarding their immigration paperwork to avoid similar disruptions.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 28, 2026 08:42 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
