The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Saturday, June 28, 2026, issued a cautionary advisory to Indian citizens planning the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. The ministry stressed the importance of securing all necessary Chinese visas and entry permits before embarking on the pilgrimage, especially when organizing travel through private tour operators.
This urgent warning comes after the MEA received multiple requests for assistance from Indian citizens who found themselves stranded in Nepal. These pilgrims were reportedly attempting the spiritual journey without the required documentation for entry into China, where the holy site of Kailash Mansarovar is located.
Pilgrims Stranded in Nepal
The advisory highlights a specific incident where approximately 52 Indian pilgrims were stranded in Kathmandu, Nepal. They were awaiting the necessary travel documents, which had not been obtained prior to their departure from India. NCP-SP leader Supriya Sule brought this issue to public attention, requesting intervention from External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Indian diplomatic missions in Nepal and Beijing to ensure the pilgrims' safe onward journey.
The MEA emphasized that commencing travel from India without confirmed documentation significantly increases the risk of being stranded and facing unforeseen complications. Pilgrims are strongly advised to ensure all travel documents for the entire journey are in hand before leaving their home country.
Verify Tour Operators
In addition to securing visas, the ministry also urged pilgrims to exercise due diligence in verifying the credentials of their chosen tour operators. It advised pilgrims to confirm that their tour operator is duly registered and authorized to organize such international pilgrimages.
The advisory follows closely on the heels of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra 2026's resumption. The first group of pilgrims for the year had successfully crossed into China via the Nathu La Pass on June 20, 2026, marking the official start of the pilgrimage season.