Indian Pilgrims Begin Kailash-Manasarovar Journey Through Humla Route

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Indian Pilgrims Begin Kailash-Manasarovar Journey Through Humla Route

Indian Pilgrims Begin Kailash-Manasarovar Journey Through Humla Route

Ecosphere News Service 2026-05-14 15:12:00

Humla, Nepal - The annual movement of Indian religious pilgrims traveling to the sacred Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar has officially begun through Nepal’s northern Himalayan district of Humla, bringing renewed optimism to local tourism and business sectors.
The first group of 25 Indian pilgrims arrived on Wednesday at Simkot Airport via air service from Nepalgunj. Upon arrival, the pilgrims were welcomed with traditional khadas by Simkot Rural Municipality Chairperson Bijay Bhandari and Chief District Officer Tekuraj Regmi.
With the start of the pilgrimage season, travelers are now expected to continue their journey from Simkot to Hilsa by helicopter before crossing into Tibet for the Kailash-Manasarovar pilgrimage. Helicopter services on the Simkot-Hilsa route have also resumed, and operators have begun overnight stays at Simkot Airport to manage increasing tourist flow.
The reopening and continuation of the Humla route has generated enthusiasm among tourism entrepreneurs in the district, especially at a time when uncertainty remains regarding India’s Lipulekh route for the pilgrimage. Local stakeholders believe the influx of visitors will provide direct economic benefits to hotels, transport operators, farmers, and local porters.
According to tourism entrepreneurs, bookings have already been confirmed for more than 15,000 Indian pilgrims expected to travel through the Simkot-Hilsa corridor during this year’s pilgrimage season.
The Hilsa route had gained importance after the devastating 2015 earthquake disrupted regional travel patterns. However, the COVID-19 pandemic later forced the closure of the Hilsa border point, bringing pilgrimage-related tourism to a halt. Since China resumed permission for Indian pilgrims to travel via Hilsa last year, the route has gradually regained momentum. In the previous season alone, around 6,500 Indian pilgrims completed the Kailash-Manasarovar pilgrimage through this corridor within four months.
The revival of the pilgrimage route is being viewed as a positive development for Humla’s tourism-dependent economy and cross-border religious tourism activities in the Himalayan region.
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