India announces Kailash Mansarovar Pilgrimage via Lipulekh Pass; Nepal not informed
Summary
India has announced the 2026 Kailash Mansarovar Pilgrimage via the disputed Lipulekh Pass without informing Nepal, reigniting tensions over territorial claims.
Key Points
- India officially announced the Kailash Mansarovar Pilgrimage for 2026 via Lipulekh Pass.
- The pilgrimage is coordinated with China following a 2024 agreement between their officials.
- Nepal claims Lipulekh and surrounding areas as its sovereign territory and was not informed.
- The Lipulekh route, suspended since 2019 due to COVID-19, will reopen fully for the pilgrimage.
- Lipulekh area has been under Indian control since the 1962 Sino-Indian War.
