The
Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through the Lipulekh Pass was last held in
2019. It was suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and has not
resumed since.
New Delhi: With the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra
suspended for several years due to various reasons, the Uttarakhand
government is exploring alternate routes to offer pilgrims a glimpse of
Mount Kailash, believed to be the abode of Lord Shiva, from the old
Lipulekh peak. The peak is situated on the western side of the Lipulekh
Pass, the gateway to Tibet. It is about 17,500 feet from sea level.
The
Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through the Lipulekh Pass was last held in
2019. Although the yatra resumed this year, stringent visa rules and an
increase in yatra expenditure by China have forced the pilgrims to
explore alternate routes.
"A
team of tourism department officials, district authorities, adventure
tourism experts and Border Roads Organisation officials recently visited
the old Lipulekh peak, which offers a clear view of the majestic Mount
Kailash, to find out how the spot can be developed as a religious
tourism destination,Dharchula Sub-Divisional Magistrate Devesh Shashni
said, according to news agency PTI.
NDTV
also spoke to a team member Kirti Chand who visited these sites. He
confirmed that they are in process of finalising the route. "We visited
these places and reviewed logistics and issues a pilgrim might face. We
are submits a report to Uttrakhand government," he told NDTV.
The
team is also submitting area pictures along with their report. "Aerial
distance from old Lipulekh pass to mount Kailash is just fifty
kilometres and the view is very clear," he added.
Kailash Darshan from the old Lipulekh peak can be an alternative to the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, the officials said.
The
Kailash Mansarovar Yatra can be completed from Delhì in four to five
days. While a pilgrim can travel to Nabhidhang via Dharchula and Budhi
on road, the remaining two kilometres will be covered on foot as the
climb is tough.
"Our
team was asked to submit a report on the possibility of religious
tourism in the Vyas Valley, for which we visited the old Lipulekh peak,
Nabhidhang and Adi Kailash region," District Tourism Officer Kriti Chand was quoted as saying by PTI.
A
snow scooter can take pilgrims to the peak which is located at an
altitude of 19,000 feet above the sea level and is 1,800 metres from the
Lipulekh Pass, he said.
The BRO has constructed a road up to the base of the peak.
Vyas
Valley residents said previously too, the pilgrims who could not cross
over to Mansarovar due to old age or health issues used to get darshan
of the sacred Mount Kailash from the old Lipulekh peak.
One
gets a lovely and thrilling view of Mount Kailash from the peak. The
only challenges are gusty winds and four critical bends on the way to
the peak, said Bhupal Singh Ronkali, a resident of Vyas Valleys
Rongkong village who has visited the peak several times and shot a video
of Mount Kailash from there.
Currently, a pilgrim needs Chinese visa to do darshan.
This year yatra registration started on May 1. However, China has made rules stringent for the yatra this year.