By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
After a gap of five years, the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, which was disrupted due to the covid in 2020, will resume from June 30 this year, an official statement said on Monday.
The Mansarovar yatra used to be organized every year through Lipulekh Pass in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand. But after the covid pandemic, China had refused to accord permission apparently due to the border tension.
However, this year, special efforts were launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami for the resumption of the annual pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and Mansarovar Lake in Tibet region.
The responsibility of conducting the yatra has again been entrusted to the Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN), a state government enterprise.
The statement said the yatra will resume from Delhi on June 30, in which a total of five groups comprising 50 persons each will participate. This means that a total 250 pilgrims will undertake the yatra this year.
The first group to undertake the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra will enter Tibet through the Lipulekh Pass on July 10 and the last group will depart for India on August 22.
Each group will depart from Delhi and enter Taklakot in China after staying one night in Tanakpur in Champawat district of Uttarakhand, one night in Dharchula in Pithoragarh district, two nights in Gunji and two nights in Nabhidang.
After Kailash Darshan, on the return journey, it will depart from China and reach Delhi after staying one night in Bundi in Pithoragarh district, one night in Chaukodi, one night in Almora. Thus, a total of 22 days of travel will be undertaken by each group.
According to the statement, the health check-up of all the pilgrims going on the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra will be done first in New Delhi and in Gunji.
The Kailash Mountain and Mansarovar Lake located in Tibet controlled by China have great religious significance. Hindus believe that Mount Kailash is the abode of Lord Shiva and one attains salvation by taking parikrama (circumambulating) around it and taking bath in Mansarovar Lake.