Kathmandu: The number of Indian religious tourists traveling to Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar through Nepal’s Humla district has started increasing with the beginning of the pilgrimage season.

Tourist movement along the Nepalgunj–Simkot–Hilsa route has intensified since the new season began on Baisakh 30. Pilgrims are traveling from Nepalgunj to Simkot, the district headquarters of Humla, before crossing into China through the Hilsa Border Checkpoint.

According to Mahendra Singh, chief of Simkot Airport, a total of 169 pilgrims reached Simkot within the first four days of the pilgrimage season. Among them, 147 were Indian nationals while 22 came from other countries.

Despite unfavorable weather conditions, Summit Air operated three flights on Saturday alone, transporting 47 pilgrims to Simkot.

However, 23 Indian pilgrims who arrived on Saturday were unable to proceed to Kailash Mansarovar due to delays in obtaining Chinese travel permits. Since Saturday and Sunday are public holidays, arrangements were made for them to stay in Simkot until the permits are issued.

Officials expect the number of pilgrims to increase further this year following the reopening of the Hilsa route for Indian tourists.
Indian pilgrims began using the Hilsa border route after the 2072 BS earthquake. The pilgrimage route was later suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic after the border was closed.

Last year, after Chinese authorities reopened the Hilsa border for Indian pilgrims, around 6,500 Indian tourists completed the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage through the route within four months alone. The first group of pilgrims for this year’s season arrived in Simkot on Baisakh 30.