India rejects Nepal’s objection to Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through Lipulekh pass

India has rejected Nepal’s renewed objections regarding the use of the Lipulekh Pass for the upcoming 2026 Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.  Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that India’s position remains consistent and clear, stressing that the high-altitude Himalayan route is a traditional pathway that has been officially utilized for the pilgrimage for over seven decades. 

Treaty of Sugauli (1816)

Signed between the Kingdom of Nepal and the British East India Company, the Treaty of Sugauli established the Kali River (also known as the Sharda or Mahakali River) as Nepal’s western boundary with India. 

However, the treaty did not include precise coordinates or specify the exact source of the river, leading to conflicting cartographic interpretations:

About Lipulekh Pass

The territorial dispute over the Kalapani-Lipulekh-Limpiyadhura tri-junction (where India, Nepal, and China meet) is rooted in differing interpretations of a colonial-era treaty.

The strategic value of the Lipulekh Pass, situated at an extraordinary altitude of 5,334 meters (17,500 feet), extends far beyond religious pilgrimage. 

The pass offers India a crucial vantage point overlooking the Tibetan Plateau, allowing for strategic monitoring of the border. India has maintained a military presence in Kalapani since the 1962 Sino-Indian War.

Tensions spiked in May 2020 when India inaugurated an 80-kilometer road linking Dharchula to Lipulekh, vastly simplifying the trek for pilgrims. Nepal retaliated by constitutionally updating its national map to include the disputed territories.