India and China have resumed traditional border trade through Lipulekh in Uttarakhand and Shipki La in Himachal Pradesh after a six-year hiatus, which included a suspension due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The first batches of traders crossed into Tibet, with specific goods categories permitted for export and import.
China and India reopened the Lipulekh Pass in the Himalayas for cross-border trade last week after a six-year closure. This move, following Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to New Delhi, signals a cautious warming of ties between the two nations.
Nathu La in Sikkim and Lipulekh La in Uttarakhand are now temporary immigration posts for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra starting June 20. The first batch of 44 pilgrims has arrived in Sikkim.
Nepal PM Balendra Shah's comments on Indian territory 'encroachments' have reignited the decades-old border dispute over Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura. While Nepal claims the region based on historical treaties, India cites administrative control. The area is strategically vital for India, bordering China and serving as a route for religious pilgrimages.
India on Sunday firmly rejected Nepal's territorial claims over Lipulekh Pass, calling them neither justified nor based on historical facts. The dispute arose after Nepal objected to the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra being routed through the disputed region. India stated the pass has been a pilgrimage route since 1954, calling Nepal's unilateral claims untenable while remaining open to diplomatic resolution.
India-Nepal border tensions escalate as Kathmandu formally objects to India's resumption of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through Lipulekh Pass, claimed by Nepal. India dismissed Nepal's territorial claims as unjustified and not based on historical facts. Nepal cites the 1816 Sugauli Treaty to assert that Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh, and Kalapani are integral parts of its territory. Both nations remain committed to resolving the dispute through diplomatic means.
India has dismissed Nepal's territorial claims over the Lipulekh Pass, labeling them as unjustified. The dispute centers on the route for the annual Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, which Nepal claims lies within its territory under the 1816 Sugauli Treaty.
Nepal has formally objected to India and China's plans for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra via Lipulekh Pass, asserting the region is part of its territory. India has rejected the claim, stating the route has been in use since 1954 and remains a long-standing practice.
Nepal has objected to India and China's plan for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra via Lipulekh Pass, asserting the territory belongs to Nepal based on the 1816 Treaty of Sugauli. India rejected the claim, stating the route has been used for decades and Nepal's claims are unjustified, but remains open to dialogue.
The Ministry of External Affairs has opened registration for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra 2026, with pilgrims able to apply online till May 19. The pilgrimage will run from June to August via two routes: Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand (10 batches, Rs 2.09 lakh) and Nathu La in Sikkim (10 batches, Rs 3.31 lakh). Each batch comprises 50 pilgrims, totaling 1,000 pilgrims. Eligibility requires Indian citizenship, valid passport till September 2026, age 18-70, and BMI of 25 or less.
