Govt Notifies Nathu La, Lipulekh La As Immigration Posts For Kailash Manasarovar Yatra
Curated By :
Last Updated: June 10, 2025, 07:07 IST
Kailash Mansarovar Yatra: Govt notifies official entry/exit points
The Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday notified the entry and exit points in India for the pilgrims of Kailash Manasarovar Yatra.
The government designated Nathu La in Sikkim and Lipulekh La (Gunji) in Uttarakhand as the authorised immigration check-posts on a temporary basis for the pilgrims.
The Kailash Manasarovar Yatra is organised by the Ministry of External Affairs every year during June-September through two routes – Lipulekh Pass and Nathu La Pass.
The Yatra, set to begin on 30 June and run through late August, will be the first since the Covid-19 pandemic, after it was suspended in 2020 due to the pandemic and thereafter due to the India-China military standoff.
In a notification, the MHA said that the Centre has designated the Nathu La check-post in East Sikkim district as an authorised immigration check-post temporarily for entry into and exit from India. The pilgrims are mandated to visit with valid travel documents.
In a similar notice, the Home Ministry said that under the Passport (Entry into India) Rules, 1950, the central government has temporarily declared the Lipulekh La (Gunji) check-post in Uttarakhand's Pithoragarh district as an official immigration point. This will be used for people entering or leaving India during the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra.
'This year, 5 batches, each consisting of 50 Yatris, and 10 batches, each consisting of 50 Yatris, are scheduled to travel through Uttarakhand State crossing over at Lipulekh Pass, and through Sikkim State crossing over at Nathu La Pass, respectively," the MEA said in a statement in April.
Hundreds of devotees join the Yatra every year, which is known for its religious value and cultural significance.
Swipe Left For Next Video View all
Kailash Manasarovar is very important to Hindus as it is believed to be the home of Lord Shiva. It also holds religious significance for Jains and Buddhists.
The Yatra is open to Indian citizens with valid Indian passports who want to visit Kailash Manasarovar for religious reasons. Ashesh Mallick
Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More
Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More News india Govt Notifies Nathu La, Lipulekh La As Immigration Posts For Kailash Manasarovar Yatra
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
31 minutes ago
- News18
Maldives Names Katrina Kaif Global Tourism Ambassador Amid Renewed Ties With India
Last Updated: The timing of the announcement is also crucial as it comes just ahead of the anticipated visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Maldives Maldives has appointed Bollywood superstar Katrina Kaif as its new Global Tourism Ambassador in a significant move aimed at enhancing its tourism appeal. The announcement was made on Tuesday by the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC), which expressed its excitement about the collaboration with one of the most recognisable faces in the Indian film industry. 'Having Katrina Kaif as our Global Brand Ambassador is a moment of great pride for us," said Thoyyib Mohamed, managing director of MMPRC. 'Her popularity, combined with her influence in the global entertainment industry, will undoubtedly help us attract more visitors from across the world, especially from India." Visit Maldives Unveils Katrina Kaif as Global Brand Ambassador for the Sunny Side of Life. — Visit Maldives (@visitmaldives) June 10, 2025 Speaking about her new role as the Sunny Side of Life's Global Brand Ambassador, Kaif said: 'The Maldives represents the pinnacle of luxury and natural beauty—a place where elegance meets tranquillity. I'm honoured to be chosen as the face of the Sunny Side of Life. This collaboration is about bringing the finest travel experiences to global audiences, and I'm excited to help people around the world discover the unique charm and world-class offerings of this extraordinary destination." Kaif's appointment comes at a pivotal time as the Indian subcontinent remains a key source of tourists for the island nation. The Maldives, known for its crystal-clear waters, luxury resorts, and serene beaches, has long been a favoured destination for Indian travellers and Kaif, with her massive fan base across India and globally, is expected to play a key role in further boosting the Maldives' tourism profile. The situation worsened last year when PM Modi posted a series of photos on social media, showing him snorkelling, strolling on a white-sand beach and lounging in a chair next to turquoise waters in Lakshadweep. As he praised the pristine lesser-known and remote Indian archipelago that the government believes has untapped potential for tourism, his photos stirred a storm in Maldives as some saw the tourism campaign as an attempt to draw visitors away from their country. Three senior Maldives officials reacted to PM Modi's post by calling him names, while many other Maldivians insulted Indian tourists on social media. This led to retaliation by Indian tourists who cancelled their holidays to the Maldives, hitting Male where it hurt the most. Finally, as Muizzu visited India in October, the two nations seemed to finally be resetting their ties. India has extended a $50 million treasury‐bill rollover interest‑free to support Maldives' fiscal reforms and help address its debt pressures, re‑affirming its 'Neighbourhood First" policy.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Egypt unveils $30 million overhaul plan to transform tourism for the Pyramids
Some 2.5 million people visit the Pyramids of Giza each year with hopes of an epic experience befitting one of the World's Seven Wonders. But for decades, a trip to Egypt 's most famous tourist spot meant battling crowds and parrying aggressive hawkers. Now, thanks to a $30 million revamp that rethinks the experience, seeing the pyramids is finally inspiring more awe than agony. A network of buses whisks visitors around the site, the hard-sells have been tamed — and you can even enjoy some fine dining overlooking the 4,600-year-old monuments. All this officially debuts on July 3 — a milestone seven years in the making. In 2018, the Egyptian government signed a public-private partnership deal with Egyptian billionaire Naguib Sawiris' Orascom Pyramids Entertainment to overhaul the Giza Plateau , the area west of Cairo on which the ancient structures sit. A soft launch began in early April, allowing OPE to make improvements and address shortcomings ahead of a wider reveal, OPE Executive Chairman Amr Gazarin said in an interview. The firm will operate the location for the next 11 years, drawing revenue not from ticket sales — which the government is solely entitled to — but from VIP tours, sponsorship deals and commercial leases on the grounds. (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) The opening date coincides with the long-awaited inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum — the $1 billion flagship attraction sitting about a mile away. Taken together, the two projects represent some of the biggest strides yet in Egypt's goal of doubling annual visitors to 30 million within a decade. It's a target that would put it roughly on par with Greece, making it one of the most-visited countries in the world. Live Events You Might Also Like: Thailand 'unexpectedly' shuts border to tourists, leaves thousands stranded New gate, new rules One of the key changes was to make the Giza Plateau car-free. Instead of driving up a winding road in the shadow of the Great Pyramid , visitors now enter via a gate on a highway 1.5 miles to the southwest. After passing through the so-called Great Gate and buying tickets, visitors navigate a gleaming hall of introductory exhibits before boarding new hop-on, hop-off buses. Within minutes, they can be dropped off at the feet of the three colossal pyramids, each built from 80-ton limestone blocks. The iconic Great Sphinx lies further below. At bus stops around the site they'll find facilities that were long-lacking, including upgraded restrooms, formal souvenir stores and cafes. And, with the opening of several eateries in recent years, you can finally order a meal on-site. You Might Also Like: Philippines opens doors to Indian tourists with visa-free entry starting June 8 Khufu's, which serves up a deluxe twist on Egyptian staples and has a terrace overlooking the pyramid built for the pharaoh of the same name, has been ranked one of the Middle East and North Africa's top restaurants by World's 50 Best. 'It wasn't a good experience before, for sure,' said Mariam Al-Gohary, 37, an Egyptian-Canadian citizen who visited the pyramids in mid-May for the first time in 15 years. 'Now it's like going to the museum,' said Al-Gohary, who works in human resources in Calgary, Alberta. 'It looks like what you would expect a big tourist destination.' Visitor numbers were up almost 24% in April compared to the year before, according to the Tourism Ministry. Egypt's tourist sector is already on a tear and saw record arrivals in the opening months of 2025, though, so it's unclear how much the project itself drove the increase. You Might Also Like: Portugal considers sweetening incentives for Golden Visa program Tackling horsemen OPE's Gazarin says Egyptian authorities are also helping the company tackle a critical issue: hawkers offering horse and camel rides. They've long been accused of being aggressive and overcharging as they literally and figuratively take tourists for a ride. Al-Gohary from Calgary recalled that when she and her friend rode camels in 2010, the owner demanded extra money to have the animals kneel so they could dismount from them – an infamous ploy. She avoided them altogether on this year's visit. For first-time visitors, it's now easier to avoid getting swept up by the scams. The new setup has denied horsemen and hawkers the access they had to the old entrance, where they were accused of accosting tourists. Authorities have allocated horsemen a separate and relatively isolated area, but many have been defiant and pushed for positions closer to the pyramids. It's a work in progress, says Gazarin, who expects Egyptian authorities to gradually tighten the limits to better ensure enforcement. 'People were afraid to go to the pyramids' because of the issue, he said. He rues the fact the pyramids draw just 2.5 million visitors a year — half of them Egyptian. By comparison, over 12 million went to the Colosseum in Rome in 2023. But Gazarin knows it will take time to build up those numbers, especially in the face of regional conflicts that create some amount of local unpredictability. What matters, he says, is that the numbers trend upwards. 'It's unacceptable the world's most important monument attracts just above one million foreigners.'
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Maldives names Katrina Kaif its global brand ambassador for tourism
The Maldives has named Bollywood actor Katrina Kaif as its global brand ambassador for tourism, a statement by the country's marketing and public relations department said. 'Katrina Kaif is a globally recognised icon, a distinguished performer, and an award-winning entrepreneur whose influence spans industries and continents. With an acclaimed portfolio of blockbuster films and many prestigious awards, her contributions to Indian cinema are prolific,' the release said. While saying that she was 'honoured' to be chosen as the brand ambassador of the 'Sunny Side of Life', Kaif said, 'The Maldives represents the pinnacle of luxury and natural beauty - a place where elegance meets tranquillity.' She highlighted that the collaboration was about bringing the 'finest travel experiences' to tourists around the world. The actor shared her excitement, saying the campaign would help people around the globe to 'discover the unique charm and world-class offerings' that the Maldives provides. The decision comes a month before Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit the country, and amid warming ties between India and Maldives after relations deteriorated at the beginning of last year. Ibrahim Shiuree, CEO & MD of Visit Maldives said that country was 'thrilled' to have Katrina as the global brand ambassador. 'Her vibrant personality and strong connection with audiences worldwide make her a perfect representative for the Sunny Side of Life,' he said .
