Context: Recently, the Defence Minister of India has inaugurated a new 80-km road in Uttarakhand connecting the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and opening a new route for Kailash Mansarovar yatra via Lipulekh Pass (China border).
Key Points

• The Darchula-Lipulekh link road is famously known as Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra Route.
• It is an extension of Pithoragarh-Tawaghat-Ghatiabagarh road.
• It originates from Ghatiabagarh and terminates at Lipulekh Pass, the gateway to Kailash Mansarovar.

Benefit of this Route

• With the completion of this project, the arduous trek through treacherous high-altitude terrain can now be avoided by the Pilgrims of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and the period of journey will be reduced by many days.
• It is the shortest and cheapest route with just one-fifth distance of road travel as compared to other old routes. The other route is via Sikkim.
• There is no air travel involved and the majority of the travel (84%) is in India and only 16% in China compared to other routes where 80% road travel is in China.
• Except for a 5-km trek, whole travel will be on vehicles reducing the 5-day trek to 2- days road travel.

About Lipulekh Pass

• It is also known as Lipu-Lekh Pass/Qiangla or Tri-Corner is a high altitude mountain pass situated in the western Himalayas.
• It is an International mountain pass between India, China and Nepal.
• It comes under Chaudans valley of Darchula (sub-district of Pithoragarh) in the Kumaon region where it links with the Byash valley of Nepal and with Tibet (autonomous region of China).

About Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra

• It is known for its religious value and cultural significance.
• It holds significance for Hindus as the abode of Lord Shiva, Kailasha.
• The Ministry of External Affairs organizes this Yatra during June to September each year through two different routes – Lipulekh Pass (Uttarakhand) and Nathu La Pass (Sikkim).
• It is open to eligible Indian citizens, holding valid Indian passports, who wish to proceed to Kailash-Manasarovar for religious purposes.
• The Ministry of External Affairs does not provide any subsidy or financial assistance to Yatris.
• The Yatra involves trekking at high altitudes of up to 19,500 feet, under inhospitable conditions, including extreme weather, and rugged terrain
• This Yatra is organized with the support of the state governments of Uttarakhand, Delhi, and Sikkim; and the cooperation of Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).