‘Claim lacks basis’: India counters Nepal protest over Kailash Mansarovar route

India on Sunday rejected Nepal’s objection to the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra route via Lipulekh Pass, saying Kathmandu’s territorial claim was “neither justified nor based on historical facts and evidence.”

In its response to media queries, the Ministry of External Affairs said the route has been used for border trade and the pilgrimage for decades and that the current arrangement was not a fresh development.

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Diplomatic notes are exchanged as Kathmandu raises concerns

The row began after Nepal sent diplomatic notes to India and China, objecting to the pilgrimage route through Lipulekh, which Kathmandu says falls within Nepali territory.

Nepal’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Lok Bahadur Poudel Chhetri, said the government had conveyed its concerns through diplomatic channels. Several Nepali outlets reported that the ministry reiterated its claim over Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh, and Kalapani.

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Responding to Nepal’s position, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India’s stance on the issue has remained “consistent and clear.”

The ministry said, “Lipulekh Pass has been a long-standing route for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra since 1954. This is not a new development,” and added that “any unilateral artificial enlargement of territorial claims is untenable.”

India also said it remained open to “constructive interaction” with Nepal on outstanding boundary issues through dialogue and diplomacy.

The exchange has once again brought the Lipulekh dispute into focus, with both sides reiterating their positions even as the pilgrimage route becomes a fresh flashpoint in bilateral ties.

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The pilgrimage was also conducted through Lipulekh Pass in 2025 after a five-year pause, as part of efforts by India and China to stabilize ties following a prolonged military stand-off along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

The yatra is scheduled between June and August this year, with 10 batches of 50 pilgrims each set to travel via Lipulekh in Uttarakhand and another 10 batches of 50 pilgrims each through Nathu La in Sikkim.

Nepal’s foreign ministry spokesperson said Kathmandu’s position is based on the Sugauli Treaty, under which it claims Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh, and Kalapani as integral parts of its territory. He added that Nepal has urged India to refrain from activities in the disputed region, including road construction, border trade, and the pilgrimage.