The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Saturday advised Indian citizens traveling on the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through private tour operators not to start their journey from India unless they obtain all the required travel documents.
This warning comes after many Indian pilgrims traveling to Kailash Mansarovar in Nepal were stranded without the necessary permits and visas to enter China.
The Middle East Airlines said in a statement that it had received multiple requests for assistance from Indian citizens stranded in Nepal while they were performing Hajj through tours organized by private sector operators.
The ministry said: “We advise citizens not to start their journey from India until they have obtained all the travel documents required for the entire journey. Starting travel without confirmed documents or expecting to obtain the necessary documents increases the possibility of being stranded.”
Check with tour operators before booking
MEA also urged pilgrims to be careful while booking their travel and ensure that tour operators are properly registered and licensed.
“Pilgrims are also strongly advised to check that their tour operator is duly registered and licensed,” the statement read.
The ministry’s advice comes amid reports that dozens of Indian pilgrims were unable to continue their journey due to documentation issues.
Stranded pilgrims in Nepal
The issue was earlier raised by Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) MP Supriya Sule, who said that around 52 Indian nationals traveling to Kailash Mansarovar were stranded in Kathmandu and needed urgent assistance.
In a post on the X website, Sule appealed to the authorities to intervene and help the pilgrims continue their journey safely.
“Around 52 Indian nationals traveling to Kailash Mansarovar are currently stranded in Kathmandu, Nepal and need urgent assistance,” she wrote.
It also sought intervention from External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Indian embassies in Nepal and China, and Middle East Airlines.
“I request Dr. S. Jaishankar, the Embassy of India in Kathmandu, Nepal, the Embassy of India in Beijing, China, and the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, to look into the matter and provide necessary support to ensure their safe journey,” she added.
This development comes days after the first batch of pilgrims boarding the 2026 Kailash Mansarovar Yatra to China crossed the Indo-China border at Nathu La Pass on June 20, marking the continuation of the pilgrimage route through the Himalayan Pass.
