How to Go to Kailash Mansarovar from Delhi？

Indians, whether Buddhists or Hindus have a passion for Tibet. They are in a belief that Kailash is the centre of spiritual existence. Drinking and bathing in Lake Mansarovar, and doing a parikrama of Mount Kailash tend to bring good fortune to the worshippers. Therefore, going to Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar is an important pilgrimage route for Indians. According to the records in the Indian creation epic Ramayana and Tibetan historical books Gangdisi Sea Records and Puranas, people's worship of Kailash can be traced back to around 1000 BC.

The main peak of the Kailash range is located in Burang County, Ngari Prefecture, Tibet. As a world-recognized sacred mountain, Mount Kailash is not only the birthplace of the Ganges, Indus, and Yarlung Zangbo rivers, but also the "center of the world" recognized by Hinduism, Buddhism, Bon (Tibet's native religion), and ancient Jainism. Mount Kailash means "treasure of the snow mountain" or "snowy saint" in Tibetan. According to legends, it was the dojo of Buddha Sakyamuni and referred to as Mount Meru in Buddhism. In Hinduism, it is the residence of Lord Shiva, known as the "King of the sacred mountains".

Reach Kailash Mansarovar from Delhi

There are several ways to have a Kailash Mansarovar yatra from Delhi, including by flight, by road and by train. Currently, you can't go to Tibet from India directly, so all passengers have to transit through Nepal(recommended) or mainland China.

Delhi to Kailash Mansarovar by Flight(distance: 1,385)

Although there's no direct flight from Delhi to Lhasa, you can still fly from Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport to Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport, then transfer the flight to Lhasa Gonggar Airport, which is also the quickest and most convenient way. To fly to Nepal, Indian citizens must present a valid passport or Voter ID upon check-in and entry. The estimated distance from Delhi to Kathmandu is 813 kilometers, and the flight time is 1 hour and 27 minutes. The lowest price for a flight from Delhi to Kathmandu is INR 6,390, and the highest price is INR 16,546. From Kathmandu to Lhasa Gonggar Airport, the voyage is 572 kilometers, and the flight duration is about 1 hour and 25 minutes. The lowest price for a flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa is INR 23,479, and the highest price is INR 34,406. The ticket price depends on the season of your travel.

After arriving in Lhasa, you may join an overland tour to Kailash parvat. Usually the tour lasts 12~15 days and covers almost all prominent Buddhist attractions and natural scenery from Lhasa to Kailash. It will also gradually ascend altitude to lower the occurring of altitude sickness. And doing a parikrama is one of the most demanding and challenging trekking in the world. You need a professional team like us so that you can fully enjoy the spiritual journey. After going to Kailash Mansarovar, you can get to Kathmandu or Lhasa.

√ 15 Days Mt.Everest & Mt.Kailash Kora Pilgrimage Group Tour

And of course, you can also opt to fly from Lhasa to Ngari Kunsha Airport, and the flight duration is 2 hours. The abrupt altitude change is likely to cause altitude sickness, so you are not suggested to fly from Lhasa to Ngari.

Delhi to Kailash Mansarovar by Road(distance: 2,003km)

Traveling by road is a popular choice for Indian travelers to get to Kailash Mountain for enjoying the scenery along the route. This is relatively easy as Indian citizens have unrestricted access to Nepal and its surrounding areas. You can take a bus from Delhi to Kathmandu first and it's a long journey. The road distance is about 1,150km and it takes approximately 26 hours. The bus fare varies between INR 2,499 to INR 3,200 according to the operators and bus type.

Then you can take a car from Kathmandu to Mt.Kailash. You will cross the Nepal-China border into Tibet via Gyirong Port and meet your tour guide and driver here on the first day, then continue proceeding with your long road journey to Kailash Mansarovar in the following two days. The distance in this section is 853km. Please note, there's no bus from Kathmandu to Mt.Kailash so you'd better join a group tour from Kathmandu. The group tour cost is INR 212,634 including accommodation, meals, all entrance fees, tour guide, vehicle, etc. from Kathamndu to Kailash then getting back to Kathmandu.

√ 14 Days Kailash Mansarovar Yatra by Road from Kathmandu

Delhi to Kailash Mansarovar by Train

Since there is no direct train from India to Tibet, you only can take a train from Delhi to Gorakhpur, including a Superfast Express. The railway distance between Delhi and Gorakhpur is around 822 kilometers. It takes 11 hours 40 minutes to 14 hours 30 minutes according to train numbers. And the ticket price varies from INR 215 to INR 2,785.

But there's no train between Nepal and Tibet and you need to transit several times. In fact, there're only two railways available in Nepal, both of which are close to the Indian border. And in the Tibet part, the Tibet train has not yet reached the Nepali border, but only stretched to Shigatse(500km away from the border), although Nepal-Tibet Train is already in the plan of construction.

So from Gorakhpur, to make it easy, you can take a bus to Kathmandu directly. The road distance is about 323km, which takes about 10 hours and 30 minutes. The ticket price is INR 1,899.

From Kathmandu, you can either take a flight or a car to Kailash Mansarovar as mentioned above.

Travel Documents

The Tibet Travel Permit is a necessary document for you to travel in Tibet. Even if you are not going to visit Lhasa, you still need this permit to enter Tibet. If you book a tour with us, we will use the scanned copy of your passport to apply for the necessary permits for you, which takes about 20 days.

Reach Tibet from Nepal

From Delhi to Nepal, it's relatively easy because Indian nationals can access Nepal and its surrounding areas with either a valid passport or voter ID. From Nepal to Tibet, you need a China group visa, which is issued by the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Kathmandu. The visa application also requires an invitation letter from the Tibet Tourism Bureau, which can only be obtained by a Tibet travel agency. Please note that visa processing takes approximately 3 working days, so you should arrive in Kathmandu at least four days before the estimated departure date. The embassy does not accept individual applications, and your application list should have 5 or more people on it.

Reach Tibet from Mainland China

From Delhi to China, you need a Chinese visa. You can get it at a Chinese Consulate near your city by filling in an application form. If the consulate staff ask you for more information, we will be happy to provide you with it.

Indian Pilgrims

For Indian nationals or Indian passport holders, the rules are a bit different. All Indian nationals who intend to visit Kailash Mountain and Manasarovar Lake will be classified as pilgrims, even if the trip is only for sightseeing. All Indian pilgrims must apply for the Tibet Travel Permit and China visa through the Foreign Affairs Office of the Tibet Autonomous Region. There are two operators that can handle the affairs of Indian pilgrimages in Tibet: the Foreign Affairs Office and the China-India Pilgrim Service Center (CIPSC). These two organizations are responsible for organizing the Indian pilgrimage, including accommodation, transportation, itinerary, tour guide, yak, etc. Other organizations and institutions are not allowed to receive Indian pilgrims. Please get in touch with us for free consultancy.

Conclusion

The expedition to Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar will definitely be a spiritual journey. For travelers, this trip allows them to fully appreciate the fascinating scenery and mysterious culture of Tibet. For Hindu pilgrims, Kailash Manasarovar Yatra can help them get cleaned from lifetime sins. In order to make the most of the trip, please plan a travel time of at least a few weeks so that there is enough time to get familiar with the cultural spots. In addition, please be sure to hire a professional Tibet travel agency to organize your Kailash Manasarovar Yatra for a high-level experience.

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Typically Asked Questions from Our Clients

Deepak

Hi, I am travel blogger and planning a yatra from delhi to Mansarovar. So I would like to know all the details like how I can reach to Mount sarovar? What all formalities I have to do? what curreny I should carry ? What will be the total trip cost and etc.

Dear Deep****,

We can arrange the Mt. Kailash and Mansarovar tour for you. Generally, foreign travelers need a Tibet Travel Permit which we can obtain for you, and a China Visa. As a solo traveler, I suggest you arrive in mainland China and then enter Tibet because entering from Kathmandu requires a China Group Visa, which needs 4 travelers to apply for at the same time. 

Bharat patel

Hello What is the require.ebt fkr tge US passport holder and OCI Card holderfor traveling to kailash mansarovar? Yoyr reply will be extremly helpful for us since we are traveling from USA. Thanks

Dear Bhar****,

For US passport holders, we can arrange your travel to Kailash Mansarovar. If you are traveling from USA, I suggest you get to mainland China first then to Lhasa and go overland to Kailash Manasarovar.

If you want to visit Delhi first then Lhasa, you may get to Kathmandu first, and apply for a China group visa here, which takes 3 working days. And then take a direct flight to Lhasa. There are flights only on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

SHILPI MUKERJI

Hi Team, I am looking for a full itinerary, as I will be travelling single, I am looking for reasonable package and rates. Can anyone back to me on this. thanks

Dear Shil****, 

You can fly from Delhi to mainland China then fly to Lhasa or fly to Kathmandu from Delhi then fly to Lhasa via Chengdu as the direct flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa hasn't resumed yet.

For the Kailash tour, I recommend 12 days Lhasa Mt Everest & Mt Kailash Kathmandu group tour for you. 

Vishal Motikuberwala

Dear, We want to plan Kailash Mansarovar. Could you pls help us out. Thank you & looking forward to your response.

Dear Vish****, 

Thank you for sending us an inquiry!

As per your request, we can arrange a Mt.Kailash Mansarovar tour from Delhi for you. May I know when and how many days you plan to travel to Mt.Kailash? How many people are in your group and your nationalities? I can design the tour for you accordingly!

If you have any further questions or doubts, please let me know without hesitation. It is my pleasure to work with you at any time.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

 

Sujoy Bhaduri

Kindly provide details of the trip and cost.

Dear Sujo**,   The most popular itineraries for Indian citizens to Mt.Kailash start from Kathmandu. And you need to get to Kathmandu on your own. Here are the recommended itineraries. 

Option I - 14 Days Kailash Mansarovar Yatra by Road from Kathmandu 

Option II - 12 Days Kailash Mansarovar Yatra by Helicopter from Kathmandu 

Jyothy Raju

Hi team, I am keen to explore Mansarovar, Mount Kailash and if possible Mt Everest Base camp in May 2023. I hold an Australian passport however I also am an Overseas Citizen of India. I have been advised Tibet border is closed for foreign nationalities. Is there any possibility that I might be able to make a trip to atleast one or more of these destinations please? I was hoping to fly from Australia to Kathmandu but I could try flying from Australia to India if the access and visa conditions are easier from India. Thank You very much Kind Regards, Jo

Dear Jyothy Raju,

Yes, you are very likely to visit Mt.Kailash, lake Mansarovar and Everest Base Camp this year.

If you are flying from Australia to Kathmandu, you have to wait at least three working days in Kathmandu for China Group Visa, which is the only document to enter Tibet, instead of a China visa. From Kathmandu, there's one each day but it requires a special document called China Group Visa.

If you are flying from Australia to India, there's no flight to Tibet. So you have to fly to Kathmandu(same document above) or Chengdu(China visa). There was a direct flight from Delhi to Chengdu in 2019 but later canceled due to the pandemic). Hope it can be restored this year.

Truptimayee Prusty

Dear sir/Mam, Could you please tell me how can i go manosavoar and Kailash Parvat . My nationality is Indian.

Dear Truptimayee,  This is Beatrice at your service. To get to Kailash, there're two popular ways. The first way is to get to Kathmandu first, then to Kailash by land. The second way is to get to Lucknow and fly to Simikot then Hilsa, which is the nearest place for helicopters to Mt.Kailash. Right now, Kailash Parvat is not available for Indian tourists. We will let you know when it opens. 

HIMANSHU CHANDRAKANT SURA

we want to go to kailash mansarover yatra ,please guide us how much days it takes and how much amount it costs per person i am a indian national , all the documentation process ,iternary etc.

Dear HIM***,  For kailash mansarover yatra, it usually takes 14 days if your tour starts/ends in Kathmandu. And this overland tour is the most cost-effective and therefore the most popular one. Here's the itinerary, The cost is about USD1800, varying from the month. In peak tourist seasons(July to September), it might be higher. However, in ordinary seasons(May, June or October), it might be lower. Currently Tibet has not yet opened to international tourists outside of China. When it opens, we can help you obtain all the permits and notify you of the process of the documents. If you have any further questions or doubts, please let me know without hesitation. It is my pleasure to work with you at any time. Looking forward to hearing from you! 

Ashok Nayak

How can I travel kailash Manosarovar Yara and what is the best time to visit and contact details of travelling agents

Dear Ashok Nayak, Thank you for sending us an inquiry! This is Catherine from Great Tibet Tour at your service.  Great Tibet Tour is a local tour operator based in Lhasa, Tibet. It was founded in 2005 and recommended by Lonely Planet as one of the best reputed local Tibet travel agencies. We specialize in arranging Tibet travel for foreigners, as well as other parts of China & Nepal.  In your inquiry, you mentioned you would like to have Kailash Manasarovar Yara. We can organize the tour for you. Below are some popular itineraries, Mount Kailash Tour Thanks to the warmer temperature and higher oxygen content, the best time for a Mount Kailash Manasarovar yatra and kora is from May to October. By the way, may I know your nationality?