NEW DELHI, INDIA, May 7 2008: (HPI note: This pilgrimage is for the rugged foot route directly from India to Kailash.) The annual Kailash Mansarovar Yatra will commence as scheduled on June one, the External Affairs Ministry announced in New Delhi today. Preparations have begun for the 26-day pilgrimage with the nod from the Chinese government, External Affairs Ministry spokesman told reporters.
As many as 960 pilgrims were selected for the annual pilgrimage through a computerised draw on 25th April. They were chosen through a gender-balanced random selection process, The pilgrimage, which involves circumambulation of Mount Kailash and Mansarovar in the Tibet Autonomous Region, is extremely arduous and involves trekking under inhospitable conditions at altitudes upto 19,500 feet.