Lipulekh row resurfaces: Nepal protests Kailash Mansarovar route, flags territorial claim

A fresh diplomatic row has emerged between India and Nepal after Kathmandu formally objected to the proposed route of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra via Lipulekh Pass.

Nepal has sent official protest notes to both India and China, reiterating its long-standing claim that the Lipulekh region falls within its territory. The objection comes after India announced plans to conduct the pilgrimage through the Lipulekh route in Uttarakhand.

The issue has brought back into focus the disputed tri-junction area involving India, Nepal, and China, where sovereignty claims have remained sensitive for decades.

What Nepal has said

Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that it had taken note of the proposed pilgrimage route and reiterated its territorial position. It emphasised that Lipulekh, along with areas such as Kalapani and Limpiyadhura, is part of Nepal based on historical treaties and maps.

Kathmandu has maintained that any activity in the disputed region without its consent is unacceptable, even as it called for resolving boundary issues through diplomatic dialogue.

India’s position

India has rejected Nepal’s claims, asserting that the Lipulekh route is a long-established and traditional pathway for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.

The route is one of the two main corridors used for the pilgrimage, which is organised in coordination with China and typically runs between June and August each year.

Why the route matters

Lipulekh Pass is strategically located near the India–Nepal–China tri-junction and has both geopolitical and logistical significance. It serves as a key access point for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, a major religious pilgrimage for Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and followers of the Bon tradition.

Beyond its religious importance, the area has been a recurring flashpoint in India–Nepal relations, with periodic disagreements over boundary alignment and infrastructure activity.

A recurring dispute

The current protest is not an isolated development. The Lipulekh issue has resurfaced multiple times in recent years, often triggered by infrastructure projects or official announcements related to the region.

Nepal’s latest move signals continued sensitivity around territorial sovereignty, even as both countries maintain that disputes should be resolved through dialogue.

What happens next

With the pilgrimage season approaching, the disagreement adds a diplomatic layer to an otherwise routine religious exercise. While there is no indication yet of changes to the planned route, the issue is likely to be taken up through diplomatic channels in the coming days.

For now, the development underscores how religious routes, geography, and geopolitics remain closely intertwined in the Himalayan region.