Kathmandu, Nepal- Thousands of pilgrims en route to Kailash Mansarovar via Nepal are facing significant delays due to an unusually prolonged visa verification process by the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu.
According to Nepali tour operators, nearly 3,000 tourists are stranded in Kathmandu, waiting more than 10 days for visa approvals that previously took just three days. This delay has created a bottleneck for the pilgrimage, forcing travelers to extend their stays in local hotels at considerable cost and inconvenience.
“The new policy on visa verification has severely affected tourism operators, especially during peak season,” said Ramesh Ojha, Managing Director of Ojha Holiday Tours and Treks Pvt. Ltd.
Floods Add to the Crisis
To complicate matters further, flooding in Rasuwa district has shut down the popular Kerung route from Rasuwagadhi, disrupting land access to Mansarovar. This route was widely used by Indian pilgrims. While some high-end tourists, particularly non-resident Indians (NRIs) use air routes via Simikot (Humla) or Kathmandu Lhasa, the majority relied on the now-blocked road access.
Mounting Pressure from Tour Operators and Lawmakers
Tour operators like Ojha Holidays, Richa Travels, Eco Trek, Heritage Tours, Sunny Travel, and Trekkers' Society have expressed deep concerns over the operational and financial strain. With pilgrims waiting indefinitely, agencies are facing increased accommodation costs without corresponding income from tour packages.
“We are the worst hit,” said Surya Pathak, Managing Director of Soham Journeys Pvt. Ltd. “Managing extended stays for tourists is costing us more than we earn from the trips.”
Pathak, whose company previously handled 3,000-4,000 pilgrims per season, anticipates a drastic decline this year-barely reaching 1,000 tourists.
Tourism Season Under Threat
The Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage season runs from May to September, during which approximately 25,000 tourists visit via Nepal, according to the Association of Kailash Tour Operators. About 20% of total Mansarovar pilgrims use the Nepal route, with many NRIs transiting through Nepal from the US, UK, Canada, and Australia.
Costs for the pilgrimage range from Rs. 250,000 to Rs. 300,000 for Indian citizens and over Rs. 1 million for NRIs.
Government Promises Action
During a July 6 meeting of the House of Representatives’ International Relations and Tourism Committee, lawmakers raised the issue with Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Badri Prasad Pandey. They urged him to coordinate with the Chinese Embassy to expedite visa processing.
In response, Minister Pandey assured that his ministry would work with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to resolve the issue and facilitate smoother pilgrimage access.
Under current rules, tourists receive entry permission from Lhasa and must be physically present in Kathmandu for passport verification before the visa is issued—causing delays that are straining both the pilgrims and Nepal’s tourism sector.
