How to apply for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra?

|| Om Namah Shivay ||

It was an extreme pleasurable day for me today. The people who read my blog was interested in knowing more about the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. Thanks all for the blessings and response. The readers response gave me motivation to write more about the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. Thanks once again !!!

Today I am going to discuss about how one can avail the ticket to the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. Major of the part is based on luck but still one can try and get the ticket. I applied for the first time and was lucky to get selected for the same. They say Mount Kailash has a calling and once you are called no one can take you aback. No matter what you will go and complete the yatra,

Okay, so let's start.

Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is organized by Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India each year. There are 18 batches of 60 people comprising the Liaising Officer (LO). The yatra is arranged on two routes. I will discuss everything about it route-by-route. I will discuss about the costs too from both the routes. Averagely it costs around Rs. 2 Lakh per person. This cost includes all the costs of the yatra such as Entry Fee, Tests Fee, Immigration charges, pool money, pony and porter costs (on both sides), your clothes, trekking gear of good quality, your travel to Delhi, etc. Before that, you need to get selected for the yatra. Ministry of External Affairs take applications online. The link for registration opens around February end or mid-March each year. The link for the registration is www.kmy.gov.in. The registrations are open till April first week or second week. Most of the times the application window is extended upto 15 days to accommodate more yatris. You need to have following things ready before you apply.

1. A valid Indian passport (Scanned). Your passport should have validity for next 6 months.
2. A passport size photograph (preferably on white background this too scanned)
3. A valid signature (preferably on white background) scanned for ready reference
4. Two contacts in case of any emergency

The upload sizes are available on the website and keep on changing as per the requirements. You have to register yourself using your passport number. You have to fill out the application form online and submit the same.You get an application number and a pdf filled form is downloaded on your computer. To get selected you have to get through the lucky draw process. The names of the yatri is selected through an electronic lucky draw through an computerized algorithm. The algorithm selects the names on the basis of age factor, the senior citizens are given the first preference. It does not mean that you are not selected. Two lists one of selected yatris and one of wait-listed yatris are published. You get an e-mail regarding the same. Mostly, the senior citizens are selected on Nathu-la pass. If all batches get full, remaining are given preference on Lipulekh pass. After you get an e-mail of selection, you have to pay Rs. 5000/- in KMVN designated account within a week's time. This a confirmation amount which is taken by KMVN. The account details are shared in the selection e-mail. Once the amount is transferred to KMVN's account you have to send the receipt of transaction on e-mail to MEA with your application number on the receipt. After sending the receipt, your selection is confirmed and you again get an e-mail from KMY regarding the same. And that's it ... You are ready to go in the selected batch. Congrats you are selected. You receive a physical mail from KMY which comprises of a guidebook in which all the relevant things about yatra are mentioned. This is a information booklet and is recommended to keep with your parents.

Apart from this, you also get daily e-mails about the batch update and weather updates. The report is published by KMVN on their website. It helps tracking of your location to your parents/relatives.

The yatris have to reach New Delhi at least 3 days before your actual journey starts. The MEA conducts tests at Delhi Heart and Lung Institute, yatris are examined at ITBP hospital and there is a MEA briefing day before the start of journey. Gujrati Samaj Sadan at Delhi allows yatri free stay for 3 days before starting the yatra and 1 day of free stay after yatris reach Delhi. In this stay, the food is free too.

Tests at DHLI:

General set of tests are conducted at Delhi Heart and Lung Institute. The charges for the same are Rs. 3000/- per person. Here, at DHLI yatris are asked to fill-up forms. A general medical profile is generated. You go through series of tests one-by-one in 2 -3 hours. The series of tests are as:

General Check-up: 

Doctors check your height, weight, Blood Pressure and pulse-rate. After completion of this, you are sent for the X-Ray of your chest. After X-Ray, you are sent for blood and urine tests.

Tread-mill test or TMT:

It is recommended, that yatris should wear the shoes which they are going to use while trekking. In tread-mill test, yatris have to walk on tread-mill for approximately 10 mins. During that 10 mins, the attending physicians gradually increase the speed and height of the tread-mill. With all the wires connected to your chests, all the vitals are measured on the monitor. To pass this test, it is best to walk on the tread-mill keeping your mouth shut. After completion of test, the doctors ask if you had any difficulty in walking or breathing or catching the breath. Do not keep anything from doctors. Speak frankly to them if you have any difficulty walking or breathing. Though the test look simple, it is very tedious for aged-people. No worries you have pony and porter around, but it is best to walk as much as possible during the yatra so that your body acclimatizes and adjusts to the weather and thin air in the atmosphere at higher altitudes.

Pulmonary Function Test:

Pulmonary Function Test is to see how much of air you can hold in your lungs. You have to intake as much as air you can in your lungs and stomach. You have to blow that air through a small pipe connected to the computer. A graph is generated on the screen. The doctors give 3 chances to blow the air through the pipe. Tip to pass this test in one go is before starting your yatra, try blowing conch shell at your home at least for 2 months before leaving for yatra, this will help you to hold more air in your stomach as well as your lungs. If done, you can pass this test at one go.

Once done with all tests, the doctors allow you to have your breakfast. No charges are taken for the breakfast by DHLI, they are included in Rs. 3,100/- you pay in the morning. If the authorities feel that you are eligible for stress and echo test, then the yatri has to pay Rs. 2,500/- extra for the same. Majority of times, no one is advised for the same. After the completion of the tests, a medical briefing is arranged by DHLI doctors. The doctors advise you about what to do in emergency situations, what medicines are to be taken in emergency situations or if you feel dizziness or have problems with your blood pressure. If the yatri is on any medication, it is advised to carry the enough stock of medicines with them. 

Also, KMVN representative collects your passport and Rs. 2,400/- as visa fee. No individual visas are given to the yatris. A group-visa is given by Chinese Government and that too a pilgrimage visa.

People relaxing at DHLI

On second day, reports of yatris from DHLI are collected and they are taken to ITBP head-quarters. Since, this trek is considered as most advanced mountaineering trek, it is absolutely necessary to have permission from Army doctors. At ITBP Hospital, the doctors check your pulse-rate and BP, ask some questions and you are done. Once, they sign on your file, nobody can stop you from going to Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. I have described in my previous blog about what happens at ITBP hospital. Click here to re-visit the previous blog. 

At ITBP 

On Day 3, the yatris are taken to MEA Office. The KMVN representatives collect Rs. 30,000/- (for Lipulek Pass) and Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation (STDC) collects Rs. 20,000/- (through Nathu-La Pass) either in form of cash. demand draft or cheque and return your passports. For the briefing, mostly the LO from previous batches are called. They brief you about the situation between India and China and about how the behaviour of yatri should be in the foreign territory. Yatris are briefed about the cunningness of Chinese Government and so called People's Liberation Army or the Chinese military. Yatris are made aware about the risks speaking about Dalai Lama in the Tibet Autonomous Region or TAR. It is literally a serious crime speaking good about Dalai Lama in TAR. Yatris can land in jail for the same. Even no written material about Dalai Lama is allowed in the TAR. Yatris are advised not to carry anything related to Dalai Lama or freedom of Tibet with them. 

At MEA Briefing

Anyways, let us get to know about the 2 routes through which the yatra is conducted by MEA.

Nathu-La Pass:

Nathu-La Pass is a new route added in 2015 through which the yatra can be done. While filling up the form yatris are asked about their route preference. They have to select Nathu-La or Lipulekh Pass. The Nathu-La Pass is completely the bus route and no trek is involved. Only trek involved is Kailash Parikrama. Most of the time, you are seated in a bus and you travel. The halts at each camp are only for acclimatization. Yatris have to pay following , if they are going through Nathu-La Pass:

Air fare for Delhi-Baghdogra-Delhi: Rs. 14,000/- per person

Payable to Chinese Authorities: USD 601/- per person

Porter for both ways on Chinese Side: RMB 700/- per person

Pony handler for both ways on Chinese side: RMB 1700/- per person

Contribution for pool money: Rs. 2,000/- per person

Since, I was entitled for the Lipulekh pass, I have no idea about the Nathu-La pass but as much it is given in information booklet, I am giving it here. The major stays on this route are as:

Day 1: Delhi to Gangtok via air

Day 2: Gangtok to 15th Mile

Day 3: Stay at 15th Mile

Day 4: 15th Mile to Sherathang

Day 5: Sherathang to Kangma

Day 6: Kangma to Lazi

Day 7: Lazi to Zhongba

Day 8: Zhongba to Darchen

Day 9: Darchen to Deraphuk

Day 10: Deraphuk to Zunzhui Pu

Day 11: Zunzhui Pu to Darchen to Qugu

Day 12: Stay at Qugu (Lake Mansarovar)

Day 13: Qugu to Zhongba

Day 14: Zhongba to Lazi

Day 15: Lazi to Kangma

Day 16: Kangma to Sherathang

Day 17: Sherathang to Gangtok

Day 18: Gangtok to Delhi

Apart from Kailash Parikrama, all the travel is by bus. Yatris need not worry about anything on this route. It is the safest route. On this route, the number of batches is less since, the Chinese Government does not have enough immigration facilities at this point.

Lipulekh Pass:

The Lipulekh pass route is discussed in detail in my previous blog. It can be read here.

In the next blog, I will discuss about the preparation and tips for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. Since, many of the readers have too asked questions about the same, it should also be captured in this scenic journey. After all, it all depends on your health. Yatris should be careful about the same. Till then 

Om Namah Shivay.