Nepal has objected to plans by India and China to conduct the upcoming Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through the Lipulekh Pass, claiming the route passes through territory it considers part of Nepal.
In a statement issued by Nepal’s foreign ministry, Kathmandu said it had not been consulted before the pilgrimage route was finalised and reiterated its long-standing territorial claim over the disputed region.
The ministry stated that Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh, and Kalapani east of the Mahakali River are integral parts of Nepal under the 1816 Treaty of Sugauli.
Kathmandu said it had communicated its position to both India and China through diplomatic channels and reiterated earlier objections to activities such as road construction, border trade, and pilgrimage operations in the area.
India rejects Nepal’s claim
Responding to Nepal’s objections, India’s Ministry of External Affairs said its position remained “consistent and clear,” arguing that Lipulekh Pass has been used as a route for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra since 1954.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the pilgrimage through the route has continued for decades and does not represent a new development.
He also rejected Nepal’s territorial assertions, saying India considers such claims unjustified and unsupported by historical facts and evidence.
At the same time, India said it remains open to constructive dialogue with Nepal on unresolved boundary issues through diplomatic channels.
Long-running border dispute
The disagreement reflects a broader and long-standing border dispute between India and Nepal involving the Kalapani-Lipulekh-Limpiyadhura region in the western Himalayas.
The issue intensified after India inaugurated a road link to Lipulekh in 2020, prompting strong objections from Nepal, which subsequently released a new political map incorporating the disputed territory within its borders.
