Kailash Mansarovar Distance: Km by Route and Parikrama

Facts checked November 2026.

“Kailash Mansarovar yatra kitne kilometre ki hai?” is one of the first questions families ask. The answer depends on two things: the route you take to reach Tibet, and the walking you do once you are there. This guide breaks both down, km by km, using official and published figures.

This page is part of our Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Guide. Planning the yatra? See our Kailash Mansarovar yatra packages.

How long is the Kailash parikrama?

The outer parikrama (kora) of Mount Kailash starts and ends at Darchen, at about 4,670 m. Most sources, including The Kathmandu Post and Outlook Traveller, give it as about 52 km. Wikipedia gives 53 km. Many groups drive the first stretch from Darchen to Yam Dwar (Tarboche), about 8 km, and are picked up by vehicle at the end, so the distance you actually walk is often a little less.

The parikrama is almost always done in 3 days. Day 2 is the hardest, because it crosses the Dolma La pass. Day-wise figures vary between sources, so we show the range.

Outlook Traveller puts the Day 2 walk at about 22 km and 9 to 12 hours. Reported: news reports on the government yatra in 2020 put the walking part in Tibet at about 43 km, which fits with vehicles covering the start and end stretches. If walking the full route worries you, ask us about ponies and porters. For the day-by-day experience, read our Kailash parikrama guide.

How long is the Lake Mansarovar parikrama?

Lake Mansarovar sits at about 4,590 m. Its shoreline is about 88 km around, as per Wikipedia. Most Indian pilgrims do the lake parikrama by vehicle in one day, not on foot.

• By vehicle: Published itineraries give about 72 to 90 km, with 90 km the most common figure. The drive takes about 4 hours.
• On foot: Walking the full lake takes about 3 to 4 days and is about 90 km or more.
• Mansarovar to Darchen: About 30 to 36 km by road, so most groups drive from the lake to the start of the Kailash parikrama on the same or next day.

Rakshastal, the second lake, lies just west of Mansarovar. See our guide to Lake Mansarovar and Rakshastal.

How far is Kailash from Delhi via Lipulekh?

The Lipulekh route goes through Pithoragarh district in Uttarakhand, via Dharchula and Gunji (about 3,200 m), to the Lipulekh Pass on the India–China border. It is the shortest route from Delhi.

The 80 km road built by the Border Roads Organisation climbs from about 6,000 ft to about 17,060 ft. On the Tibet side, the road runs via Taklakot (Purang); published itineraries put Taklakot to Lake Mansarovar at about 68 to 95 km. Learn more in our guide to the Lipulekh Pass.

How far is it via Nathu La in Sikkim?

The Nathu La route is much longer, but most of it is on motorable roads across the Tibetan plateau. Pilgrims gather in Gangtok first.

• Gangtok to Nathu La: about 56 km (58 km from the Gangtok SNT bus station), as per the Gangtok district website. Nathu La is at about 4,300 m.
• Total journey: about 2,780 km from Delhi, as reported by The Tribune and IANS. IANS splits this into about 1,115 km from Delhi to Bagdogra, plus about 1,665 km by road, of which about 1,490 km is in China.

How far is Kailash from Kathmandu by road?

The road route from Nepal crosses into Tibet at Rasuwagadhi–Kerung (Gyirong), then runs west through Saga to Mansarovar. Stage figures differ between sources, so we show ranges.

One published itinerary gives 930 km in all, so plan for about 855 to 930 km. Delhi to Kathmandu adds about 1,150 km (IANS). Important: The Kathmandu Post reports that floods on 26 August 2026 destroyed the Rasuwagadhi–Kerung crossing, and in late October 2026 no reopening date had been given. Check the route status with us before you book. Read more in Kailash Mansarovar yatra routes.

What about the Nepalgunj, Simikot and Hilsa route?

This route uses flights to cut down road travel. Distances for the air legs are not usually published, only flight times.

• Nepalgunj to Simikot: small plane, about 45 minutes.
• Simikot to Hilsa: helicopter, about 15 minutes.
• Hilsa to Taklakot (Purang): about 27 km by road.
• Taklakot to Lake Mansarovar: about 68 to 95 km by road.

The Kathmandu Post puts Hilsa to Mansarovar at about 105 km, about 4 hours by road. The stage figures above, from published itineraries, work out to about 95 to 122 km. The flight times come from a Nepal air operator’s itinerary.

Which route has the shortest distance?

On every route, the main walk is the same: about 52 km around Kailash. The road distances on the Tibetan side are covered in vehicles. A shorter distance does not always mean an easier yatra, because height, weather and permits matter more than km.

How Yatra To Temples can help

We run the Kailash Mansarovar yatra from Kathmandu and the Kailash Mansarovar road (bus) yatra. For pony, porter or route questions, ask us.

Frequently asked questions

Kailash Mansarovar yatra kitne kilometre ki hai?

It depends on the route. Delhi to Kailash via Lipulekh is about 850 km one way, worked out from published stage distances. The walking part, the Kailash parikrama, is about 52 km.

How many km do I have to walk on the Kailash Mansarovar yatra?

The main walk is the Kailash outer parikrama of about 52 to 53 km over 3 days, a little less if vehicles cover the start and end stretches. The Mansarovar parikrama is usually done by vehicle. Ask us if you need a pony or porter.

What is the longest walking day?

Day 2, from Dirapuk to Zuthulpuk over the Dolma La pass. It is about 19 to 24 km, with most sources saying 22 km, and can take 9 to 12 hours.

How far is Lake Mansarovar from Mount Kailash?

Darchen, the base of the Kailash parikrama, is about 30 to 36 km by road from Lake Mansarovar.

How far is Lipulekh Pass from Delhi?

About 750 km by road, via Pithoragarh and Dharchula. The last 80 km, from Ghatiabagarh to Lipulekh, is the road built by the Border Roads Organisation.

Is the Kathmandu route longer than the Lipulekh route?

Yes. Kathmandu to Darchen alone is about 855 to 930 km by road, and Delhi to Kathmandu adds about 1,150 km. The Lipulekh route from Delhi is about 850 km in total.

How high does the Kailash parikrama go?

The whole route stays above about 4,600 m. The highest point is the Dolma La pass, given as about 5,630 m by most sources and 5,650 m by some.