Kailash Mansarovar Yatra 2027: Start Date and Schedule

Facts checked November 2026.

Many families start asking about Kailash dates in winter, months before any notice comes out. This guide sets out exactly what happened in 2025 and 2026, what is known about 2027, and how to be ready when the notice opens. It covers both the government yatra and the private yatra through Nepal.

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

Has the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra 2027 been announced?

No. As of November 2026 there is no 2027 notice from the MEA. The official website kmy.gov.in still shows the 2026 last date to apply (19 May 2026) and has no 2027 announcement. We also found no 2027 news from the MEA or reputed newspapers in recent weeks.

The government yatra is held with the cooperation of the Chinese side, because Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar are in Tibet. So the dates are fixed only when the MEA issues its yearly notice. Treat any “confirmed” 2027 government yatra dates seen online today as unofficial.

What happened in the 2026 yatra?

The MEA announced the 2026 yatra on Thursday, 30 April 2026. Online registration on kmy.gov.in closed on 19 May 2026. External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar conducted the computerised draw, reported on 21 May 2026, and 1,000 yatris were selected. The MEA calls selection fair, computer-generated, random and gender-balanced.

There were 20 batches of 50 yatris each: 10 batches through Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand and 10 through Nathu La in Sikkim. The official site describes Nathu La as a motorable route, with about 35 to 40 km of walking during the Kailash parikrama.

At the close, DD News reported that 477 pilgrims had travelled by the Lipulekh route and 464 by the Nathu La route, a total of 941 who completed the yatra.

What happened in the 2025 yatra?

The government yatra resumed in 2025 after a five-year break (no yatra was held from 2020 to 2024). The MEA announced it on Saturday, 26 April 2025, and applications reportedly closed on 13 May 2025. On 21 May 2025 Minister of State Kirti Vardhan Singh conducted the computerised draw, which selected 750 yatris (including two liaison officers per batch) out of 5,561 online registrations.

In 2025 the Lipulekh groups were scheduled to leave Delhi from 30 June, with the first group entering Tibet on 10 July and the last group returning on 22 August. Each group’s journey was planned at about 22 days. On the Sikkim side, the last Nathu La batch returned on 24 August 2025.

When will the 2027 yatra start? Expected (estimate)

Expected (estimate): MEA notice in late April to May 2027, about two to three weeks to apply, a draw in late May, and the yatra from June to August 2027.

This is only an estimate. It is based on the pattern of the last two years: both notices came in the last week of April, applications closed in mid to late May, the draw was held around 21 May, the first batches left in June, and the last batches returned in late August. The kmy.gov.in site also describes the yatra as running June to August/September each year. The real 2027 dates depend on the MEA notice and on arrangements with the Chinese side. Dates, batch numbers and routes can change.

Who announces the dates, and how can you stay updated?

• Government yatra: only the Ministry of External Affairs announces it, through a press release and the official site kmy.gov.in. Applications are online only.
• Watch kmy.gov.in from early April 2027. The KMY helpline listed on the site is 011-23088214.
• Follow MEA and PIB press releases, and national news (PTI, ANI, The Hindu).
• Keep documents ready before the notice, because the window is short. See our Kailash Mansarovar documents guide and the eligibility and age limit guide.
• Know the steps: our registration guide walks you through the online form.
• Ask us: if you are unsure whether the notice is out, call or WhatsApp us and we will tell you what we know.

Who can apply for the government yatra, and how long does it take?

As per kmy.gov.in, you must be an Indian citizen with an Indian passport valid for at least 6 months as on 1 September of the yatra year. Your age must be 18 to 70 years as on 1 January of that year, and your BMI 25 or less. Foreign nationals, including OCI card holders, cannot apply.

Plan your leave around the full yatra length, not just the days in Tibet.

When does the private yatra through Nepal run?

Besides the government yatra, Indian pilgrims can go through Nepal with registered operators. As per The Kathmandu Post, this season typically runs from mid-May to September. In 2026 the first group arrived in Nepal in mid-May. China set a quota of 24,000 Indian pilgrims through Nepal for 2026, up from 20,000 in 2025.

Common ways in are a flight to Nepalgunj and Simikot, then a helicopter to Hilsa on the border, or the overland route through Rasuwagadhi to Kerung. Some pilgrims go through Lhasa. To compare these, read our Kailash Mansarovar routes guide.

Tibet permit and visa timing

The private yatra needs a Chinese visa and a Tibet Travel Permit, which yatra operators usually arrange for the group. Around 1 July 2026, the MEA warned pilgrims not to leave home until all permits and visas for the full journey are approved in writing. Some pilgrims were stuck in Nepal after being told permits would come on the way. Confirm that your permits are approved, not only applied for, before you pay in full or travel. The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu also advises avoiding the days around full moon, when Simikot and Hilsa get overbooked.

Which months suit a Kailash yatra?

Both the government and private yatras run in the summer window, roughly June to August for the government yatra and mid-May to September for the Nepal route. Weather on the Tibetan plateau can still be cold and change quickly. Read our Kailash Mansarovar weather guide, and see the yatra calendar 2027 to plan other dhams in the same year.

How Yatra To Temples can help

For the private route, see our Kailash Mansarovar Yatra from Kathmandu and Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through Lhasa packages. You can register interest free, with no payment, on our 2027 reservation page; we call you when our 2027 dates and bookings open. For departure dates, extras or the government yatra, ask us.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra 2027 start date?

It has not been announced as of November 2026. Based on 2025 and 2026, the yatra is expected (estimate) to run from June to August 2027, with the MEA notice around late April to May.

What was the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra 2026 start date?

The first batch, on the Nathu La route, was flagged off in New Delhi on 12 or 13 June 2026 (reports differ). It left Indian territory at Nathu La on 20 June, and the first Lipulekh batch was flagged off from Tanakpur on 5 July 2026.

When did 2026 registration open and close?

The MEA announced the yatra on 30 April 2026, with online registration on kmy.gov.in. The last date to apply was 19 May 2026.

How many people went on the government yatra in 2026?

1,000 yatris were selected in 20 batches of 50. At the close, 941 pilgrims had completed the yatra: 477 by Lipulekh and 464 by Nathu La.

Is the government yatra decided by lottery?

Yes. Selection is by a computerised, random and gender-balanced draw. In 2025, 750 yatris were picked from 5,561 registrations.

Can I go to Kailash in May or September?

The government yatra ran from June to August in both 2025 and 2026. The private yatra through Nepal typically runs from mid-May to September, subject to permits and weather.

What is the age limit for the government yatra?

You must be 18 to 70 years old as on 1 January of the yatra year, as per kmy.gov.in. You also need a BMI of 25 or less and must pass the medical tests in New Delhi.

Can I book now for 2027?

You cannot apply for the government yatra until the MEA notice is out. For the private Nepal route, you can register interest on our 2027 reservation page with your preferred month, with no payment now, and we call you when our 2027 bookings open.