Adi Kailash and Om Parvat, two sacred peaks in the far Vyas valley of Uttarakhand near the border with Tibet, have become one of the great new pilgrim journeys in India.
Because they sit in a border area, an Indian traveller needs an inner line permit, and you get it at the district office in Dharchula, in Pithoragarh district. Foreign visitors are generally not allowed into this border area. A new road now brings you far closer than before.
Who needs a permit
You need an inner line permit for every Indian traveller going into the Vyas valley border area, which includes Gunji, Nabhidhang for Om Parvat, and Jolingkong for Adi Kailash. You show it at the check posts. The authorities generally bar foreign visitors from this border belt, so in practice Indian pilgrims make this journey.
The journey, in plain words
You travel up the Kali river valley from Dharchula, through Gunji, to the high pilgrim points. From Nabhidhang you see Om Parvat, the mountain that carries the mark of Om in snow. From Jolingkong you reach Adi Kailash, often called the little Kailash for its likeness to Mount Kailash across the border. A new road has cut the long trek of old, so many more pilgrims now make the journey, though it is still high, remote and cold.
Where to get the permit, step by step
Reach Dharchula, the border town, and apply for the inner line permit at the district office there, usually the Sub Divisional Magistrate. Bring your documents and photos, and a group is often easier than one person. In busy season a tour operator or a registered agent gets the permit for the group, which saves time. Carry the permit and your original identity, because staff check both at the check posts.
Documents you need
- A government photo identity, usually Aadhaar, for each traveller.
- Passport size photos.
- A medical fitness certificate, because the height is real.
- Details of your vehicle or your tour, for the permit.
[The exact document list and any medical rule can change, so confirm at the Dharchula office or with your operator. Last checked 13 September 2026.]
For foreign visitors
This border belt is generally closed to foreign visitors, because it runs right up to the Tibet border. If you hold a foreign passport, do not plan Adi Kailash or Om Parvat as an ordinary trip; ask the authorities what, if anything, is possible, and plan another Himalayan journey instead. [Confirm the current rule with the district administration. Last checked 13 September 2026.]
Season, so you plan the right months
The Vyas valley is open in the warmer months, from about May to October, and closes with the winter snow. The best weather is often in the early summer and again after the monsoon, in September and early October. Even then it is cold and high, so carry warm layers, and give your body time on the way up, because the height is serious.
Common mistakes to avoid
- The biggest mistake is arriving without the permit, which stops you at a check post. The next is a foreign visitor planning this closed border journey. Do not rush the height; build in rest and go slowly. Do not travel outside the open months, when the valley is under snow.
Questions people ask
Do I need a permit for Adi Kailash and Om Parvat?
Yes, an Indian traveller needs an inner line permit, obtained at the district office in Dharchula.
Can foreigners go?
Generally no. This border belt is closed to foreign visitors.
Is there still a long trek?
Much less than before. A new road brings you far closer, so many more pilgrims now go.
What documents do I need?
A photo identity such as Aadhaar, photos, and usually a medical fitness certificate. Confirm the current list.
When is it open?
From about May to October, closing with the winter snow.