Free online registration with the Ministry of External Affairs, then a random draw.
The official Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is run by the Ministry of External Affairs of India. You register online, free, on the government portal, kmy.gov.in. Because far more people apply than there are places, selection is by a fair computer draw. There are two government routes, one through Lipulekh in Uttarakhand and one through Nathu La in Sikkim. This government yatra is for Indian passport holders. Any private tour that reaches Kailash through Nepal is a separate, operator run trip, not this government route.
Who can apply
- Indian citizens holding a valid Indian passport.
- Applicants must be medically fit, because the yatra crosses very high altitude, and there are medical checks before and during the journey.
- There is an age band set by the Ministry each year. In recent years it has been roughly eighteen to seventy. [Age band and medical rules are set by the Ministry each year. Confirm on kmy.gov.in. Last checked 13 September 2026.]
How the government yatra works
- Registration is online and free on the official portal, kmy.gov.in.
- Because places are limited, a computerised, random, and gender balanced draw decides who is selected. Applying does not guarantee a place.
- The yatra runs in batches through the summer, usually June to August, with a fixed number of pilgrims in each batch.
- Selected pilgrims complete medical tests, first in Delhi and again on the route, and only the fit continue.
The two routes
- Lipulekh, in Uttarakhand: managed on the Indian side by the Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam. It mixes trekking and road travel.
- Nathu La, in Sikkim: managed on the Indian side by the Sikkim government tourism agency. It is more road based and is often chosen by those who prefer less trekking.
You give your route preference when you apply, and the batch and route are confirmed on selection.
How to register, step by step
- Go to the official portal kmy.gov.in during the registration window, which opens once a year.
- Create your account and fill in the application with your passport details and your route preference.
- Submit before the closing date. For the 2026 yatra the window was open until the middle of May. [The dates change every year. Confirm on kmy.gov.in. Last checked 13 September 2026.]
- Wait for the computer draw. If you are selected, follow the medical and payment steps the Ministry sends you.
What it costs
- The online registration itself is free.
- If you are selected, the yatra has a cost that you pay to the operating agency on your route, for transport, stay, and services on the Indian side, plus the charges on the other side of the border. This is a significant amount and is set each year. [The exact cost is set by the operating agency each year and is shown after selection. Confirm on kmy.gov.in. Last checked 13 September 2026.]
Documents you need
- A valid Indian passport.
- The details asked for on the portal, and later your medical fitness results.
- Follow the exact document list the Ministry sends to selected pilgrims.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Paying a "registration fee" to a private site. The government registration on kmy.gov.in is free.
- Thinking a private Nepal route tour is the government yatra. It is a separate operator trip, not the Ministry route.
- Ignoring the medical fitness rule. The altitude is extreme, and unfit applicants are not cleared.
- Missing the once a year registration window.
- Assuming that applying means a confirmed place. Selection is by a random draw.
Questions people ask
Who runs the official Kailash Mansarovar Yatra?
The Ministry of External Affairs of India, through the portal kmy.gov.in.
Is registration free?
Yes, the online registration is free. The yatra itself has a cost if you are selected.
How are people selected?
By a computerised, random, and gender balanced draw, because places are limited.
Can foreigners join the government yatra?
No, the government yatra is for Indian passport holders. Others travel on separate operator run trips, usually through Nepal.
What are the two routes?
Lipulekh in Uttarakhand and Nathu La in Sikkim. You give a preference when you apply.