India's Ministry of External Affairs issued an advisory urging citizens planning the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra pilgrimage to secure all required Chinese visas and entry permits before departure. The warning follows reports of Indian pilgrims stranded in Nepal after traveling with private tour operators lacking proper authorization for the Tibet journey.

The annual pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar, sacred sites for Hindus and Buddhists, was suspended in 2020 amid deadly border clashes between India and China. At least 20 Indian fighters died in the dispute, severely damaging diplomatic and economic relations between the two populous nations.

India's government organizes land-based pilgrimage routes through Uttarakhand and Sikkim, while private operators offer Nepal-China packages. The advisory specifically warns travelers to verify their tour operator's registration status, as several citizens have sought assistance after becoming stuck without proper documentation.

This latest development reflects the fragile state of India-China ties following the 2020 border conflict. Though diplomatic relations have shown signs of improvement—including resumed direct flights and river data sharing—the documentation issues highlight ongoing challenges in cross-border travel and tourism business operations.