Ahead of Misri’s expected Nepal visit, Kathmandu expresses concern to India, China on Kailash yatra over Lipulekh

Lead

Nepal has formally raised objections with both India and China over the planned resumption of the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra through the Himalayan Lipulekh Pass, a route that Kathmandu says runs through its sovereign territory. The diplomatic exchange comes just days before Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri is expected to visit Kathmandu, according to The Hindu.

The dispute has reignited a long-standing border disagreement between the two South Asian neighbours, with India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) responding that Nepal's claims on Lipulekh are not based on "historical facts," as reported by both Al Jazeera and The Hindu.

Coverage Comparison

Al Jazeera's report on Sunday (May 3, 2026) focused on the immediate diplomatic flare-up, noting that Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs lodged a protest against India's decision to resume the pilgrimage. The report traced the dispute to the 1816 Treaty of Sugauli, which Nepal signed with India's British colonial rulers and which Kathmandu says defines its western border, encompassing territories of Limpiadhura, Lipulekh, and Kalapani. India's external affairs ministry responded, asserting that Lipulekh has been used by Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Bon followers for the Kailash Manasarovar pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar in Tibet since 1954.

The Hindu, meanwhile, emphasized the diplomatic context, noting that Nepal's expression of "concerns" to both India and China came in the lead-up to Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri's expected visit to Nepal. The newspaper of record highlighted that Kathmandu reiterated that the Kalapani-Limpiyadhura-Lipulekh region is part of Nepal's sovereign territory. Both outlets reported India's MEA response to the effect that Nepal's territorial claims are not corroborated by historical evidence.

Key Claims

Territorial Dispute Rooted in 19th-Century Treaty

Nepal's opposition to the pilgrimage route is anchored in the 1816 Treaty of Sugauli, which the country cites as the basis for its claim over Lipulekh Pass. Reports indicate that Kathmandu has asserted that the territories of Limpiadhura, Lipulekh, and Kalapani are part of Nepal, "a position on which the government remains clear and firm," as reported by Al Jazeera.

India has not disputed the treaty itself but has maintained that Nepal's interpretation is unfounded. An MEA spokesperson, quoted by Al Jazeera, said that "such claims are neither justified nor based on historical facts and evidence. Such unilateral artificial enlargement of territorial claims is untenable."

Pilgrimage Resumption and Route Details

India announced on Thursday (prior to the report) that it had agreed with China to resume the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra via Lipulekh after a suspension since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the plan, 500 Hindu pilgrims will travel through the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand to cross into China at the Lipulekh Pass. Others will use a separate route through the northeastern Indian state of Sikkim, according to Al Jazeera.

India's MEA continued to underscore the historical and religious significance of the route, noting that it has been used by multiple religious communities since 1954.

Perspectives

India's Position

India defends the resumption of the yatra through Lipulekh, asserting that the route has a long-standing history of use by pilgrims of various faiths. The MEA's swift response—issued the same day as Nepal's protest—emphasized that New Delhi views Nepal's claims as historically untenable and an attempt to enlarge its territorial claims unilaterally.

Nepal's Position

Kathmandu has expressed concerns that the agreement between India and China to resume the pilgrimage through Lipulekh violates Nepal's sovereignty, as the region forms part of its territory per its foundational treaty. The government's choice to address its concerns to both India and China signals that it considers the decision a bilateral matter that should involve Nepal as a direct stakeholder.

Diplomatic Impact on Nepal-India Relations

The timing of this dispute is notable, coming just before Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri's visit to Nepal. The issue could dominate talks, potentially overshadowing other bilateral matters. Neither source indicated whether Nepal's protest was an attempt to pressure India or a routine diplomatic step, but the timing adds a layer of complexity to the relationship.

Conclusion

The resumption of the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra via Lipulekh has once again brought the India-Nepal border issue to the forefront. While India emphasizes the religious and historical use of the pass, Nepal's based on a historical treaty. The dispute is likely to be a key point of discussion during upcoming diplomatic interactions between the two countries.