NEW DELHI, Feb 15: China is not agreeing to the Indian request for opening additional routes to Kailash Mansarovar citing some difficulties.
The Chinese side has been saying that opening alternate routes would involve travel over longer distances on their side through difficult terrain for which infrastructure was not available, the Ministry of External Affairs has informed Lok Sabha.
They say the condition of roads was poor and there was lack of accommodation and communication facilities. The issue had been discussed with the Chinese side during the third meeting of Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on Indo-China Border Affairs, but no result could come out.
The alternate route falling within China goes through Demchok in southern Ladakh. The 300 Km route has easy connectivity to Kailash-Mansarovar.
It passes mostly through plains and is motorable. The difference over boundary between the two countries in Ladakh sector have been making the decision on the route difficult.
The main route of the yatra on the Indian side had been badly affected last year due to unprecedented floods in Uttarakhand which forced cancellation of the Yatra 2013. However, Uttarakhand authorities now say that the Yatra 2014 could go ahead as per schedule.
Yatra 2014 would be organised from June 8 to September 9 in 18 batches, with each batch having a maximum of 60 yatris. The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), guarding India’s icy frontier with China had sometime back proposed an alternative route within India, which is said to have been used by pilgrims in ancient times.
The ITBP, which provides security and logistical help to pilgrims during the Mansarovar yatra, had also suggested that the Uttarakhand Government declare the 60 km route a heritage site and develop it as a second track for the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage.
The current route of 644 km involves inhospitable terrain at high altitudes of up to almost 19,500 feet. It includes a 574-km motor journey from New Delhi to the Dharchula base camp. Thereafter, it passes through five camps at Sirkha, Gala, Bundi, Gunji and Nabhidhang, before crossing the Lipulekh Pass into Tibet.
Kailash Mansarovar, which Hindus consider as abode of Lord Shiva, is one of their most sacred pilgrimage sites. (UNI)
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