The second batch of 50 Indian pilgrims today began a 12-day bus trip to Kailash-Manasarovar in Tibet after crossing over from recently opened border point at Nathula in Sikkim, the "safer" and "more convenient" route.
China had opened the Nathulla route on June 22, which is the second route to visit Kailash-Manasarovar.
The first group of 43 pilgrims, several of them middle-aged, returned to India on July 3 after their successful journey.
Chinese authorities have built shelters at four resting points along the 2000-km route, which will provide a welcome break for the pilgrims as they adapt to the high altitude, state-run Xinhua news agency reported today.
The opening of the second route through Nathu La, 4,000 metres above sea level, was officially announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to China in May and will allow more Indians to undertake the pilgrimage.
The new route is safer, more convenient and comfortable than the former one.
The Chinese government has also set up a reception centre by the Manasarovar lake where a kitchen, bathroom, blankets and souvenirs are provided. A four-star hotel has been opened at the base of Mt Kailash, the report said.
The opening of the pass will promote people-to-people exchanges and improve ties between China and India, said Le Yucheng, Chinese ambassador to India who completed the journey with the first group of pilgrims.
The new route shortens the pilgrimage time from more than 20 days in the past to about 8 to 12 days.
Pilgrims to Ngari Prefecture traditionally climb over the Qang La Pass, which sits 5,200 meters above sea level on the China-India-Nepal border. The road is steep and usually covered by snow.
About 250 Indians, in five groups of 50 each, will travel to Tibet along the new route this year. Another 18 groups of 60 will undertake the pilgrimage along the old route.
Completely closed for more than 40 years, it was reopened in 2006, but for trade only. The Chinese government opened the Kailash pilgrimage in 1981.
China has welcomed almost 80,000 Indian pilgrims in the past decade alone.
