News: The Kailash-Manasarovar Yatra has officially resumed after a five-year hiatus, with the first group of 36 Indian pilgrims reaching Manasarovar Lake in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.
About Manasarovar Lake
- Location: Manasarovar Lake (also called Mapam Yum Tso in Tibetan) is located in the Tibet Autonomous Region (Xizang) of China.
- It lies at an altitude of 4,590 metres (15,060 feet), near Mount Kailash (Gang Renpoche) in the Ngari Prefecture of western Tibet.
- It is one of the highest freshwater lakes in the world.
- The lake is situated near the source of major rivers such as the Indus, Sutlej, Brahmaputra (Yarlung Tsangpo), and Karnali (Ghaghara).
- The name “Manasarovar” derives from Sanskrit words – Manas (mind) and Sarovar (lake), meaning “Lake of the Mind”.
- Route of the Yatra (2025 Resumption): The first batch of pilgrims entered via Lhasa, capital of Tibet, under the old traditional route facilitated by the Chinese authorities. The second batch is scheduled to travel via the Nathu La Pass in Sikkim—a motorable route that was part of the bilateral protocol established before the 2020 suspension.
- Cultural and Religious Significance (Hinduism):
- In Hinduism, Mount Kailash is revered as the abode of Lord Shiva, and Manasarovar is believed to have been created by Lord Brahma.
- Bathing in the lake and performing a parikrama (circumambulation) of Mount Kailash is considered to cleanse sins and bring spiritual merit.
- Buddhist and Jain Beliefs: Buddhists regard the lake as a place where Queen Maya conceived Lord Buddha. Jains believe that Rishabhdev, their first Tirthankara, attained Nirvana here.
- Bilateral Significance: The Yatra is a symbol of India-China cultural diplomacy, governed by agreements allowing Indian pilgrims to visit the sacred sites inside Tibet.
