Kathgodam:The first batch of pilgrims for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra reached Kathgodam on Wednesday evening. The first group consists of 58 passengers including 49 men and 9 women.
The pilgrims started their journey from Delhi on Wednesday and reached Kathgodam in Nainital afternoon. Here the passengers were welcomed at Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN) guest house, in Kumaon's tradition.
KMVN, which is organising the pilgrimage, said in a statement that all arrangements have been made to ensure a comfortable and safe journey. ITBP jawans have been also been deployed near the Chinese border to ensure security.
The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra will go on for three months till September 8.
The cost of travelling from Lipulekh Pass (Uttarakhand) will be approximately 1.8 lakh per person, in which some inaccessible postal tour is also included.
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar flagged-off the first batch of pilgrims for this year's Kailash Mansarovar Yatra on Tuesday.
The Ministry of External Affairs organises the annual Yatra via two different routes - Lipulekh Pass (Uttarakhand) and Nathu La Pass (Sikkim). Thousands of devotees participate in the Yatra through a treacherous route that crosses territorial boundaries of India, Nepal and China.
According to the schedule this year, 18 batches will trek across the Lipulekh pass in Uttarakhand while 10 other batches will go via the Nathula route to Sikkim. Each batch comprises of 50 people.
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