India Rejects Nepal’s Territorial Claims Over Lipulekh, Says Kailash Mansarovar Route Is Longstanding

Nepal’s objection to the proposed Kailash Mansarovar Yatra via the Lipulekh Pass has escalated into a sharper diplomatic standoff, with India firmly rejecting Kathmandu’s claims and asserting that the route is long-established and legitimate.

Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had sent diplomatic notes to both India and China , protesting the use of Lipulekh, which it claims as its own territory. It reiterated that Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura and Kalapani belong to Nepal under the Sugauli Treaty of 1816 , and stressed that Kathmandu was not consulted before the route was finalised.

India responded by dismissing Nepal’s claims as “unjustified and not based on historical facts” , maintaining that Lipulekh belongs to India and that the route has been in use since 1954 for pilgrimage and trade.

New Delhi also underlined that the yatra will proceed as planned between June and August via Lipulekh in Uttarakhand and Nathu La in Sikkim, with registrations already open. Additional details indicate that around 1,000 pilgrims in 20 batches are expected to undertake the yathra this year, reflecting the scale of the exercise.

The dispute has gained complexity due to the India-China dimension , as the pilgrimage and border trade through Lipulekh are conducted with Beijing’s cooperation. Reports indicate that China has not supported Nepal’s claim, adding a geopolitical layer to the issue.

The Lipulekh Pass is not only a religious route but also a strategically important Himalayan corridor used historically for trade and connectivity between India and Tibet.

Tensions over the region intensified in 2020 when Nepal, under the K.P. Oli-led government issued a revised political map incorporating the disputed areas after India built an 80-km road from Dharchula to Lipulekh .

Despite the strong exchange, both sides have reiterated their commitment to resolving the boundary issue through dialogue based on historical agreements, maps and evidence , even as the latest development revives one of South Asia’s most persistent territorial disputes.