The Kyirong road yatra

This 14-day yatra by road is, per the listing, designed for Indian and NRI pilgrims and crosses into Tibet at Kyirong. That border was destroyed by a flash flood on 26 August 2026 and is closed indefinitely, so this page is about what to do until it reopens.

Kailash Mansarovar Yatra by Road via Kyirong

About this experience

Before the flood, the road through Rasuwagadhi to Kyirong was the shortest way from Kathmandu to the lake: about 140 km to the border, seven to nine hours, then the plateau. This listing builds a 14-day yatra on that road, designed, per the listing, for Indians and NRIs, with pickup in Kathmandu.

On 26 August 2026 a flash flood destroyed the Rasuwagadhi border post, bridges and roads, the second flood there after July 2025. YoWangdu lists Kyirong as closed indefinitely, and operators say the overland route will not run for the rest of 2026. A valid Tibet permit does not help at a shut border. Our Kyirong closure page tracks the latest.

If you want to go in 2027, you have options. The helicopter route via Simikot and Hilsa was reported unaffected by the flood, and some yatras fly to Lhasa first, such as the yatra via Lhasa. Indian pilgrims via Nepal also face a quota: China capped them at 24,000 for 2026 (Kathmandu Post). The government yatra through Lipulekh and Nathu La is a separate channel, by draw. The yatra guide for Indians compares them.

Designed for Indian and NRI pilgrims, per the listing
By road from Kathmandu, no internal flight, as the route was designed
Pickup available in Kathmandu
Lake Manasarovar and Mount Kailash
Free cancellation, per the listing

How the day runs

StartKathmandu
Pickup is available, per the listing. As designed, this was the start of the drive north.
7 to 9 hoursDrive to Rasuwagadhi
About 140 km to the border. This is the road the August 2026 flood cut.
ClosedKyirong into Tibet
The crossing is shut indefinitely. Nothing on this leg can run until it reopens.
On the plateauLake Manasarovar
Pilgrims collect lake water for puja; full immersion has been banned since 2018.
Per the itineraryKailash parikrama
The full kora is 53 km over three days, over the Dolma La at about 5,630 m.

A traveller standing at the edge of Lake Manasarovar under a wide blue sky

What's included

Included

Pickup in Kathmandu, per the listing
Road transport, per the listing
Tibet permits, arranged by the agency
Free cancellation, per the listing

Not included

A working border crossing: Kyirong is closed
Yaks, horses or porters on the kora, usually paid locally
Travel insurance with helicopter evacuation cover
Tips for the guide and driver

Who it suits

Book it if

You hold an Indian passport or are an NRI pilgrim
You prefer the road to flights, once the border reopens
You can wait and watch the border news
You want a yatra built around Indian pilgrims' needs

Skip it if

You need to travel on fixed dates in 2027
You want a route that is open today: see the yatra via Lhasa
You hold a non-Indian passport: look at the Lhasa loop
You would rather see Kailash from Nepal: see the view tour

Tips before you book

Do not pay a deposit for this route until the operator confirms in writing that Kyirong is open again.
Get your Chinese visa and Tibet permits before you leave India, as the MEA advised after pilgrims were stranded in Kathmandu.
Ask the operator whether it can switch you to the Simikot and Hilsa route if the border stays shut.
Watch the quota: China capped Indian pilgrims via Nepal at 24,000 for 2026, and demand was higher.

Read next:

Frequently asked questions

Is the Kyirong border open for the Kailash yatra?

No. A flash flood destroyed the Rasuwagadhi-Kyirong crossing on 26 August 2026, and it is listed as closed indefinitely. Operators say the overland route will not run for the rest of 2026.

What are the alternatives to the Kyirong route?

From Nepal: the small plane and helicopter route via Simikot and Hilsa, or a flight to Lhasa and the drive west. From India: the government yatra via Lipulekh or Nathu La. See how to get to the lake.

Can NRIs and Indian passport holders book it?

The listing says it is designed for Indians and NRIs. Indian passports book Kailash through approved Nepali or Indian agencies in a pilgrim channel, not the standard Lhasa route.

When might the route run again?

There is no official reopening date. The Kailash kora itself is closed for winter until spring 2027, so the earliest realistic window is the 2027 season, if the border reopens by then.

Ready to book

Book Yatra via Kyirong (closed)

The road route from Kathmandu via Kyirong, built for Indian and NRI pilgrims. Check the border status first.

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Compare with

Kailash Mansarovar Yatra via Lhasa, 11 DaysAn 11-day yatra listed from Kathmandu that runs from Lhasa, not the closed Kyirong road. Pickup available, per the listing.11 days · Starts in Kathmandu

Mount Kailash Pilgrimage from Kathmandu, 11 DaysSmall group from Kathmandu to the lake and the full three-day kora over the Dolma La, the hardest day of any yatra.11 days · Starts in Kathmandu

Kailash Mansarovar Yatra from Kathmandu, 15 DaysA slower yatra from Kathmandu: 15 days, with time to acclimatise on the plateau before the lake and Kailash.15 days · Starts in Kathmandu