Nathu La opens to Indians after 50 years

June 19 (TravelAndy): The Nathu La pass reopened on Thursday after more than 50 years to facilitate Indian pilgrims going to Kailash Manas Sarovar in Tibet.

During his trip to China in May, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that the pass would be made operational in June.

A batch of forty tourists including two women and support staff have embarked on the journey to the Hindu pilgrimage from the Indian state of Sikkim.

The journey was flagged off by Sikkim governor Shriniwas D Patil and chief minister Pawan Chamling.

With the reopening of the Nathu La, tourists can travel to the Kailash Manas Sarovar, situated 4,000 metre above sea level, in buses, which would relieve them from the arduous trek through the existing route via Lipulekh pass in Uttarakhand.

The decision to make the pass accessible to Indian tourists is expected to boost both tourism and trade in India’s West Bengal and Sikkim states.