HUMLA:- The movement of Indian pilgrims travelling to the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage site through Humla has started with the beginning of the rainy season, with 169 visitors arriving within the past four days.

The pilgrims have been travelling by air from Nepalgunj to Simkot and onward to Hilsa, the main transit point for entering China en route to Kailash Mansarovar.

According to Simkot Airport Chief Mahendra Singh, a total of 147 Indian pilgrims and 22 foreign travellers arrived in Simkot from May 13 onwards. On Saturday alone, Summit Air operated three flights carrying 47 pilgrims despite unfavourable weather conditions.

Some travellers, however, could not continue their journey due to the absence of required travel permits.

Officials expect the number of Indian pilgrims to increase in the coming days as interest in the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage continues to grow following the reopening of the Hilsa border point after the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

Last year, around 6,500 Indian pilgrims travelled to Kailash Mansarovar through the route after China resumed access to the pilgrimage destination. This year’s arrivals mark the first group of pilgrims reaching Simkot since May 13.