MUSTANG: Efforts have begun to open the Korala border point in Mustang as a new pilgrimage and tourism route to Mt. Kailash Mansarovar.
A delegation of local representatives from Lomanthang and Lo-Ghekar Damodarkunda rural municipalities reached Dhongwachen, Tibet, to discuss opening the route connecting Korala with Mansarovar.
According to Lomanthang Rural Municipality Chairperson Tasi Nurbhu Gurung, the team coordinated with Nepal’s Ministry of Home Affairs and Department of Immigration before traveling to meet Tibetan officials and representatives. The 13-member team, which included vice chairpersons Chhumi Bishwakarma and Chhiring Lhomo Gurung, funded the visit personally.
“We are here to study the feasibility of opening a religious and tourism route linking Mansarovar through Korala,” Gurung said. “If our efforts bear fruit, it will open new dimensions for tourism, culture, and economic prosperity in Gandaki Province and across Nepal.”
Gurung noted that the Korala route would serve as a shorter and more economical option for Nepali and Indian pilgrims traveling to Kailash Mansarovar and for Chinese Buddhist devotees visiting Lumbini. From Korala, Kailash Mansarovar lies about 300 kilometers away, while Lhasa is approximately 1,000 kilometers.
According to tourism entrepreneurs, traveling via Korala would significantly reduce costs compared to the current route through Humla, where pilgrims spend over Rs 200,000 per person.
The Korala border point, opened for Mustang residents’ trade in November 2023, now facilitates import and export after Tatopani and Rasuwa crossings were closed. The Immigration Office at Korala was established last year.
Travelers can reach Korala via Pokhara and Kathmandu through both air and road routes. From Kathmandu, it takes about 25 minutes to fly to Pokhara and another 25 minutes to Jomsom, followed by a 96-kilometer drive to reach Lomanthang and Korala in roughly four and a half hours.
From Nepal’s Nechung–Liji customs point, it is around 58 kilometers to Zhongwen in Tibet’s Shigatse Province, and another 300 kilometers, or about six hours’ drive, to reach Kailash Mansarovar. Gurung added that the Tibetan side has modern road networks, making the journey comfortable.
The Immigration Office Chief, Pravesh Baduwal, said the delegation became the first group to officially cross Korala into China with visas issued from the new office. Nepal will soon offer 150-day free “on-arrival” visas for Chinese and other foreign visitors entering through Korala.
However, officials pointed out that the $500 entry fee for foreigners entering Upper Mustang remains a key challenge.
Mt. Kailash, revered as the abode of Lord Shiva, stands 6,603 meters above sea level. Hindu devotees believe that circumambulating the sacred mountain brings immense spiritual merit, and bathing in Mansarovar Lake grants salvation.
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