HUMLA: This year’s Mansarovar Kailash pilgrimage through Hilsa in Humla has officially come to an end, as colder weather sets in.
According to hotel entrepreneur Mim Lama, the season for Indian pilgrims traveling via Kathmandu and Nepalgunj to Mansarovar through Humla has concluded.
Lama noted that after the COVID-19 pandemic, a significant number of Indian pilgrims resumed the journey via this route. Local hotel operators in Simkot and Hilsa, located near the Chinese border, have reported strong earnings this year, with some hotels earning over Rs 1 million.
While a small number of international tourists continue to visit Humla, the main pilgrimage season for Indian devotees has ended.
6,407 foreign tourists enter Humla since border reopened
Since the Humla-Hilsa border crossing with China reopened in April, a total of 6,407 foreign tourists have entered Humla. According to Deputy Superintendent of Police Shankar Pokharel, approximately 6,000 of these were Indian pilgrims who traveled to Mansarovar Kailash between June and the first week of September via Nepalgunj.
Among them were 450 tourists from other countries, with 25 foreign nationals arriving via Humla specifically to visit Mansarovar Kailash. This marks the end of this year’s pilgrimage season.
Due to the relatively short route from Humla to Mansarovar Kailash, the flow of pilgrims remained high until early September. Simkot Airport, a key entry point, experienced heavy daily traffic during the peak season.
Dipendra Bhandari, an official stationed at Simkot Airport from Simkot Rural Municipality, stated that the number of religious tourists surged after China reopened the region, including Humla, to Indian nationals post-COVID-19.
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