Mount Kailash — the abode of Lord Shiva — and Lake Mansarovar are counted among the most difficult and most sacred pilgrimages in Hinduism. The Haryana government gives ₹50,000 in financial assistance to its state’s pilgrims who complete this yatra. In October 2026, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini raised the annual quota for this assistance from 50 to 100 pilgrims. This guide covers the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Scheme 2016 in full — how much assistance is given, who is eligible, how to claim it after the yatra, which documents are needed, and where confirmation is still pending.
First, one important point to understand: this is not a free tour. The Haryana government does not organise the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra itself. The yatra is organised by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India — every year in June–August, through the Lipulekh and Nathu La routes. The Haryana scheme gives financial assistance after the yatra is completed — a post-yatra reimbursement that you claim, like the Sindhu Darshan Yatra scheme. Anyone who promises you a free Kailash trip or a guaranteed seat in exchange for money is misleading you.
Scheme at a glance
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Scheme name | Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Scheme, 2016 |
| Notification | No. TM/AP.I/2016/2620, dated 12.07.2016; commenced 1 April 2016 |
| Department | Tourism Department, Government of Haryana |
| Assistance | ₹50,000 per pilgrim OR 50% of actual expenditure, whichever is less (2016 text; see the “history” section — the current status of the 50% condition is unconfirmed) |
| Annual quota | 100 pilgrims (raised from 50 in October 2026) |
| Eligibility | Permanent resident of Haryana (passport with a Haryana address); yatra completed through MEA, Government of India; MEA completion certificate; once in a lifetime |
| Income limit | No income limit in the scheme text |
| Claim window | Within 2 months of completing the yatra |
| Claim method | Offline — Annexure A application to the Director, Tourism Department, Haryana (online portal directed in Oct 2026, not yet started as of 8 Nov 2026) |
| Application fee | None (for the Haryana claim; the MEA yatra has its own separate fee) |
| Last date | No fixed last date — each yatra has a 2-month claim window; 2026 yatra done (June–August); 2027 dates not announced |
What is the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra?
Kailash Mansarovar is one of the holiest pilgrimages in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and the Bon tradition. Mount Kailash (6,638 m) is believed to be the abode of Lord Shiva, and Lake Mansarovar (about 4,590 m) is considered one of the most sacred lakes in the world. Pilgrims circumambulate Mount Kailash (the Kailash Parikrama, about 52 km) and take a dip in Mansarovar.
The yatra has been organised by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India since 1981, through the Lipulekh Pass (Uttarakhand) and, since 2015, the Nathu La Pass (Sikkim) routes. Every year, applications open in spring on the MEA portal kmy.gov.in, and selection is made by computerised draw. The yatra was suspended from 2020 to 2024 (COVID-19 and the Galwan standoff) and resumed in June 2025.
Important: the MEA gives no subsidy itself — the yatra cost is borne by the pilgrim. The financial assistance comes only from the pilgrim’s own state government — in Haryana’s case, ₹50,000 under this scheme.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Mountain | Mount Kailash, about 6,638 m, Tibet (China) |
| Lake | Lake Mansarovar, at about 4,590 m altitude |
| Parikrama (Kora) | About 52 km around Mount Kailash |
| Routes | Lipulekh Pass (Uttarakhand) and Nathu La (Sikkim) — both through the Ministry of External Affairs |
| Organiser | Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India (MEA) — application portal kmy.gov.in |
| Season | Every year between June and August |
| 2026 season | 20 batches, 1,000 places; 941 pilgrims completed the yatra |
How much assistance is given?
The 2016 notification says the assistance is ₹50,000 per pilgrim or 50% of the actual expenditure, whichever is less. In other words, the amount is the lower of the two figures. But the October 2026 announcement by the Tourism Department said the assistance remains ₹50,000 per pilgrim and the annual quota has been raised from 50 to 100 — and it did not mention the 50% condition at all. So whether the 50% condition still applies today is not confirmed; this guide flags it honestly rather than guessing. Before claiming, ask the Tourism Department whether the 50% condition applies in 2026–27.
A practical example, if the 50% condition applies: if your actual yatra expenditure was ₹2.09 lakh (Lipulekh route, 2026), 50% would be ₹1,04,500 — so you would receive ₹50,000, because ₹50,000 is the lower figure. If your expenditure was ₹80,000, 50% would be ₹40,000 — so you would receive ₹40,000. If the 50% condition no longer applies, every eligible pilgrim receives the full ₹50,000.
History of the assistance — ₹50,000 and the 50% condition
The scheme was notified on 12 July 2016 (Notification No. TM/AP.I/2016/2620) and commenced on 1 April 2016. The original text fixed the assistance at ₹50,000 or 50% of actual expenditure, whichever is less, with an annual quota of 50 pilgrims. The quota stayed at 50 for a decade. On 22 October 2026, in a review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Tourism Commissioner Dr Amit Agrawal announced that the quota for all three pilgrimage assistance schemes — Swarna Jayanti Guru Darshan Yatra, Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and Sindhu Darshan Yatra — had been doubled from 50 to 100 pilgrims each, and that the assistance of ₹50,000 per pilgrim for Kailash remains unchanged. The same meeting directed officials to develop an online registration portal so that assistance goes only to pilgrims registered through the portal. As of 8 November 2026, no portal name, link or start date has been announced.
| When | Assistance | Annual quota | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 April 2016 | ₹50,000 or 50% of actual expenditure (whichever is less) | 50 pilgrims | Scheme commenced — “Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Scheme, 2016” |
| 12 July 2016 | Same rule | 50 pilgrims | Notification No. TM/AP.I/2016/2620 issued |
| 2020–2024 | — | — | MEA yatra suspended (COVID-19 + border tensions) — no yatra, so no claims during this period |
| June 2025 | ₹50,000 or 50% (whichever is less) | 50 pilgrims | MEA yatra resumed after five years (first batches June–July 2025) |
| October 2026 | ₹50,000 per pilgrim (amount unchanged) | 100 pilgrims | Statement of the Tourism Commissioner; CM doubled the quota (22 October 2026) |
Eligibility — who can claim?
- Permanent resident of Haryana — the passport must carry a Haryana address.
- Yatra completed through the MEA, Government of India — the pilgrim must have completed the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through the Ministry of External Affairs. A private yatra through Nepal (via a private operator) is not eligible, even if the yatra was completed.
- MEA completion certificate — the pilgrim must hold the completion certificate issued by the MEA.
- Once in a lifetime — a pilgrim can receive this assistance only once in their lifetime; the claim form includes a declaration to that effect.
- No income limit — the scheme text prescribes no income limit.
- MEA yatra eligibility (separate): to travel with the MEA, the pilgrim must be an Indian citizen aged 18–70 and medically fit. The MEA conducts a medical examination in Delhi after selection; those found unfit cannot travel.
Who is NOT eligible?
- Those who are not permanent residents of Haryana (passport without a Haryana address).
- Those who completed the yatra through a private operator via Nepal instead of through the MEA.
- Those who have already received this assistance once — the benefit is once in a lifetime.
- Those who do not hold the MEA completion certificate.
- Those who claim after the 2-month window from the date of completing the yatra (the claim must be made within 2 months; whether late claims are accepted is for the department to decide — this guide makes no claim about it).
How does the MEA yatra work? — Lipulekh and Nathu La
The MEA organises the yatra in batches every year from June to August. In 2026 there were 20 batches of 50 pilgrims each — 1,000 places in total. Applications opened on 30 April 2026 and closed on 19 May 2026; the draw was held on 21 May 2026. The first batch crossed Nathu La on 20 June 2026.
| Route | Duration | Trek | Cost (2026, approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lipulekh Pass (Uttarakhand) | ~22 days | ~200 km | ~₹2.09 lakh |
| Nathu La Pass (Sikkim) | ~21 days | ~35–40 km | ~₹3.31 lakh |
The Lipulekh route is longer and involves more trekking; the Nathu La route is shorter and mostly motorable. Both routes reach the same destination — Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar. The MEA application fee is reported as ₹5,000 (non-refundable, aggregator-reported — not verified from MEA itself); check the portal for the current fee. The MEA gives no subsidy — the full yatra cost is borne by the pilgrim, and the Haryana assistance of ₹50,000 is claimed afterwards.
The 2026 yatra — what happened?
The 2026 yatra ran from June to August 2026. Applications were open on kmy.gov.in from 30 April to 19 May 2026; the computerised draw was held on 21 May 2026 by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar; 20 batches (50 pilgrims each) were given a total of 1,000 places — 10 batches via Lipulekh and 10 via Nathu La. The first batch entered Tibet via Nathu La on 20 June 2026. The season ended on 23–24 August 2026 — a total of 941 pilgrims completed the yatra (477 via Lipulekh, 464 via Nathu La).
| Year | Event | Status (as of 8 November 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | MEA yatra resumed after five years (first batches June–July 2025) | Done |
| 2026 | 20 batches, 1,000 places; 941 completed the yatra; season ended 23–24 August 2026 | Done — the 2-month claim window has passed for most pilgrims |
| 2027 | June–August 2027 (dates not announced) | Wait for the dates to be announced — no estimated date is given in this guide; applications are expected to open in spring 2027 |
Note for pilgrims who travelled in 2026: if you returned from the MEA yatra in 2026 and have not yet claimed from the Haryana government, the 2-month window may have passed — the last batch returned on 23–24 August 2026, so its claim window ended around the end of October 2026. Whether late claims will be accepted is for the Tourism Department alone to decide; this guide makes no guess about it.
Claim process — step by step
The claim is made after the yatra, offline. The steps:
- Complete the MEA yatra — travel through the MEA (Lipulekh or Nathu La) and obtain the MEA completion certificate at the end of the yatra. Keep it safe — it is mandatory for the claim.
- Collect all bills and receipts — keep every ticket, hotel and transport bill from the yatra; they are the proof of actual expenditure.
- Fill the Annexure A form — the claim form (Annexure A of the 2016 notification) with your personal details, passport details, yatra details and a declaration that you have never taken this assistance before and will not claim it again.
- Attach the documents — domicile certificate, MEA completion certificate, visa and passport copies, expenditure proof, passport-size photo and bank details (see the documents table below).
- Submit to the Director, Tourism Department — submit the claim to the Director, Tourism Department, Haryana, SCO 17–19, Sector 17-B, Chandigarh – 160017, within 2 months of completing the yatra.
- Verification and forwarding — the Director examines the application and documents and forwards the case to the Administrative Secretary, Government of Haryana, Tourism Department, within 15 days.
- Approval and payment — after the Administrative Secretary’s approval, the assistance is released. The 2016 text says payment was made by Demand Draft; whether payment is now made by DBT or still by Demand Draft is not verified — ask the department when claiming.
There is no verified SARAL process for this scheme. Some websites mention online application through SARAL, but no SARAL service for this scheme could be verified — and the Chief Minister’s October 2026 direction to build an online registration portal itself shows that no portal existed yet. The verified method is the offline claim described above.
Documents required
These documents must be attached with the claim (as per Annexure A of the notification):
| Document | Why it is needed |
|---|---|
| Attested copy of Haryana domicile certificate | Proof of being a permanent resident of Haryana |
| Attested copy of MEA yatra completion certificate | Proof of completing the yatra through the Ministry of External Affairs — mandatory; without it the claim will not be accepted |
| Attested copies of visa and passport | Proof of travel and identity (passport must carry a Haryana address) |
| Proof of expenditure on the yatra | Bills/receipts of actual expenditure — needed if the 50% condition applies |
| Declaration | Declaring that you have never taken this assistance before and will not claim it again |
| Passport-size photograph | To be affixed on the application form (Annexure A) |
| Bank details | Account details for payment — the 2016 form provided for payment by Demand Draft; the current payment mode is not verified, so ask the department |
Note: the portal’s live form, once it starts, will be final — submit any additional documents the department asks for at the time of claiming.
Claim approval process
After the claim is submitted, the approval process runs as follows:
| Step | What happens | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Scrutiny | The Director, Tourism Department, Haryana examines the application and documents | On receipt of the application |
| 2. Forwarding | The Director forwards the case to the Administrative Secretary, Government of Haryana, Tourism Department | Within 15 days |
| 3. Approval | Assistance is released after the Administrative Secretary’s approval | After approval |
| 4. Payment | As per the 2016 scheme text, assistance was released by Demand Draft | After approval |
A word of caution about the payment mode: the 2016 scheme text says payment was made by Demand Draft, but whether payment today is made by DBT (directly into the bank account) or still by Demand Draft could not be verified. Do ask the department about the payment mode when claiming. No RTS timeline for this scheme is published, so this guide gives no official figure for how long approval takes.
Fee, timeline and status check
| Topic | Status |
|---|---|
| Application fee (Haryana scheme) | No fee is prescribed in the scheme — the claim is free |
| MEA yatra fee | The MEA yatra has its own separate fee (application fee reported as ₹5,000 — aggregator-reported, not MEA-verified; check the portal); yatra cost Lipulekh ~₹2.09 lakh, Nathu La ~₹3.31 lakh (2026) |
| Claim deadline | Within 2 months of completing the yatra — this is the scheme’s real “last date” |
| Approval process | Director → Administrative Secretary within 15 days → approval → payment |
| Payment | Demand Draft in the 2016 text; current mode not verified — ask the department |
| Status check (online) | No online status portal verified — contact the department directly |
| Status check (offline) | Tourism Department, SCO 17–19, Sector 17-B, Chandigarh — phone 0172-2702955 |
| Last date | No fixed last date — each yatra has a 2-month claim window; the 2026 yatra took place in June–August, and 2027 dates are not announced |
| Frequency of benefit | Once in a lifetime per pilgrim |
Online registration portal — the new direction
At the review meeting on 22 October 2026, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini directed officials to develop an online registration portal for all three pilgrimage schemes — Swarna Jayanti Guru Darshan Yatra, Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and Sindhu Darshan Yatra. As announced, assistance will be given only to pilgrims registered through the portal, so that the application process is transparent and eligible pilgrims get the benefit directly.
But as of 8 November 2026, the portal’s name, link or start date has not been announced — so this guide gives no portal link. The guide will be updated as soon as the portal starts. Until then, claims must be made offline — do not pay money to any unofficial link or person in the name of the portal.
Preparing for the yatra — before you go to Kailash
Keep these points in mind before going on the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra:
- Mind the altitude: Lake Mansarovar is at about 4,590 m and the Kailash region is higher than 5,600 m. To avoid altitude sickness (AMS), the MEA conducts a medical examination before the yatra — follow your doctor’s advice and focus on fitness.
- Medical examination is mandatory: after selection, the MEA conducts a medical examination in Delhi; those found unfit cannot travel.
- Keep your passport ready in advance: the passport must carry a Haryana address and have sufficient validity — the visa is arranged through the MEA.
- Carry warm clothes and medicines: the Kailash region is cold even in June–August — do carry warm clothes, sunscreen and your regular medicines.
- Keep all bills and receipts: keep all tickets, hotel and transport bills from the yatra — proof of expenditure is needed when claiming.
- Collect the completion certificate during the yatra itself: the MEA completion certificate is issued at the end of the yatra — keep it safe, as it is mandatory for the claim.
- Remember the claim deadline: the claim must be made within 2 months of returning — do not delay.
Know the difference — Kailash vs Sindhu vs Guru Darshan
Haryana’s three pilgrimage assistance schemes look alike — but the amount and the yatra are different. After the October 2026 announcement, all three now have a quota of 100 pilgrims each:
| Scheme | Assistance | Annual quota | Yatra |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Scheme 2016 | ₹50,000 or 50% of actual expenditure (whichever is less) | 100 | Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar, Tibet — through MEA (June–August) |
| Sindhu Darshan Yatra Scheme 2016 | ₹20,000 per pilgrim | 100 | Sindhu river, Leh-Ladakh (June, Guru Purnima) |
| Swarna Jayanti Guru Darshan Yatra Scheme 2016 | ₹20,000 per pilgrim | 100 | Guru Darshan pilgrimage (separate guide coming) |
| Mukhyamantri Teerth Yatra Yojana | Free yatra (3rd AC train, food, stay) | Batch-wise | For senior citizens 60+; apply via SARAL (full guide on this website) |
One thing is common to all three assistance schemes — the assistance is claimed after the yatra — whereas in the Mukhyamantri Teerth Yatra Yojana the government itself organises the yatra. The Kailash scheme has one more special feature — the yatra is valid only through the MEA, while for Sindhu and Guru Darshan, travel through the state/central government or a recognised institution is valid.
Kailash assistance in other states
Several states give assistance to their residents for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. This table is for information only — Haryana residents can claim only under the Haryana government’s scheme, not under another state’s scheme:
| State | Assistance | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Uttar Pradesh | ₹1,00,000 | Raised from ₹50,000 to ₹1 lakh |
| Rajasthan | ₹1,00,000 | Same as UP |
| Madhya Pradesh | ₹50,000 | Same as Haryana |
| Tamil Nadu | ₹50,000 | Same as Haryana |
| Gujarat | ₹20,000 | Giving assistance since 1998 |
| Chhattisgarh / Delhi / Karnataka | Assistance given | Details vary by state |
The amounts above are from aggregator sources — each state’s scheme has its own rules. For a Haryana resident, only Haryana’s ₹50,000 scheme applies.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
1. How much financial assistance is given under the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Scheme?
As per the 2016 notification, ₹50,000 or 50% of actual expenditure, whichever is less. In October 2026, the Tourism Department said the assistance remains ₹50,000 per pilgrim and the annual quota has been raised from 50 to 100. Whether the 50% condition still applies today was not confirmed in the announcement — so ask the department before claiming.
2. Does one have to apply before the yatra?
Not for the Haryana assistance — first complete the MEA yatra, then claim within 2 months of it. But the MEA yatra itself requires a separate application — every year in spring on kmy.gov.in, with selection by computerised draw. Anyone who talks of applying first is confusing this scheme with the Mukhyamantri Teerth Yatra Yojana.
3. Who can claim?
A permanent resident of Haryana (passport with a Haryana address) who has completed the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and holds the MEA’s yatra completion certificate. The assistance is given to a pilgrim only once in a lifetime. For the MEA yatra, Indian citizenship, age 18–70 and medical fitness are also required.
4. Will assistance be given for a private yatra via Nepal?
No. The scheme requires the yatra to be completed through the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) — a yatra done via Nepal through a private operator does not qualify for Haryana’s assistance, even if the yatra was completed.
5. Can one apply online through the SARAL portal?
Not verified. Some websites mention online application through SARAL, but no SARAL service for this scheme could be verified — and the Chief Minister’s October 2026 direction to build an online registration portal itself shows that no portal had started yet. The verified method is the offline claim.
6. Can a claim still be made for the 2026 yatra?
The 2026 yatra took place in June–August 2026; the last batch returned on 23–24 August 2026, so the 2-month claim window ended around the end of October 2026. Whether late claims will be accepted is for the Tourism Department alone to decide; this guide makes no guess about it.
7. How many times can the assistance be taken?
Only once in a lifetime per pilgrim. A person who has taken this assistance once cannot claim it again — the claim also requires a declaration to that effect.
8. How is the payment made?
As per the 2016 scheme text, the assistance was released by Demand Draft. Whether payment today is made by DBT or still by Demand Draft could not be verified; do ask the department about the payment mode when claiming.
9. When is the next Kailash Mansarovar Yatra?
The yatra takes place every year between June and August. The 2027 dates have not been announced yet — this guide will be updated as soon as they are. MEA applications open every year in spring on kmy.gov.in (in 2026 they were open from 30 April to 19 May), so watch the portal in spring 2027.
Official links and contacts
| Task | Link / Contact |
|---|---|
| MEA yatra — application portal | kmy.gov.in (the MEA’s official portal; applications open every year in spring; on direct check on 8 November 2026 the site did not open — given here with a note) |
| Scheme notification (copy, PDF) | statusin.in/uploads/21420-e_kailash.pdf (copy of Notification No. TM/AP.I/2016/2620, dated 12.07.2016 — opened on direct check) |
| Haryana Tourism Department (scheme page) | haryanatourism.gov.in/News/kailash-mansarovar-yatra-scheme-2016 (on direct check on 8 November 2026 the site did not open — DNS/timeout; link given with a note) |
| Tourism Department (office) | Haryana Tourism Corporation, SCO 17–19, Sector 17-B, Chandigarh – 160017 |
| Phone | 0172-2702955 / 2702956 |
| [email protected] | [email protected] | |
| Website | haryanatourism.gov.in (did not open on direct check on 8 November 2026) |
| myScheme — Haryana schemes (list) | myscheme.gov.in/search/state/Haryana (detail page is client-rendered and could not be read directly; see also the list page) |
| SARAL helpline | 0172-3968400 | Email: [email protected] (for general SARAL portal queries only) |
Related guides — also read: Mukhyamantri Teerth Yatra Yojana 2026: Free pilgrimage for 60+ (Hindi guide — no English mirror) | Haryana Sindhu Darshan Yatra Yojana 2026: ₹20,000 assistance | Haryana Varanasi-Amritsar Yatra Yojana 2026: Free travel for senior citizens | Big relief for pilgrims: Quota doubled in Guru Darshan, Kailash Mansarovar and Sindhu Darshan (Hindi news — no English mirror) | Haryana Old Age Samman Allowance 2026: ₹3,200 per month
Disclaimer
This guide was prepared on 8 November 2026 on the basis of available official sources — the Haryana Government’s Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Scheme 2016 notification (No. TM/AP.I/2016/2620, dated 12.07.2016), the Tourism Department’s October 2026 announcement (statement of the Tourism Commissioner, 22 October 2026), news reports on the Ministry of External Affairs’ 2026 yatra, and the myScheme portal’s Haryana list. The assistance amount, quota and online portal information may change over time — before claiming, do confirm the current information with the Tourism Department, Haryana (SCO 17–19, Sector 17-B, Chandigarh — 0172-2702955). Wherever sources differ or information is unconfirmed, this guide says so clearly. Viksit Haryana is not an official portal of any government department.
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