46 pilgrims of Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra enter China via Nathula

A new chapter of friendship between New Delhi and Beijing began as the first batch of 46 pilgrims of the Kailash-Manasarovar Yatra via Nathula crossed over to China at the Nathula border post in Sikkim on Monday.

A five-member team from the Government of China led by the Chinese Ambassador to India Le Yucheng along with officials from the Sikkim Government as well as officials from the Indian Embassy in Beijing and the Tibet Autonomous Region were present at the colourful ceremonies on both sides of the border.

The pilgrims reached Nathula border post at around eight a.m. and after the completion of the formalities they crossed the border at nine a.m.

The officials from the Indian embassy as well as those from the Tibet Autonomous Region Administration welcomed the Indian pilgrims on the other side of the border.

The pilgrims will be travelling by bus to Shigatse, some 1500kilometres from Nathula, deep in the Tibet Autonomous Region, to reach their ultimate destination, the Kailash-Mansarovar.