India Launches Helicopter Pilgrimage to Mt Kailash Amid China's Restrictions

According to The Statesman, Uttarakhand has resumed an aerial pilgrimage to Mt Kailash for Indian pilgrims after China's restrictions made traditional routes difficult since 2020. The first group of five pilgrims paid homage to the sacred mountain from Indian soil on Oct 3. A new helicopter tour, introduced by the Uttarakhand Tourism Department, offers clear views of Mt Kailash from the Old Lipulekh Peak. This initiative follows the discovery of the viewpoint and aims to provide an alternative to the traditional Mt Kailash–Lake Mansarovar Yatra.