The Adi Kailash and Om Parvat Yatra in Uttarakhand's Pithoragarh district has been suspended due to monsoon conditions, landslide risks, and pilgrim safety concerns, officials confirmed on Friday.
Permit Issuance Halted Indefinitely
Dharchula Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Ashish Joshi announced that Inner Line Permits for the yatra will no longer be issued until further orders. The last permits were granted to 103 pilgrims on July 1, just before the suspension took effect.
According to SDM Joshi, a total of 52,441 pilgrims had visited Adi Kailash and Om Parvat within two months of the pilgrimage season starting on May 1, 2026. The decision to suspend the yatra was taken to ensure the safety of devotees amid heavy rainfall and increased landslide threats in the Himalayan region.
Background and Popularity Surge
The Adi Kailash pilgrimage in Pithoragarh originally began in 1981, alongside the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in Tibet. However, its popularity surged significantly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit on October 12, 2023. Since then, the number of pilgrims has grown substantially, prompting the state government to streamline permit processes and enhance infrastructure.
The yatra typically runs from May to October, but monsoon rains often force temporary closures. This year's suspension comes earlier than usual due to unusually heavy precipitation, which has already triggered several landslides on the approach roads.
Impact on Pilgrims and Local Economy
The suspension has affected hundreds of pilgrims who had planned to undertake the journey in July. Many were already en route to Dharchula when the order was issued. Local tourism operators and businesses in Pithoragarh and Dharchula rely heavily on the yatra season, and the suspension is expected to cause economic losses.
Officials have advised pilgrims to postpone their travel plans and await further updates. The district administration is monitoring weather conditions closely and will resume permit issuance once the monsoon subsides and safety assessments are completed.
The Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board has also issued advisories for alternate pilgrimage destinations in the state that remain accessible during the monsoon.
