New route to Tibet opened for Buddhist pilgrims from India

Want China Times, Xinhua 2015-06-23

Pilgrims from India arrive in Tibet via the new route, June 22. (Photo/Xinhua)

China on Monday opened a new route along the Himalayan Nathu La Pass for pilgrims from India traveling to Tibet to further promote religious exchanges between the two countries.

The first group of 43 Indian nationals entered Tibet autonomous region via this pass at 10am, starting a 12-day pilgrimage to the sacred religious sites of Mt Kailash and Lake Manasarovar in Ngari prefecture.

Free jackets, backpacks and blankets were provided to the pilgrims by local authorities upon their arrival.

"This new route is safer, more convenient and more comfortable than the former one," Dong Mingjun, vice chairman of the Tibet regional government, said at the pass. It will shorten the pilgrimage time from more than 20 days to about eight, he added.

Le Yucheng, China's ambassador to India, said the pass was the result of a consensus reached President Xi Jinping visited India in September. It will promote mutual understanding and communication between the peoples of the two countries, he said. Le traveled from New Delhi to Nathu La Pass for the occasion.

"We hope to use this opportunity to strengthen strategic mutual trust between China and India, expand cooperation in all fields, promote people-to-people and cultural exchanges, properly handle our divergences, boost common development, and take the bilateral relations of our two countries to a new historical level," Le said.

According to Indian media, around 250 pilgrims in five groups of 50 will travel to Tibet along the new route this year. Among the first group, some pilgrims had dropped out for health reasons. Another 18 groups of 60 pilgrims will undertake the pilgrimage along the old route.

Tarun Vijay, president of the Parliamentary Group on India-China Friendship, said the new route marked a milestone in the bilateral relationship and it has global significance.

"It is a moment of mutual trust," he said. "We are grateful to President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for their efforts."

The new route will be an enduring symbol of the people-to-people ties between India and China, said Shrila Datta Kumar, counsellor from the Indian Embassy to China.

Amarnath, 70, from Mumbai was among the first group of pilgrims. "It is my first time traveling to Tibet, and probably my last time. I thank the Chinese government for the warm welcome," he said.

The Nathu La Pass sits 4,545 meters above sea level and is wedged between Tibet's Yadong county in Xigaze prefecture, and India's Sikkim state. It was the shortest land pass for trade between China and India, and also the highest altitude land pass for trade.

The pass was closed for more than 40 years. It was reopened in 2006, but for trade only.

Indian nationals have made the pilgrimage to Tibet every year since 1981. China has welcomed almost 80,000 Indian pilgrims in the past decade alone.

The pilgrims traditionally climb over the Qang La Pass, which sits 5,200 meters above sea level on the China-India-Nepal border, to reach their destination. The road is steep and usually covered by snow.

Relations between India and China are on a continuous growing path. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited China this May, following Xi's visit to India last year.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (C) participates in a mass yoga session

along with other yoga practitioners to mark International Yoga Day on Rajpath

Avenue in New Delhi on June 21, 2015 (AFP Photo/Prakash Singh)

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