The annual Kailash Yatra to Mount Kailash in Tibet will proceed via the old route in Uttarakhand, which was badly damaged in torrential rains last year.
Keeping in view the condition of the road, the foreign ministry was considering an alternative route for the pilgrimage, but the Uttarakhand government has assured the road will be repaired by June.
The external affairs ministry will soon be inviting applications for the pilgrimage beginning June 8 and ending September 9. The last date for filing paper applications is March 10 and online application March 5.
A total of 18 batches comprising 1,080 pilgrims will visit Kailash, which is 120 pilgrims more than previous years so as to accommodate last year's left out pilgrims. Because of last year's, which killed about a 1,000 persons, only one batch could visit Kailash.
However, the border roads organisation is yet to complete repairs on Pithoragarh-Tawaghat national highway along the pilgrimage route. Similarly, a crucial link bridge at Kinjoti, which was swept away in the flash floods, is yet to be constructed.
This year, as a precautionary measure, foreign ministry will provide a liaison officer equipped with satellite phone for each batch of pilgrims. There will be provision for evacuation of pilgrims by choppers in emergency.