Pithoragarh: The Adi Kailash Yatra will begin on May 1, with the administration making the inner line permit (ILP) — an official travel document required to enter protected or restricted areas for a limited period — mandatory for pilgrims, as the route passes through sensitive locations along the Indo-Tibet (China) border.Dharchula SDM Ashish Joshi said, “ILPs will be issued both online and offline to streamline visitor movement. Arrangements related to infrastructure, safety and visitor management are being put in place.” He directed authorities to complete all preparations ahead of the yatra. The permit will be checked at multiple points along the route beyond Dharchula, including Gunji, Nabi and Jolingkong.District tourism officer Kirti Arya said around 50,000 tourists are expected to visit Adi Kailash and Om Parvat. “Homestays and lodges have been instructed to ensure hygienic accommodation, and visitors have been urged to protect the environment,” she said.Adi Kailash, located at an altitude of 5,945m in the Vyas valley, is often visited alongside Om Parvat. The area was connected by road in 2020, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the site in 2023, after which tourist footfall increased sharply from nearly 1,000 in 2022 to 2,500 in 2023, 25,500 in 2024 and 36,600 in 2025.
