Two 8-year-old American girls on the Kailash pilgrimage trail with Indian tourists in orange jackets. Photo: Bill Bishop

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, southwest China, via this pass at 10 a.m. local time, starting a 12-day pilgrimage to the sacred religious sites of Mount Kangrinboqe and Mapam Yumco Lake in Ngari prefecture, Tibet.

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

“This new route is safer, more convenient and comfortable than the former one,” said Dong Mingjun, vice chairman of Tibet regional government, at the pass.

It will shorten the pilgrimage time from more than 20 days to about eight, he added.

Le Yucheng, the Chinese ambassador to India, said the pass was the result of a consensus reached by both Chinese and Indian leaders when Chinese 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.

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. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited China this May, following Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to India last year.