Medical Requirements for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra: Understanding the Essential Medical Clearances for Taking Part in the Kailash Yatra

Which All Tests I Must Go Through Before Booking Or Undertaking The Kailash Yatra?

Because of the inexplicable experience one will go through while visiting Kailash Mansarovar, almost everyone would like to make a visit there at least once in his lifetime. The majestic view of the mountains around and the sparkling lake in between is sure to give an individual salvation through his eyes. But the fact says that not every individual who wants to go there is eligible to go there. The eligibility to make a visit to this Holy place that is located at a great height, is not determined in terms of money, but in terms of his health too. The weather and the atmosphere at that height is risky enough to live there forever. This is the reason why the area around that place is sparsely populated. Not only this, even Indian government has set rules to define the eligibility of an individual who is allowed to visit Kailash Mansarovar. The eligibility rules also include health tests, and are defined as follows:

Who is Eligible to Go For Kailash Mansarovar Yatra?

As per the general rules laid by Indian Government, any Indian citizen, who holds a valid Indian passport and is aged between 18 to 70 years, can go for Kailash Yatra. Other than this, the individual should also have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 27 or less than that, and should be physically fit and should not be suffering from any mental health problems. In this situation, he will be allowed to undertake Yatra to Kailash Mansarovar for religious purposes, and even otherwise. 

Along with the above mentioned eligibility conditions, an individual who is applying for Kailash Yatra eligibility check, should not be suffering from health problems, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, etc. To test the medical health condition of an individual, he will need to qualify comprehensive medical tests, that are conducted by Delhi Heart and Lung Institute (DHLI) and the ITBP Base Hospital in New Delhi. Once he is qualified as per the guidelines, he will be allowed to make plans for his journey to Kailash Mansarovar.

Some people who want to visit Mount Kailash, are not fit to do altitude trekking, even after they have qualified for the initial medical tests. To ensure that all travellers going towards Kailash Mansarovar are healthy to do trekking at high altitude, they will again need to go through additional medical tests during the course of their journey to Mount Kailash. These tests are conducted by ITBP, at specific places as per the chosen route to the destination. During the course of the Yatra, these tests are conducted at Gunji, for those travellers who are going through Lipulekh Pass. While for the tourists or pilgrims, who are going through Nathu La Pass, these tests are done at Sherathang. 

If any traveller or pilgrim is found medically unfit to continue the journey in these tests, they will not be permitted to continue moving forward to complete the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, and have to return home afterwards.

Myth – Getting Tests Done from Unauthorised Medical Centers

Some people who are passionate to go on Kailash Yatra, even when they are not fit for it, often try to get the positive test reports made by unauthorised medical centers, and try to go forward. Still, they are not allowed to do the Yatra. Recommendations and reports from Delhi Heart and Lung Institute and ITBP professional, are only valid. No other medical certificates or test reports are accepted to permit an individual to do the Yatra. 

As detailed above, a selected applicant, if found that he is not medically fit in between, will not be allowed to go forward for the Kailash Yatra. He will also forfeit the non-refundable deposit paid earlier for it, and also the amount he had paid for getting the medical examination done.

List of Medical Tests Conducted for Kailash Yatra

These are as follows:

• Hb
• Blood Sugar
• TLC and DLC
• Urea in Blood
• Serum Bilirubin
• Lipid profile
• Urine RE
• Chest X-ray
• ECG
• Pulmonary Function Test 
• Stress Echo Test
• HbA1c etc.

Why are Medical Tests Important to be Done for Kailash Yatra?

One cannot expect all the comforts and convenience to be made available on the mountains at the great height. Thus, being physically fit and healthy is very important to fulfil one’s dream of going on the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. The reason why medical tests are performed in a systematic manner as per the guidelines of authorities, is that they cannot take risk of a travel losing his life during the course of Kailash Yatra.

If an individual wants to do this Yatra once in his lifetime, he should live a healthy lifestyle, so as to pass all the medical tests and fulfil his dream to reach Kailash Mansarovar.