Kathmandu, August 28, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Nepal has waived the trekking fee for foreign nationals returning from the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage through the western Hilsa border point in Humla district for one week, as devastating floods in the Bhote Koshi River continue to disrupt travel routes.
The Department of Immigration said in a notice issued on Friday that the waiver applies to foreign pilgrims returning from the pilgrimage who had previously obtained departure permits from the Immigration Office in Rasuwa.
The measure came into effect on August 27, with authorities citing the prevailing adverse conditions and the need to prioritise humanitarian safety.
Foreign travellers passing through Hilsa normally have to pay a trekking fee of $50 per person per week because the route passes through a designated restricted area. The fee has now been waived for one week to facilitate the safe return of pilgrims.
The department also said foreign nationals and trekking guides using the route would not need to obtain insurance. The mandatory requirement for pilgrims to be accompanied by a trekking guide has also been temporarily waived.
The measures are intended to facilitate the return of Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims through alternative routes after floods in the Bhote Koshi River damaged roads, bridges and other infrastructure along the Rasuwa-Timure route leading to the Nepal-China border.
As of August 26, 93 people had obtained departure permits from the Immigration Office in Rasuwa, including 32 Indian nationals.
The Rasuwagadhi route had emerged as a major access point for the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage before the disaster. However, extensive damage to roads and other infrastructure has severely disrupted movement along the route.
Meanwhile, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said that 579 bodies had been recovered from the flood-hit areas, while 1,924 people remained unaccounted for as of Friday evening.
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