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Kathmandu: On Sunday, Nepal expressed its discontent regarding the planned Kailash Mansarovar Yatra route through Lipulekh Pass, asserting that this area is part of its territory.

The Nepalese Foreign Ministry issued a statement indicating that Kathmandu was not consulted prior to the route's finalization for the pilgrimage.

India, on the other hand, has consistently claimed that Lipulekh is under its jurisdiction.

Nepal's objection follows India's announcement that the Yatra will occur between June and August.

The Nepalese government firmly maintains its position that Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura, and Kalapani, located east of the Mahakali River, are integral parts of its territory, as per the Sugauli Treaty of 1816.

In its statement shared on social media, the foreign ministry reiterated its stance to both India and China, emphasizing that the Kailash-Mansarovar pilgrimage should be organized through Nepalese territory, specifically Lipulekh.

Previously, the Nepalese government had urged India to refrain from activities such as road construction, expansion, border trade, and pilgrimage in the disputed area.

The statement also noted that Nepal has communicated its position to China.

The Nepalese government is committed to resolving the border dispute through diplomatic means, relying on historical agreements, facts, maps, and evidence, given the close ties between Nepal and India.

While Nepal asserts that Lipulekh and Kalapani belong to it, India maintains its claim over these territories.

In May 2020, the government led by K.P. Oli included these territories in Nepal's official map following India's inauguration of an 80-km road connecting Dharchula to Lipulekh Pass, a route to the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage site in Tibet. Nepal protested this road inauguration, labeling it as a unilateral action by India.

On April 30, India's Ministry of External Affairs announced that the annual Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is scheduled to take place from June to August this year via two routes: Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand and Nathu La in Sikkim.

The pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and Mansarovar Lake, located in China's Tibet Autonomous Region, holds significant religious importance for Hindus, Jains, and Buddhists.

The Yatra resumed last year after a hiatus of nearly five years, as part of efforts to restore normal relations between India and China.