The annual Kailash Mansarovar yatra, which involves circumambulation of Mount Kailash and Mansarovar lake in Tibet [Images], will commence on June 1 this year.

The yatra will be completed in 26 days, of which 13 days would be spent in Tibet, the epicentre of recent anti-China demonstrations. The pilgrimage is considered extremely "arduous" and involves trekking at altitudes upto 19,500 feet, under inhospitable conditions.

"The yatra will commence on the  June 1 with around 16 batches of pilgrims and the last batch would be back in the capital by September 24," said an Indo-Tibetan Border Police official whose force escorts the pilgrims every year. Each pilgrim batch would roughly comprise 40-45 devotees. "The exact number of devotees in a batch is finalised just a few days before the start of the yatra from Delhi," said officials.

Mountain-trained ITBP personnel would assist the yatra by providing telecommunications services through satellite phones, high altitude medical check-up and overall security cover to the devotees, a senior ITBP official at the force headquarters in New Delhi, said. "Apart from these duties, we also will be carrying out evacuation operations in case of emergencies," he added. The ministry of external affairs and ITBP recently held a meeting to discuss the modalities of the yatra.

"An overall itinerary was discussed. Arrangement for ponies, porters, support staff and services and other vitals were discussed at the meet along with the liaison officers of the yatra," the official said. According to the MEA, "Yatris will need to spend four days in New Delhi to obtain visas, undergo a comprehensive medical examination and complete financial formalities."