China has kept its word and opened Nathu La; the 4000 meters above sea level pass on its side of Sikkim border for the Indian pilgrims who want to go on a pilgrimage to Kailash-Mansarovar. The PM was assured during his visit to China that the Chinese Government would open this pass for the convenience of Indian pilgrims. This route was necessitated because the existing Lipulekh Pass, the only route our pilgrims have been adopting so far, was badly damaged in the floods in Uttarakhand in 2013. The first batch of 44 Indian pilgrims to Kailash-Mansarovar was led by the Chinese Ambassador in New Delhi, Le Yucheng, who becomes the first Chinese official to cross the border through the new route.
Reports have come that Chinese side had made great preparations for quite some time to make the pilgrimage comfortable for the Indian pilgrims. The Pass and the path were decorated with banners and hotels, restaurants, rest houses and transport arrangements were in place. After crossing Nathu La, the pilgrims will travel in a buss right up to Tibet. This eschews the great physical strain which the traditional Lipulekh Pass route demands. The pilgrims had to do much of hiking through old route, which exhausted them. Chinese authorities have shown great cordiality to the Indian pilgrims assuring them that they understand the sensitivities of Indians in regard to their civilizational fund. Sentiments of friendship and good will were exchanged on both sides and it was hoped that more than mere pilgrimage, the goodwill gesture will go a long way in straightening relations of cordiality between the two countries that remained estranged for a long time.
We should appreciate the initiative of Prime Minister Modi as well as the Chinese President XI, who have shown high level of statesmanship in trying to mend the fence between the two sides by slow but steady efforts. China is a great civilization and so is India. Both are civilizations of peace and if the two great countries are on same wavelength, it will inspire hope in the entire humanity that peace shall prevail all over the world sooner or later. We hail the goodwill gesture of China.
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