Government has made medical fitness mandatory for the volunteers who apply for service to act as liaison officers for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. Government invited volunteers from within the services to act as liaison officers for the Yatra. This year the Yatra is scheduled during the period 12 June to 8 September through two routes and it involves arduous trek at high altitudes of up to 19,500 feet, under inhospitable conditions. So the government has decided to be quite stringent this year about medical fitness as it requires people to be physically and medically fit to face the harsh and difficult environment conditions.
Though people have been applying citing experience in undertaking the Amarnath Yatra and the Vaishno Devi Yatra trek, but the government has declined such requests and cleared the air by just allowing those who are medically fit to step forward, as reported by Indian Express.
The ministry of external affairs on Thursday announced the commencement of Kailash Manasarovar Yatra Registrations which includes 24 days of the journey in total, for each batch includes 3 days in Delhi for preparatory work. The Yatra costs Rs 1.6 lakh per person. It will be conducted in 18 batches of 60 pilgrims each. Like previous years, first-time applicants, medical doctors, and married couples would be given priority. The route passes through important sites like Narayan Ashram, Patal Bhuvaneshwar. Yatris can also see the scenic beauty of Chialekh Valley or the Om Parvat which has the natural occurrence of snow in the shape of ‘Om’ on this mountain.
People who are interested can register for the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra from the link provided by the external affairs minister on their website. Applicants for this Yatra must be at least 18 years and not more than 70 years on 1 January 2017 to be eligible to apply for this Yatra. The last date for registration is 15 March 2017.