Dehradun: The duration of this year's Kailash Mansarovar yatra has been reduced to 25 days from the earlier 29 and the annual pilgrimage will commence from June 9. 

The duration of the famous pilgrimage, a religious voyage to the abode of Lord Shiva in Tibet, has been curtailed to make the trip more comfortable for the pilgrims, official sources said today. 

 
According to DK Sharma, the zonal manager of the Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam, who is also the nodal officer for the pilgrimage, "it has also been decided that from this year, the number of pilgrim groups for the journey have been increased from 16 to 18." 

"Also, this year, the pilgrimage would commence on June 9 instead of its traditional May 29 launch while it will be wrapped up on September 9 and not, as was customary, on September 25," he said. 

Sharma said that although its duration had been reduced, pilgrims would have enough time to offer prayers at Mansarovar. 

"The Centre has already communicated the changes, brought in this year, to Chinese authorities following which the passport verification procedure conducted at Taklakot in Tibet would now be completed in a day as opposed to the four days required for it earlier," he said. 

He said that the above changes were made necessary as the lengthy duration of the arduous 250-km pilgrimage was found to be causing difficulties for pilgrims. 

During the course of the journey, the pilgrims will circumambulate Mansarovor lake which lies at 15,060 ft above mean sea level.