Shimla, July 6 -- Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has urged the central government to explore the feasibility of opening Kailash Mansarovar Yatra (KMY) via Shipki-La route in Himachal Pradesh.

In a letter written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the chief minister said that Shipki-La region has served as a vital Indo-Tibetan trade route, predating modern borders. He said that it has also been a cultural corridor for Tibetan Buddhism and ancient pilgrimage paths reflecting India's enduring civilizational ties to Kailash and Mansarovar.

He said that Kinnaur region of Himachal Pradesh being semi-arid and situated in a rain shadow zone like Spiti, is less prone to monsoon disruptions, which keeps the route accessible for most of the y...