Visiting Kailash Mansarovar is now stress-free; mobile phones will ring along the journey route

In the remote areas of Pithoragarh district, connectivity services have long been a dream, but soon, this dream is going to be a reality. The work to facilitate the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage, initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last October, is progressing smoothly.

Kailash Mansarovar Mobile Connectivity

End of Shopless Mobiles for Kailash Mansarovar Pilgrims

Mobile phones of pilgrims heading towards Kailash Mansarovar won’t be silent anymore. Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is gearing up to install mobile towers even in extremely remote areas. Soon, 4G towers will be erected in the border areas with China and in the high Himalayan regions.

Connecting Remote Areas: Turning Dreams into Reality

Connectivity services still seem like a dream in the remote areas of Pithoragarh district, but efforts are underway to make this dream a reality. After Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage last October, endeavors are being made to provide all facilities to the people here.

Mobile Connectivity Initiative Under PM’s 4G Securitization Project

BSNL is planning to install mobile towers under the Prime Minister’s 4G Securitization Project around military checkpoints near the China border and in high Himalayan regions.

Tower Installation along the Kailash Mansarovar Route

BSNL will install 2G towers at Kalapani (3600 meters), Nabhidhang (4266 meters), Gunji (3220 meters), and Jolingkong (4572 meters) along the Kailash Mansarovar route. Preparation for this initiative has already begun.

First Network Providing Connectivity to Kailash Mansarovar Route

This will be the first network providing connectivity to the China border and high Himalayan regions along the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage route. This will enable people to communicate with their relatives even during the several days of the Kailash Mansarovar journey.

Increasing Users for BSNL

Talking about the four mountainous districts, there are already 140,000 BSNL consumers. By February 1, 2024, there are 94,000 2G, 43,000 3G, and 2500 4G users in Almora, Bageshwar, Pithoragarh, and Champawat. BSNL is preparing to upgrade the network in many areas soon.

Benefiting Locals

There are several parts of the border district Pithoragarh where mobile network services have not been operational till now. But now, people living in these areas will also be able to use mobile phones. This service will be a relief, especially for ITBP and SSB soldiers. Additionally, migrants from Jolingkong, Nabhidhang, Gunji, and Kalapani will also benefit from this.

Benefits Beyond Locals

BSNL’s plan to install four mobile towers in areas adjacent to the China border and high Himalayan regions will not only benefit locals but will also aid semi-military forces’ soldiers and Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims.

Posted by Ashish Thapliyal

Ashish Thapliyal is a Senior Tour Manager at Pilgrimage Tour India and one of India's most experienced pilgrimage travel specialists, with 18 years of dedicated service in sacred tourism. A proud native of Uttarakhand — the Devbhoomi — he grew up surrounded by the Garhwal Himalayas and has undertaken the Char Dham Yatra personally multiple times, giving him rare first-hand knowledge of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri that goes far beyond guidebooks.

Ashish holds the title of Acharya from Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi — one of India's most prestigious centres of Vedic scholarship — with deep grounding in Hindu scripture, ritual traditions, and pilgrimage philosophy. This academic foundation, combined with nearly two decades of practical tour management, makes him uniquely qualified to guide pilgrims both spiritually and logistically.

Over his 18-year career at Pilgrimage Tour India, Ashish has personally planned and managed 200+ pilgrimage tours covering Char Dham Yatra, 12 Jyotirlinga circuits, Ayodhya Ram Mandir, Varanasi & Kashi Vishwanath, Puri Jagannath, Rameshwaram, and international pilgrimages to Nepal and Sri Lanka. He has helped thousands of pilgrims — from first-time travellers and senior citizens to NRI families visiting from the USA, UK, UAE, Canada, and Australia — complete their sacred journeys safely and meaningfully.

His writing on the Pilgrimage Tour blog focuses on making India's ancient pilgrimage traditions accessible to modern travellers. He covers temple history, Char Dham opening and closing dates, trekking conditions, altitude health advice, puja rituals, VIP darshan tips, packing guides, and practical planning advice based on real on-ground experience. He writes in both English and Hindi.

Ashish is based at the Pilgrimage Tour India head office in New Delhi and is reachable via WhatsApp at +91 8826094899.

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