The annual pilgrimage to Kailash-Mansarovar in Tibet will commence on May 29, officials said today. 

Over 750 pilgrims in 16 batches will travel to the Himalayan region in China for a holy dip in the Mansarovar lake, they said. Organised by the Ministry of External Affairs and coordinated by Kumaun Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN), a developmental corporation of the Uttarakhand government, each pilgrim will be asked to pay Rs 19,200, said officials.

This year the last batch of pilgrims is expected to start from Delhi on August 27 to cover the 925 km stretch.

"When we initiated this pilgrimage in 1981 there were only 59 pilgrims. Till now 10,983 pilgrims have gone to Tibet Autonomous Region in China to worship at Holy Kailash Mountain (19200 ft) and Mansarovar lake," said D K Sharma the Division Manager Tourism of the KMVN. 

They said, each pilgrim will be asked to pay 19,200 rupees. This year the last batch of pilgrims is expected to start from Delhi on August 27 to cover the 925 km stretch.

Meanwhile, with nearly 12,000 people visiting the cave Shrine of Mata Vaishnodevi every day, over 3.90 lakh pilgrims have visited the Shrine during first month of the year.