All about Lipulekh: The important thing move that has India and Nepal locked in a 210-year-old dispute | Defined
The dispute between India and Nepal over the Lipulekh move is as soon as once more within the headlines. The newest comes after Nepal’s prime minister, Balendra Shah, said that the matter concerning the boundary dispute may also be raised with the UK for the reason that difficulty dates again to the British Raj in India.
The newest dispute over the move follows India and China’s announcement of the 2026 Kailash Mansarovar Yatraa pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar in Tibet, as a part of their renewed diplomatic ties.
Among the many two routes used for this pilgrimage is the Lipulekh Cross in Uttarakhand. Nonetheless, Nepal has staked a territorial declare over the move, stating that it’s a part of Nepali territory.
With the dispute relationship again to 1816, even 210 years later, the matter nonetheless stays a degree of competition between the neighbouring international locations.
What’s the Lipulekh move?
The Lipulekh move is a Himalayan move located on the trijunction of India, Nepal and China. Whereas the move runs by way of Tibet, as a result of Chinese language governance within the autonomous zone, it’s thought of a part of China.
The move serves as a significant border for Indo-China commerce and the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra pilgrimage. Positioned within the Kumaon Himalayas, the move connects Uttarakhand with Purang (Taklakot) in Tibet.
What are the territorial disputes?
The foundation reason for the disagreement between India and Nepal over the move is over the precise supply of the Kali river. Below the 1816 Sugauli Treaty, the river varieties a pure border between the 2 nations.
In an adjustment in 1865, the British in India shifted the border close to Lipulekh to the watershed of the Kalpani stream, which might come to be often known as the Kalpani territory.
Additionally Learn | ‘Difficulty dates again to British India’: Nepal to rope in UK, China amid dispute over Lipulekh Cross
Following independence from the British, India inherited these areas and argues that Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura are a part of the state of Uttarakhand. Moreover, India additionally claims as a result of its management and administration of the area for the reason that 1962 India-China battle.
Nonetheless, Nepal maintains that these areas misinform the east of the Kali River and subsequently fall inside its territory.
Key flashpoints and the way China comes into the combination
What provides to the dispute is that Nepal argues that commerce between India and China by way of this move is usually held with out Nepali consent.
In 2015, India and China agreed to make use of Lipulekh for bilateral commerce and the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage, triggering widespread protests in Nepal.
5 years later, in 2020, India inaugurated a newly constructed highway by the Border Roads Organisation, connecting Dharchula in Uttarakhand to Lipulekh to ease journey for pilgrims.
Nonetheless, in response, Nepal up to date its political map and structure to incorporate the disputed territory as a part of its territory.
India has strongly rejected this declare and slammed Nepal for its “unilateral and unjustified actions.”
In 2025, tensions as soon as once more reignited after India and China renewed their diplomatic relations, which had come to a pause as a result of a conflict between Indian and Chinese language forces on the Galwan Valley.
From 2026 onwards, India and China introduced the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra pilgrimage, and one of many key routes for pilgrims would be the Lipulekh move.
Nepal has objected to this use and lodged a proper protest with each India and China, stating that the route was determined with out Nepal being consulted.
