US embassy cable - 02KATHMANDU647

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 000647 
 
SIPDIS 
 
LONDON FOR POL/RIEDEL 
BEIJING PASS CHENGDU 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/31/2012 
TAGS: PREL, CASC, ASEC, PREF, NP, CH 
SUBJECT: MOUNT KAILAS TO REOPEN TO TOURISTS FROM NEPAL 
 
 
Classified By: A/DCM Michael S. Hoza, Reasons 1.5 (b), (d). 
 
1. (C) Travel agencies in Kathmandu report that as of late 
March they were able to resume booking tours to western 
Tibet,s Mount Kailas after the Chinese government lifted 
restrictions on travel to that region.  Tours are now being 
booked for dates in late April and May.  Nepal,s travel 
agents say they had been unable to book tours to Kailas since 
September 11. 
 
2. (C) The Lhasa-based partner of one Kathmandu agent 
speculated that China would not announce the change publicly 
because they did not want to draw attention to it.  Thus, he 
speculated, in future they could easily restrict access 
again, should they feel it necessary, without the need for 
public acknowledgement. 
 
3. (C) Despite the deteriorating security situation in Nepal, 
demand for package tours to Kailas from Nepal remains fairly 
high.  However, due to conditions inside Nepal, Kathmandu 
tour operators have begun - literally speaking - to take a 
different approach to Kailas.  Previously, Kailas-bound 
tourists flew to western Nepal and hiked over the Himalayas 
to their destination.  Nowadays tours take the highway north 
to Tibet via Kodari, turn left, and drive along the Chinese 
road to the base of the sacred mountain. 
MALINOWSKI