The first batch of pilgrims for this year's Kailash Mansarovar Yatra started their journey on Tuesday. The batch was flagged off by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar

Thanking China for extending support in organising the pilgrimage, Jaishankar told the pilgrims, "It is an important step towards promoting people to people exchanges, strenghthening friendship and understanding between two countries."

The union minister also shared his personal experience when he took the pilgrimage in 2012 while he was the Amabassdor to China.

"Interest in the pilgrimage has increased significantly over the years," said the minister.

It is worth mentioning here that Kailash Mansarovar is a 21,778 feet high peak in the Kailash mountain range in Tibet. Hindus regard it as the abode of Lord Shiva.