New Delhi: An alternate route to take the Kailash-Mansarovar pilgrimage would be thrown open to devotees on June 18 this year, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has announced.

"We are going to commence this pilgrimage through Nathu La pass from 18th June. The pilgrimage through older route would continue that will begin on 8th June. We will send 60 batches, consisting of 18 pilgrims each. We will send five batches, consisting of 50 people each, through new route," said Swaraj in New Delhi.

The government has also launched a website for the assistance of pilgrims.

"We have launched a website completely dedicated to the pilgrimage. It has been named kmy.gov.in meaning kailash-mansarovaryatra.gov.in," said Swaraj.

For decades, Hindu devotees have been taking an arduous pilgrimage to the holy place through Uttarakhand and Nepal that involved arduous journey of heavy trekking or by mules.

Last September, China agreed to open an additional route to Kailash-Mansarovar pilgrimage through Nathu La pass, much to India`s delight. This new route through Nathu La in Sikkim is completely motorable.

While the new route would be operational from June 18, the old route would still be open for devotees.

Annually, pilgrims come from all over the subcontinent to take ceremonial baths in Lake Mansarovar in Tibet, which is believed to cleanse all sins.