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1. KALAPANI
India – Nepal Border issue.

2. What is the dispute?
• After the reorganization of J&K, the Indian Govt. released a new map showing
kalapani within its territory in 2019. Nepal raised a concern because it
considers Kalapani as a disputed area.
• Recently, India opened the Lipulekh Pass to Tibet which fall in the Kalapani
region. This pass had been closed since 1962. Nepal reacted sharply as it
was not consulted.
• Nepal also came up with a new map showing the Region from Limpiyadhura
to Kalapani as its territory in May, 2020. India reacted sharply to it because
India considers Kalapani as its territory with no dispute whatsoever.

3. NEPAL
INDIA
Uttarakhand
TIBET
Kalapani
Source of Kali as per India
Limpiyadhura
Source of Kali as per Nepal

4. The background of the border issue.
• In 1815 – Sagauli Treaty was signed between East India Company and the
King of Nepal.
• Under this treaty the area falling east to the Kali River will belong to Nepal
and the area west to the river will belong to India.
• But there is no consensus with regards to the origin of the Kali River. As per
the Nepalese side, it originates in Limpiyadhura but according to India it
origins at Kalapani.
• The Nepalese kingdom had recognized the validity of sagaouli treaty but now
there are “goings on” in Nepal that refute the treaty claiming Kalapani to be a
part of Greater Nepal.

5. NEPAL
INDIA
Uttarakhand
TIBET
Kalapani
Source of Kali as per India
Limpiyadhura
Source of Kali as per Nepal

6. Coming to the Lipulekh Pass issue
• This pass was used by pilgrims to visit Mansarovar Lake in Tibet from the Indian
Subcontinent in the past.
• In 1960s, the Nepalese King handed over the territory north to kalapani to India as it
was of no use to Nepal given the difficulty of terrain & Hilly region. Some speculate
that it was handed over to India to diffuse a possible China – Nepal border conflict.
• It was closed since 1962 Indo-Sino War. Thus, pilgrimage had to visit Mansarovar
Lake via Sikkim through a long road.
• But recently, India has opened this pass after constructing a 22 miles road from
Gunji to Lipulekh Pass to allow pilgrimage to Mansaravor Lake in Tibbet from
India.
• Now, because Nepal considers the Kalapani – Lipulekh area as its own it has
strongly objected to the opening of the Lipulekh Pass.