What is Lipulekh and why is it at centre of India-Nepal border dispute? Explained

Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah reignited the border dispute with India on May 31, stating he had recently discovered that Nepal too has encroached on Indian territories, including Lipulekh. He mentioned a diplomatic note had been sent to India regarding the issue, which involves the contested regions of Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura, and Kalapani. Shah urged both countries to resolve the dispute through dialogue, saying, 'Now both countries should study the facts and sit together as friends and resolve the issue.'" "India dismissed Nepal’s objections to the upcoming Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, which passes through Lipulekh, calling the claims an 'unilateral artificial enlargement.' Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated the yatra has been conducted since 1954 through this route and rejected Nepal’s territorial claims as untenable. He added that boundary issues could be discussed bilaterally but emphasized that unilateral claims were not acceptable." "The dispute stems from differing interpretations of the Kali River’s source, which both countries treat as a natural border. Nepal claims the river originates at Limpiyadhura, placing Kalapani, Limpiyadhura, and Lipulekh within its territory. India, however, asserts the river’s source lies below Lipulekh, affirming Kalapani as part of Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh district, supported by historical records." "Lipulekh is a trijunction point shared by India, Nepal, and China. The Sugauli Treaty of 1816, which Nepal cites, ceded territories west of the Kali River to India. However, India argues that historical evidence and administrative records confirm Kalapani’s inclusion in Uttarakhand. Both nations have repeatedly called for bilateral dialogue to resolve the long-standing territorial conflict.