Uttarakhand has taken a significant step to promote adventure tourism by opening 83 major Himalayan peaks for mountaineering. Acting on the directions of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Council (UTDB), in coordination with the Forest Department, has fully opened these peaks across the Garhwal and Kumaon regions for expeditions.
As per an official release, this move is likely to establish Uttarakhand as a major and attractive destination on the global mountaineering map.
The opened peaks range from 5,700 metres to 7,756 metres in height and include famous and challenging summits such as Kamet, Nanda Devi East, Chaukhamba group, Trishul group, Shivling, Satopanth, Changabang, Panchachuli, and Neelkanth. These peaks are known for their technical difficulty, breathtaking beauty, and symbolic importance in the Himalayan landscape.
Chief Minister Dhami said “The Himalayas are our identity, heritage, and strength. Opening 83 major peaks for mountaineering is a historic step toward giving global recognition to adventure tourism in the state. The objective is to encourage the country's youth to pursue adventurous fields such as mountaineering, create employment for local communities, and ensure balanced development alongside environmental conservation. The state government is fully committed to safe, responsible, and sustainable mountaineering. The main aim of this initiative is to motivate Indian youth toward mountaineering, promote adventure tourism, and strengthen the local economy of border and remote areas.”
For these 83 peaks, Indian mountaineers will no longer have to pay expedition-related fees such as peak charges, camping fees, and environmental costs. Earlier, these were charged by the Indian Mountaineering Foundation and the Forest Department, but now the state government will bear the expenses. This will give a wonderful opportunity for young climbers who were earlier restricted due to financial limitations.
The state government has also abolished additional state-level fees for foreign mountaineers. They will now only need to pay the charges fixed by the Indian Mountaineering Foundation. This step is expected to improve Uttarakhand’s global appeal and attract more international expeditions.
All applications for mountaineering expeditions will now be processed through the Uttarakhand Mountaineering Permission System (UKMPS) online portal. This transparent and fully digital system will ensure faster approvals and avoid unnecessary delays.
The decision will boost tourism in border and remote villages. Local people will gain employment as guides, porters, homestay operators, transport providers, and in other support services. This initiative will also help reduce migration and strengthen the rural economy.
The government has made it clear that all expeditions must strictly follow safety standards and environmental rules. Climbers will have to follow the “Leave No Trace” principle to protect the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.
Welcoming climbers from India and abroad, the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Council said the initiative would be a milestone in taking the adventure heritage of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand to greater heights.
Notably, the Union Budget 2026–27 also announced the development of eco-friendly mountain trails in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir. This initiative aims to make India a global trekking and hiking destination while promoting adventure tourism and generating local employment.
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