Kamal Ghorui
Uttarakhand has opened 83 mountain peaks in the Garhwal and Kumaon Himalayan regions for mountaineering expeditions, expanding access to several high-altitude summits that were earlier restricted. The move has been implemented by the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Council in coordination with the Forest Department.The peaks range between 5,700 metres and 7,756 metres in height and include well-known mountains such as Kamet, Nanda Devi East, Chaukhamba, Trishul, Shivling, Satopanth, Changabang, Panchachuli and Neelkanth. These mountains are considered technically challenging and attract experienced climbers from India and abroad.Under the new policy, Indian mountaineers will not be required to pay expedition-related charges such as peak fees, camping fees or environmental charges for these 83 peaks. Earlier, such fees were collected by the Indian Mountaineering Foundation and the Forest Department. For foreign mountaineers, additional state-level charges have been removed. They will now pay only the fees prescribed by the Indian Mountaineering Foundation. All applications for mountaineering expeditions will now be submitted through the Uttarakhand Mountaineering Permission System, an online portal designed to handle approvals digitally. The decision is also expected to increase tourism activity in remote and border villages. Local residents may find work as guides, porters, homestay operators and transport providers linked to expeditions.Officials said all expeditions will be required to follow safety guidelines and environmental norms. Mountaineers must adhere to waste management rules and the “Leave no trace” principle to protect the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.Separately, the Union Budget 2026–27 has announced plans to develop eco-friendly mountain trails in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, as part of a broader push to promote trekking and adventure tourism in hill states.
