Devbhoomi Uttarakhand has taken a historic step in the field of adventure tourism and taken a big decision towards taking mountaineering to new heights. On the instructions of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Uttarakhand Tourism Development Council (UTDB) in coordination with the Forest Department has completely opened 83 major mountain peaks of Garhwal and Kumaon Himalayan region for mountaineering expeditions. This decision will establish Uttarakhand as a strong and attractive destination on the global mountaineering map.
The height of the peaks opened ranges from 5,700 meters to 7,756 meters, which include world famous and challenging peaks like Kamet (7,756 meters), Nanda Devi East, Chaukhamba Group, Trishul Group, Shivling, Satopanth, Changabang, Panchchuli and Neelkanth. These peaks are not only famous for their technical difficulty and natural beauty, but are also considered living symbols of the grandeur of the Himalayas.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has made an important announcement in the Union Budget 2026-27 presented in the Parliament, which will give new heights to the tourism of hill states. The budget has announced the development of eco-friendly mountain trails in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. This step is a major effort towards making India a world class trekking and hiking destination, which will promote adventure tourism and generate employment at the local level.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami says that our aim is to bring the youth of the country forward in adventure areas like mountaineering. Local people should get employment and balanced development along with environmental protection should be ensured. The state government is fully committed to safe, responsible and sustainable mountaineering. The main objective of this initiative is to encourage Indian youth to take up mountaineering, promote adventure tourism and strengthen the local economy of border and remote areas.
Now Indian mountaineers will not have to pay any expedition fee (peak fee, camping fee, environment fee etc.) on the notified 83 peaks. Earlier this fee was collected by the Indian Mountaineering Institute (IMF) and the Forest Department, but now the state government itself will bear it. This will provide a big opportunity to the youth who are left behind due to economic constraints.
The additional state level fee previously imposed on foreign mountaineers has been completely abolished. Now they will have to pay only the fee prescribed by IMF. This will increase the appeal of Uttarakhand at the international level and the number of foreign expeditions will increase.
Applications for all mountaineering expeditions will now be made through the online portal of Uttarakhand Mountaineering Permission System (UKMPS). This system is transparent, fast and completely digital, so that there will be no delay in the permission process.
With this decision, tourism activities will increase in the border villages. Local people will get new employment opportunities through guides, porters, homestays, transportation and other services. This initiative will also prove helpful in stopping migration and strengthening the rural economy.
The state government has clarified that strict adherence to safety standards and environmental rules will be mandatory in all campaigns. Mountaineers will have to adopt the Leave No Trace principle and ensure protection of the delicate ecology of the Himalayas.
Uttarakhand Tourism Development Council, welcoming all the mountaineers from India and abroad to these amazing Himalayan peaks, has said that this initiative will prove to be a milestone in taking the adventure heritage of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand to new heights.
