Uttarakhand has opened 83 major Himalayan peaks across the Garhwal and Kumaon regions for mountaineering expeditions, aiming to place the state on the global climbing map. The decision was taken on the directions of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and implemented by the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Council (UTDB) in coordination with the Forest department. Officials said that the step is expected to boost high-altitude tourism and create local employment.
According to officials, the newly-opened peaks range between 5,700 metre and 7,756 metre and include some of the most renowned and technically-demanding mountains in the Indian Himalayas. These include Kamet (7,756m), Nanda Devi East, the Chaukhamba group, Trishul group, Shivling, Satopanth, Changabang, Panchachuli, Neelkanth and the Nilkanth group of peaks. These mountains are internationally known for their challenging terrain, technical climbing routes and scenic grandeur and are considered symbolic of the Himalayan landscape.
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Boost to adventure tourism and mountaineering access
CM Dhami said the initiative marks a historic milestone for the state. “The Himalayas are our identity, our heritage and our strength. Opening 83 major peaks for mountaineering is a historic step towards giving global recognition to adventure tourism in Uttarakhand,” he said.
He added, “The objective is to encourage the country’s youth to take up adventurous fields like mountaineering, generate employment for local communities and ensure balanced development along with environmental conservation. The state government is fully committed to safe, responsible and sustainable mountaineering."
Officials said Indian mountaineers will no longer have to pay expedition-related charges for these 83 notified peaks, including peak fees, camping charges and environmental fees. Earlier, these fees were levied by the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) and the forest department. The state government will now bear these costs, a move expected to benefit young climbers and mountaineering aspirants who were earlier held back by financial constraints.
In a parallel step to promote international expeditions, additional state-level fees imposed earlier on foreign climbers have been abolished. Foreign mountaineers will now pay only the fees prescribed by the IMF, a measure officials said would enhance Uttarakhand’s global appeal and attract more international teams.
Digital permissions, local jobs and safety focus
To streamline approvals, all expedition applications will now be processed through the Uttarakhand Mountaineering Permission System (UKMPS), a fully digital portal designed to be transparent, time-bound and free of procedural delays.
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Officials said the decision is expected to have a strong socio-economic impact in border and remote villages, with increased tourism activity generating livelihoods for local residents as guides, porters, homestay operators, transport providers and service workers. This, they added, would help curb migration and strengthen rural economies.
At the same time, strict safety and environmental compliance has been made mandatory. All expeditions must follow prescribed safety norms and adhere to the ‘Leave No Trace’ principle to protect the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.
Notably, Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman had also announced in the Union Budget 2026–27 the development of eco-friendly mountain trails in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir to further strengthen adventure tourism in the Himalayan region.
