In a first, mountaineers can explore 40 new Himalayan peaks in Uttarakhand

Even more mountains are calling from Uttarakhand now. The state government has thrown open 30 unclimbed peaks and 10 trekking routes for mountaineers and trekkers. With this move, 30 unclimbed Himalayan peaks and 10 high-altitude treks will now be available to both Indian and foreign enthusiasts.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had in 2019 issued a circular for opening 137 peaks across Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and J&K. The order could not be implemented immediately in Uttarakhand as the forest department sought time to finalize modal

“Considering various factors, the forest department found 30 peaks appropriate for mountaineering and another 10 peaks for high altitude trekking. An order in this regard has been issued” said an official note.

Uttarakhand is home to some of the highest mountaineering peaks including Nanda Devi (7816 m), Kamet (7756 m), Trisul I (7120 m), Trisul II (7074 m).

The 30 new peaks include Avalanche  (6443 m), Manda II (6529 m) and Manda III (6510 m), Kali Dhang (6373 m), Bhirgu Parbat (6041 m), Devtoli (6788 m), Rishi Pahar (6992 m), Rishi Kot (6236 m), Garur Parbat (6504 m), Sumeru Parbat (6330 m), Dunagiri (7066 m), Panchachuli-I (6904 m), Panchachuli-II (6312 m), Panchachuli-III (6334 m), and Panchachuli-IV (6334 m) among others.

The 10 new trekking peaks are Bhagnyu, Lamchir, Lamchir South, Nar Parbat, Narayan Parbat, Nanda Lapak, Ratangarian, Yan Buk, Mahalay Parbat and Pawagarh

Veteran mountaineer and president of the Indian Mountaineering Foundation Harshvanti Bisht expressed pleasure over the opening of new peaks. She said the IMF will share 25 per cent of expedition fees with the Uttarakhand forest department.

Principal Secretary (Forests) RK Sudhansu said the forest department will no more levy separate fees on expedition groups. Interestingly, in a bid to introduce uniformity, the MHA in 1994 suggested mountain states to not levy additional expedition fees from mountaineering groups.

Experts have said that the double levy of expedition fees by the IMF and state government has been forcing domestic and foreign groups to head to other Himalayan states. They now hope for a boost to Uttarakhand’s tourism industry.

With inputs from Sunil Navprabhat

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