Uttarakhand State In Talks To Reopen Nanda Devi Peak For Climbers After 40-year Environmental And Security Lockdown

Thursday, July 17, 2025

Uttarakhand is considering reopening Nanda Devi, India’s second-highest peak, aft a 40-year prohibition to revive escapade tourism and respond to increasing liking from climbers. The determination follows caller discussions pinch nan Indian Mountaineering Foundation and reflects efforts to equilibrium ecological protection pinch sustainable tourism development.

Uttarakhand Considers Reopening Nanda Devi for Mountaineering After 40-Year Hiatus Amid Renewed Interest

The authorities of Uttarakhand is exploring nan anticipation of reopening nan iconic Nanda Devi highest to climbers, 4 decades aft it was sealed disconnected to nan public. The move comes successful nan aftermath of caller consultations betwixt authorities tourism authorities and nan Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF).

Nanda Devi, India’s second-highest peak, has remained off-limits since 1983, chiefly owed to biology preservation concerns and nan aftermath of a Cold War-era atomic surveillance ngo gone awry. Now, pinch increasing liking from nan mountaineering organization and a general connection submitted by nan IMF, officials are reviewing nan viability of lifting nan long-standing ban.

The connection is presently nether observant evaluation, balancing ecological safeguards pinch imaginable tourism and sporting benefits. If approved, it could people a historical return for 1 of nan astir revered summits successful nan Himalayas.

Uttarakhand May Reopen Nanda Devi Peak for Climbers After Over 40 Years of Closure

More than 4 decades aft it was unopen to climbers, Nanda Devi—India’s second-highest upland astatine 7,816 meters—is erstwhile again being considered for mountaineering access. The peak, located successful Uttarakhand, has remained off-limits since 1983 pursuing ecological concerns and nan fallout of a Cold War-era atomic reconnaissance mission.

This week, a important gathering took spot successful Dehradun, wherever tourism officials and representatives from nan Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) reviewed a connection to reopen nan iconic Himalayan acme for expeditions. The chat marks a imaginable turning constituent successful nan region’s escapade tourism landscape, pinch nan last determination expected to equilibrium biology protection and world mountaineering interest.

The chat besides explored nan imaginable of granting mountaineering entree to 4 different Himalayan peaks—Baljuri (5,922 meters), Laspadhura (5,913 meters), and Bhanolti (5,645 meters) successful Bageshwar district, on pinch Rudragaira (5,819 meters) successful nan Uttarkashi region.

In a parallel proposal, authorities recommended extending tourism operations successful Gangotri National Park to see nan October-to-March wintertime window. The extremity is to beforehand snowfall leopard-focused wildlife tourism during nan colder months, drafting inspiration from Ladakh’s successful Hemis National Park model.

A general petition has been submitted to nan Uttarakhand authorities urging nan reopening of Nanda Devi for mountaineering activities, arsenic portion of a broader inaugural to revitalize escapade tourism successful nan region. Located successful nan Chamoli territory wrong nan Garhwal Himalayas, Nanda Devi has been off-limits to climbers since 1983, chiefly to safeguard its delicate ecological balance. However, speculation persists that nan closure was besides linked to a covert Cold War-era surveillance ngo that has remained shrouded successful mystery.

In 1965, a classified cognition jointly undertaken by U.S. and Indian intelligence agencies sought to instal a nuclear-powered monitoring instrumentality adjacent Nanda Devi’s acme to way rocket developments successful neighboring China. The device, which was powered by astir 5 kilograms of plutonium-238, was abandoned during a terrible snowstorm. Recovery attempts nan pursuing twelvemonth were unsuccessful, and nan instrumentality remains buried successful nan glacier. Although nary charismatic biology harm has been reported, environmentalists person expressed long-standing concerns astir imaginable radioactive contamination affecting nan glacial rivers originating from nan mountain.

Over nan years, aggregate efforts person been made to reopen nan mountain, but nary person materialized. In 2001, nan cardinal authorities offered tentative support for a aviator eco-tourism task wrong nan Nanda Devi soul sanctuary. However, this inaugural was abandoned pursuing objections from conservation organizations and technological institutions. A akin push successful 2012 to let restricted climbing expeditions was besides retracted aft sustained unit from biology advocates, who based on that nan area’s vulnerable terrain and uncommon biodiversity were excessively susceptible to accommodate tourism.

Environmental stakeholders proceed to sound beardown guidance to immoderate scheme that would let accrued quality entree to nan sanctuary. They stress that nan ecosystem has only begun to regenerate successful nan decades pursuing nan closure, and reintroducing commercialized activity could reverse hard-won biology gains. Any caller connection to reopen Nanda Devi would require aggregate layers of approval—including clearances from nationalist biology bodies, wood departments, and ecological reappraisal panels.

Nanda Devi’s past awesome ascent occurred successful 1976, capping a little but storied history of climbing achievements. Earlier notable expeditions see nan pioneering British-American acme successful 1936 and India’s 2nd successful ascent successful 1964. The region was declared a nationalist parkland successful 1982 and earned nan position of a UNESCO World Heritage Site successful 1988. It is location to complete 1,000 works type and uncommon high-altitude wildlife specified arsenic snowfall leopards, Himalayan musk deer, and bluish sheep, spanning elevations from 1,800 to 7,817 meters.

Beyond its mountaineering and ecological importance, Nanda Devi besides holds heavy belief value. The Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra, a ineffable visit that takes spot erstwhile each 12 years, traverses meadows for illustration Bedni Bugyal and attracts thousands of devotees. Covering a grueling 280 kilometers complete 20 days connected ft done rugged Himalayan terrain, nan adjacent version of this revered travel is scheduled for adjacent year.

As discussions continue, nan situation up lies successful balancing ecological preservation pinch nan desire to reconnect adventurers pinch 1 of India’s astir iconic and enigmatic upland peaks.