Lok Sabha Question No. 4649 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-23
Subject: Opening of Mountain Peaks for Foreign Nationals
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Sudhakar Tukaram Shrangre

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4649 ANSWERED ON 23.03.2020

## OPENING OF MOUNTAIN PEAKS FOR FOREIGN NATIONALS

## 4649. SHRI SUDHAKAR TUKARAM SHRANGARE:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has decided to open a large number of  mountains/peaks  for  foreign  nationals  for  trekking  and mountaineering;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise; and
- (c) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  firm  up  adventure tourism  efforts  and  arrange  trained  professionals  for  the purpose in order to avoid accidents?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)

(a): Ministry  of  Home  Affairs,  on  13.08.2019  opened  137  Peaks located  in  the  4  states  viz.  Uttarakhand  (51  Peaks),  Sikkim  (10 Peaks),  Jammu  &  Kashmir  (15  Peaks),  &  Himachal  Pradesh  (47 Peaks) to foreigners desirous of obtaining Mountaineering Visa ('MX) for climbing / trekking subject to necessary clearances by appropriate authorities for issue of Inner Line Permits /  Protected Area  Permits  /Restricted  Area  Permits,  as  the  case  may  be  & clearance by security agencies.

Thereafter on 04.09.2019, the Ministry of Home Affairs deleted 14 Peaks located in the State of Sikkim from the above list of total

137 peaks.

- (b): The details of State-wise list of Mountaineering and Trekking Peaks in Indian Himalaya is Annexed.

(c): Ministry  of  Tourism  has  recognized  'Adventure  Tourism'  as  a 'Niche Tourism' product to promote India as a 365 days' destination and attract tourists with specific interest. A Task  Force on Adventure  Tourism  has  been  set  up  in  October  2016  to  act  as  a forum for resolving issues related to development and promotion of Adventure Tourism in the country. The year 2018 was declared and promoted as the 'Year of Indian Adventure'. MoT under its voluntary scheme grants  Approval  to  bonafide  Adventure  Tour  Operators  as per Guidelines. Adventure  Tourism  is  regularly highlighted for promotion  as  part  of  the  Incredible  India  Campaign  in  the  print, electronic, online and outdoor media in India and abroad as well as at the various tourism exhibitions.

Ministry of Tourism along with the Adventure Tour Operators Association  of  India  (ATOAI)  has  launched  the  'Indian  Adventure Tourism  Guidelines  (Version  2.0)  -  2018'  on  'Safety  and  Quality Norms for Adventure Tourism in India'. The guidelines list the basic minimum standards for adventure tourism and cover 31 land, air and water-based activities. All the State Governments / UT Administrations  have  been  advised  to  adopt  and  implement  these Guidelines.

Indian Institute of Skiing & Mountaineering (IISM)  at Gulmarg, under  Ministry  of  Tourism  offers  regular  short  term  courses  for youths to get training in Snow Skiing, Trekking, Parasailing, Water skiing etc. The IISM has also taken initiative to expand its activities in the Jammu & Ladakh region.

- ********

## ANNEXURE

STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (b)  OF LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4649 ANSWERED ON 23.03.2020 REGARDING OPENING OF MOUNTAIN PEAKS FOR FOREIGN NATIONALS

List of 123 mountain peaks opened by Ministry of Home Affairs for mountaineering /trekking

| S. No.                       | Name of the Peaks            | Height in Meters             | Purpose                      |
|------------------------------|------------------------------|------------------------------|------------------------------|
| UTTARAKHAND (Total 51 Peaks) | UTTARAKHAND (Total 51 Peaks) | UTTARAKHAND (Total 51 Peaks) | UTTARAKHAND (Total 51 Peaks) |
| 1.                           | Avalanche                    | 6443                         | Mountaineering               |
| 2.                           | Bhrigupanth                  | 6772                         | Mountaineering               |
| 3.                           | Bharigu Parbat               | 6041                         | Mountaineering               |
| 4.                           | Kalidhang                    | 6375                         | Mountaineering               |
| 5.                           | Yanbuk                       | 5953                         | Trekking                     |
| 6.                           | Ratangarian                  | 5858                         | Trekking                     |
| 7.                           | Chirbas Parbat               | 6529                         | Mountaineering               |
| 8.                           | Mahalaya Parbat              | 5947                         | Trekking                     |
| 9.                           | Rudugaira                    | 5819                         | Trekking                     |
| 10.                          | Balakun                      | 6471                         | Mountaineering               |
| 11.                          | Banderpunch West             | 6102                         | Mountaineering               |
| 12.                          | Bewtarholi                   | 6352                         | Mountaineering               |
| 13.                          | Betartholi South             | 6318                         | Mountaineering               |
| 14.                          | Bhagnyu                      | 5706                         | Trekking                     |
| 15.                          | Garur Parbat                 | 6504                         | Mountaineering               |
| 16.                          | Garur Forked                 | 6267                         | Mountaineering               |
| 17.                          | Kalanka                      | 6931                         | Mountaineering               |
| 18.                          | Parbati Parbat               | 6257                         | Mountaineering               |
| 19.                          | Pawagarh                     | 5306                         | Trekking                     |
| 20.                          | Purbi Dunagiri               | 6489                         | Mountaineering               |
| 21.                          | Rishi Pahar                  | 6992                         | Mountaineering               |
| 22.                          | Narayan Parbat               | 5965                         | Trekking                     |
| 23.                          | Nar Parbat                   | 5855                         | Trekking                     |
| 24.                          | Black Peak                   | 6387                         | Mountaineering               |
| 25.                          | Dangthal                     | 6050                         | Mountaineering               |
| 26.                          | Devisthan-I                  | 6678                         | Mountaineering               |
| 27.                          | Devistan-II                  | 6529                         | Mountaineering               |
| 28.                          | Devtoli                      | 6788                         | Mountaineering               |
| 29.                          | Dunagiri                     | 7066                         | Mountaineering               |
| 30.                          | Hardeol                      | 7151                         | Mountaineering               |

| 31.                              | Janhukot                         | 6806                             | Mountaineering                   |
|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|
| 32.                              | Kirti Stambha                    | 6270                             | Mountaineering                   |
| 33.                              | Lamchir                          | 5662                             | Trekking                         |
| 34.                              | Lamchir South                    | 5209                             | Trekking                         |
| 35.                              | Lampak South                     | 6324                             | Mountaineering                   |
| 36.                              | Mahalaya Parbat                  | 5947                             | Trekking                         |
| 37.                              | Manda-I                          | 6568                             | Mountaineering                   |
| 38.                              | Manda-II                         | 6529                             | Mountaineering                   |
| 39.                              | Manda-III                        | 6510                             | Mountaineering                   |
| 40.                              | Nanda Bhanar                     | 6269                             | Mountaineering                   |
| 41.                              | Nanda Khani                      | 6029                             | Mountaineering                   |
| 42.                              | Nanda Lapak                      | 5782                             | Trekking                         |
| 43.                              | Panchachuli-I                    | 6355                             | Mountaineering                   |
| 44.                              | Panchachuli-II                   | 6904                             | Mountaineering                   |
| 45.                              | Panchachuli-III                  | 6312                             | Mountaineering                   |
| 46.                              | Panchachuli-IV                   | 6334                             | Mountaineering                   |
| 47.                              | Panchachuli-V                    | 6437                             | Mountaineering                   |
| 48.                              | Rishi Kot                        | 6236                             | Mountaineering                   |
| 49.                              | SAF Minal                        | 6911                             | Mountaineering                   |
| 50.                              | Srikantha                        | 6133                             | Mountaineering                   |
| 51.                              | Sumeru Parbat                    | 6330                             | Mountaineering                   |
| SIKKIM (Total 10 Peaks)          | SIKKIM (Total 10 Peaks)          | SIKKIM (Total 10 Peaks)          | SIKKIM (Total 10 Peaks)          |
| 52.                              | Jopono                           | 5936                             | Trekking                         |
| 53.                              | Koktang                          | 6147                             | Mountaineering                   |
| 54.                              | Nepal Peak                       | 7168                             | Mountaineering                   |
| 55.                              | Pyramid Peak                     | 7123                             | Mountaineering                   |
| 56.                              | Talung                           | 7349                             | Mountaineering                   |
| 57.                              | Talung South I                   | 6970                             | Mountaineering                   |
| 58.                              | Talung South II                  | 7388                             | Mountaineering                   |
| 59.                              | Tent Peak                        | 7365                             | Mountaineering                   |
| 60.                              | Tingchenkhang                    | 6010                             | Mountaineering                   |
| 61.                              | Zemu Peak                        | 7038                             | Mountaineering                   |
| JAMMU & KASHMIR (Total 15 Peaks) | JAMMU & KASHMIR (Total 15 Peaks) | JAMMU & KASHMIR (Total 15 Peaks) | JAMMU & KASHMIR (Total 15 Peaks) |
| 62.                              | Golapkangri                      | 5900                             | Trekking                         |
| 63.                              | Eiger                            | 6001                             | Mountaineering                   |
| 64.                              | Cerro Kisthwar                   | 6200                             | Mountaineering                   |
| 65.                              | Chomochior                       | 6322                             | Mountaineering                   |
| 66.                              | Kailash                          | 6400                             | Mountaineering                   |

| 67.                               | Agyasol                           | 6200                              | Mountaineering                    |
|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
| 68.                               | Umasi                             | 6020                              | Mountaineering                    |
| 69.                               | Kalidahar, Kishtwar (Spire)       | 5900                              | Trekking                          |
| 70.                               | Dandagoporum                      | 6100                              | Mountaineering                    |
| 71.                               | Mardi Phabrang                    | 6062                              | Mountaineering                    |
| 72.                               | Tupendu I                         | 5700                              | Trekking                          |
| 73.                               | Tipendu II                        | 5600                              | Trekking                          |
| 74. Kishtwar                      | Shivling                          | 6040                              | Mountaineering                    |
| 75.                               | Tanak Peak                        | 5992                              | Trekking                          |
| 76.                               | Barmal Peak                       | 5813                              | Trekking                          |
| HIMACHAL PRADESH (Total 47 Peaks) | HIMACHAL PRADESH (Total 47 Peaks) | HIMACHAL PRADESH (Total 47 Peaks) | HIMACHAL PRADESH (Total 47 Peaks) |
| 77.                               | Kullu Makalu                      | 6350                              | Mountaineering                    |
| 78.                               | Kullu Pumori                      | 6581                              | Mountaineering                    |
| 79.                               | Kullu Eiger                       | 5646                              | Trekking                          |
| 80.                               | Dibibokri Pyramid                 | 6408                              | Mountaineering                    |
| 81.                               | Fluted Peak                       | 6137                              | Mountaineering                    |
| 82.                               | Hunnungma                         | 5952                              | Trekking                          |
| 83.                               | Pyramid                           | 6036                              | Mountaineering                    |
| 84. Parbati                       | South                             | 5806                              | Trekking                          |
| 85.                               | Rubal Kang                        | 6150                              | Mountaineering                    |
| 86. Shigri                        | PArbat                            | 6526                              | Mountaineering                    |
| 87.                               | Snow Cone                         | 6311                              | Mountaineering                    |
| 88.                               | Snow Dome                         | 5980                              | Trekking                          |
| 89.                               | Shitidhar                         | 5294                              | Trekking                          |
| 90.                               | Ashagiri                          | 6100                              | Mountaineering                    |
| 91.                               | CB-17                             | 5875                              | Trekking                          |
| 92.                               | CB-18                             | 5915                              | Trekking                          |
| 93.                               | CB-19                             | 5890                              | Trekking                          |
| 94. CB-48                         | (Tamoo)                           | 5904                              | Trekking                          |
| 95. CB-49                         | (Tilakalhar)                      | 5964                              | Trekking                          |
| 96.                               | CB-50                             | 6096                              | Mountaineering                    |
| 97.                               | CB-52                             | 5944                              | Trekking                          |
| 98. CB-53                         | (Shramili)                        | 6000                              | Mountaineering                    |
| 99.                               | CB-54                             | 6069                              | Mountaineering                    |
| 100.                              | CB-55 (Sharmili)                  | 5956                              | Trekking                          |
| 101.                              | CB-57 (Tapugiri)                  | 5791                              | Trekking                          |
| 102.                              | KR-1                              | 6157                              | Mountaineering                    |
| 103.                              | KR-2                              | 6187                              | Mountaineering                    |

|   104. | KR-3           |   5154 | Trekking       |
|--------|----------------|--------|----------------|
|    105 | KR-4           |   6340 | Mountaineering |
|    106 | KR-5(CB-7)     |   6258 | Mountaineering |
|    107 | KR-6           |   5187 | Trekking       |
|    108 | KR-7           |   6096 | Mountaineering |
|    109 | KR-8           |   6005 | Mountaineering |
|    110 | Lalana         |   6265 | Mountaineering |
|    111 | M-1            |   5730 | Trekking       |
|    112 | M-2            |   5925 | Trekking       |
|    113 | M-3            |   5925 | Trekking       |
|    114 | M-4            |   6571 | Mountaineering |
|    115 | M-5            |   6370 | Mountaineering |
|    116 | M-6            |   6182 | Mountaineering |
|    117 | M-7(Taragiri)  |   6279 | Mountaineering |
|    118 | M-8            |   6069 | Mountaineering |
|    119 | M-9            |   5736 | Trekking       |
|    120 | M-10           |   5852 | Trekking       |
|    121 | Mulkila (M 04) |   6517 | Mountaineering |
|    122 | T-1            |   5669 | Trekking       |
|    123 | T-2            |   6035 | Mountaineering |

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