29/05/2023
Indian tourists can now visit Siachen Glacier Base Camp and other Forbidden areas without any special permits.
Siachen Glacier, one of the world’s longest glaciers and the world's highest battlefield due to the military conflict between India and Pakistan, will now be open to tourists. The region was closed for any tourism-related activities in the past due to military tensions.
If reports are to go by, Ladakh’s Tourism Department has announced that Indian tourists can now travel to the civil tourist facility near Siachen Base Camp without any special permit. It is important to note that the Siachen Glacier region is under the control of the Indian military.
The Siachen Base Camp is located at the base of the Siachen Glacier in the eastern Karakoram Range of the Himalayas. The area starting from Siachen Base Camp at 12,000 ft to 15,000 ft is open for tourism. However, areas beyond that are still off limits.
Additionally, Indian tourists will soon have the opportunity to explore the Chang Chenmo sector near the patrolling points north of Pangong Lake in eastern Ladakh. Despite the ongoing border standoff with China, the Indian government has decided to open this previously restricted area for tourism. The plan will be implemented in two phases.
During the first phase, tourists will be allowed to venture up to Tsogtsalo, a pastureland near the confluence of Rimdi Chu and Chang Chenmo rivers. This location is approximately 160 km east of Leh, close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, which runs north of Pangong. To reach Tsogtsalo, travelers will have to cross the 18,314-feet-high Marsimik La pass.
The Indian Army, despite its usual reservations, has supported the opening of these treks and routes, including Marsimik La, Hot Springs, and Tsogtsalo. The decision aligns with the Ladakh administration's objective of promoting tourism in frontier areas, which has been a longstanding demand of the local population who traditionally grazed their herds in these regions.
more @ https://www.routinescape.com/news/6354/Tourists-Can-Now-Explore-Forbidden-Zones-Of-Ladakh
