Climbers could soon benefit from a reduction in climbing fees on Indian peaks, as the Ministry of Tourism attempts to draw higher numbers of adventure seekers to the Indian Himalaya.
Although proposals for the potential drop have been in circulation for some time, a speech given earlier this year revealed the intentions of the Indian government to reduce these fees by 50% from 2014 – although no official announcement has yet been made. The Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) currently charge between $500 and $1000 for two-person expeditions on standard peaks in open areas, with additional fees for further team members and higher altitude pursuits.
If the plans do go ahead, the most dramatic changes are likely to occur in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, home to the mountain regions of Garhwal and Kumaon, which currently sees visitors pay up to £800 on top of that charged by the IMF for expeditions. Charges are incurred for camping, trail management, environmental levy and an ‘extra peak fee’, which the state has now promised to drop. Further alterations are being considered to simplify India’s approach to climbing.
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Photo Credit: Aq Tash (7016 m) Rajesh Gadgil