Taking a step towards exploring the beauty of the Himalayas, the Uttarakhand government has opened its doors for trekking lovers.

For the first time in history, on 3rd February 2026, the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Mr. Pushkar Singh Dhami, announced the opening of 83 peaks across the Garhwal and Kumaon regions for all mountaineers and trekking enthusiasts.

In fact, complete access will be provided to all the trekkers on 83 peaks, so that they can explore them as much as possible.

Keep in mind that this isn’t just an announcement of some policy change only. This step is a game-changer for every trekking and mountaineering organization, as well as a golden opportunity for every trekking enthusiast.

Speaking of it, except for opening quite a large chunk of Himalayan peaks for the trekkers to explore, the government has also implemented some rules, like -

• The expedition fees have been waived for the Indian Climbers.
• To explore these 83 peaks, the indian mountaineers don’t need to pay any expedition fees, which include- Peak permit fees, Camping fees, Environmental charges, and Trail management fees.

In the past, the trekkers used to encounter various problems because of all these expedition fees, but not anymore, as from now on the Uttarakhand government will be covering it all.

As for the foreign mountaineers, in their favour, making trekking more convenient for them, the Uttarakhand government has modified some rules, like-

• The foreign mountaineers are still supposed to pay the fees that are prescribed by the International Mountaineer Foundation (IMF), but all the other extra fees they used to pay? All of them have been abolished by the govt. To enhance the international expedition.

Earlier, submitting an expedition application meant endless office visits and piles of paperwork; now it’s a smooth, hassle-free process.

Now, all the applications for the expedition will go through the “Uttarakhand Mountaineering Permission System (UKMPS)”, which is a fully online, transparent portal designed for faster approvals.

Time for the most important question,

Which are those 83 peaks that have been opened by the Uttarakhand govt?

Before listing out the names of the peaks, you must know that the range of these peaks is from about 5,700m to 7,756m.

Now, although the names of all 83 peaks have not been released by the Uttarakhand govt. Yet. But among them, some legendary peaks that can be explored now are -

• Kamet (7,756 m): It is one of the giants of Garhwal and have most stunning view to witness.
• Nanda Devi East: It is said to be quite technically demanding and holds quite a spiritual significance for people.
• Chaukhamba group: it is popularly known as the climber’s classic.
• Trishul Group & Shivling: It is one of the most iconic and striking massifs, and both are renowned for their deep mythological significance.
• Changabang Peak & Satopanth Peak: For every trekker, these peaks are technical climbing legends.
• Panchachuli & Neelkanth Peaks: Both peaks are counted as one of the most challenging peaks, but are equipped with quite a spectacular view.

Raising more opportunities for the locals, more jobs for them, improvement in the infrastructure by the govt, a boost to local guiding culture by this decision, and many more benefits will be experienced by the people living in those regions.

While laying out an opportunity to boost tourism in Uttarakhand, the government has also kept safety and preservation of the mountains and their cultural heritage in mind, and has stated that -
“Safety, proper routing, and environmental protection will be mandatory. The ‘Leave No Trace’ spirit is expected to be part of permits and expeditions; the guidelines are crucial for preserving these fragile ecosystems”.

With lifted fees and easier access, this might be the year Uttarakhand’s towering peaks stop being a plan and start calling you to climb.

Now, the question is, are you ready to explore and climb some more and new mountains?