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Uttarakhand Tourism Minister flags off teams of mountaineers
Just ten days after Uttarakhand Tourism dispatched teams for the GPS Mapping of 100 Trekking Routes across the state, 36 young mountaineers from Uttarakhand embarked on expeditions to three prestigious Himalayan peaks.
The three mountaineering expeditions, organised jointly by the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Council (UTDB) and the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF), New Delhi, were flagged off today from the Himalayan Culture Centre, Dehradun. Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj flagged off the expedition teams by showing the green flag.
Secretary Tourism and Chief Executive Officer, Uttarakhand Tourism Development Council, Dhiraj Singh Garbyal, and President of the Indian Mountaineering Foundation, Colonel Vijay Singh, VSM, were also present on the occasion.
Three Peaks, 36 Young Mountaineers, One Resolve
A total of 36 young mountaineers, selected through a selection committee from different districts of Uttarakhand, have been divided into three teams of 12 members each. The teams will attempt to scale three prominent peaks of the Garhwal and Kumaon regions:
Mount Bhagirathi-II (6,512 metres): Team Leader – Dashrath Singh Rawat
Mount Panchachuli-I (6,355 metres): Team Leader – Vijay Singh Rautela
Mount Swargarohini-I (6,252 metres): Team Leader – Mrs Lata Bisht
Uttarakhand’s Daughters Head Towards Swargarohini
One of the most inspiring aspects of the initiative is the all-women expedition to Mount Swargarohini-I.
Led by experienced mountaineer Mrs Lata Bisht, the team comprises 12 women mountaineers from Nainital, Pithoragarh, Chamoli, Uttarkashi, Dehradun, Pauri, Rudraprayag and Tehri districts.
The expedition reflects the growing participation and leadership of the daughters of Uttarakhand in Himalayan mountaineering.
Not Just an Expedition, But a Comprehensive Journey
These expeditions are part of Uttarakhand Tourism’s comprehensive strategy aimed at positioning the state as a leading Adventure Tourism Destination in the country. The Council is working on multiple fronts towards this objective:
GPS Mapping Programme: On 18 September, teams were dispatched for GPS mapping of 100 trekking routes—50 in Garhwal and 50 in Kumaon. The initiative will create accurate digital data for these routes, a Mobile Trekking Navigation App, and the ‘The Treks of Uttarakhand’ Coffee Table Book.
Adi Kailash Parikrama 2.0: 24–26 October 2026, Pithoragarh district.
Ultimate Uttarakhand MTB Challenge (5th Edition): 20–26 November 2026, covering approximately 700 km from Mukteshwar to Mussoorie.
Himalayan Car Rally: 19–21 November 2026, marking the first step towards reviving the iconic Ultimate Himalayan Car Rally of the 1980s–90s.
Scientific mapping of routes, trained young mountaineers and national-level adventure events are collectively contributing towards building a safe and sustainable ecosystem for Adventure Tourism in Uttarakhand.
What the Guests Said
Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj said:
“Mountaineering is not merely about reaching the summit; it is a test of discipline, patience and leadership. Our endeavour is to ensure that the youth of Uttarakhand do not merely admire the Himalayas, but become trained mountaineers, guides and adventure professionals and create new livelihood opportunities in their regions.”
He described the all-women expedition as an inspiring example of the courage and determination of the daughters of Uttarakhand.
Secretary Tourism Dhiraj Singh Garbyal said:
“Through GPS Mapping, we are making trekking routes safer, while these expeditions are helping us develop trained young mountaineers who can take on these routes. In the coming months, the Adi Kailash Parikrama, MTB Challenge and Himalayan Car Rally will take this journey forward.”
He expressed the expectation that all expedition teams would follow the principles of ‘Safety First’ and ‘Leave No Trace.’
President of the Indian Mountaineering Foundation, Colonel Vijay Singh, VSM, appreciated the joint initiative and said that with the support of the state government, the youth of Uttarakhand would establish a new identity for themselves at the national level in mountaineering. He extended his best wishes to all the teams for a safe and successful expedition.
Officials from the Tourism Department and Council, members of the expedition teams and their family members were present at the ceremony.
The three mountaineering expeditions, organised jointly by the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Council (UTDB) and the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF), New Delhi, were flagged off today from the Himalayan Culture Centre, Dehradun. Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj flagged off the expedition teams by showing the green flag.
Secretary Tourism and Chief Executive Officer, Uttarakhand Tourism Development Council, Dhiraj Singh Garbyal, and President of the Indian Mountaineering Foundation, Colonel Vijay Singh, VSM, were also present on the occasion.
Three Peaks, 36 Young Mountaineers, One Resolve
A total of 36 young mountaineers, selected through a selection committee from different districts of Uttarakhand, have been divided into three teams of 12 members each. The teams will attempt to scale three prominent peaks of the Garhwal and Kumaon regions:
Mount Bhagirathi-II (6,512 metres): Team Leader – Dashrath Singh Rawat
Mount Panchachuli-I (6,355 metres): Team Leader – Vijay Singh Rautela
Mount Swargarohini-I (6,252 metres): Team Leader – Mrs Lata Bisht
Uttarakhand’s Daughters Head Towards Swargarohini
One of the most inspiring aspects of the initiative is the all-women expedition to Mount Swargarohini-I.
Led by experienced mountaineer Mrs Lata Bisht, the team comprises 12 women mountaineers from Nainital, Pithoragarh, Chamoli, Uttarkashi, Dehradun, Pauri, Rudraprayag and Tehri districts.
The expedition reflects the growing participation and leadership of the daughters of Uttarakhand in Himalayan mountaineering.
Not Just an Expedition, But a Comprehensive Journey
These expeditions are part of Uttarakhand Tourism’s comprehensive strategy aimed at positioning the state as a leading Adventure Tourism Destination in the country. The Council is working on multiple fronts towards this objective:
GPS Mapping Programme: On 18 September, teams were dispatched for GPS mapping of 100 trekking routes—50 in Garhwal and 50 in Kumaon. The initiative will create accurate digital data for these routes, a Mobile Trekking Navigation App, and the ‘The Treks of Uttarakhand’ Coffee Table Book.
Adi Kailash Parikrama 2.0: 24–26 October 2026, Pithoragarh district.
Ultimate Uttarakhand MTB Challenge (5th Edition): 20–26 November 2026, covering approximately 700 km from Mukteshwar to Mussoorie.
Himalayan Car Rally: 19–21 November 2026, marking the first step towards reviving the iconic Ultimate Himalayan Car Rally of the 1980s–90s.
Scientific mapping of routes, trained young mountaineers and national-level adventure events are collectively contributing towards building a safe and sustainable ecosystem for Adventure Tourism in Uttarakhand.
What the Guests Said
Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj said:
“Mountaineering is not merely about reaching the summit; it is a test of discipline, patience and leadership. Our endeavour is to ensure that the youth of Uttarakhand do not merely admire the Himalayas, but become trained mountaineers, guides and adventure professionals and create new livelihood opportunities in their regions.”
He described the all-women expedition as an inspiring example of the courage and determination of the daughters of Uttarakhand.
Secretary Tourism Dhiraj Singh Garbyal said:
“Through GPS Mapping, we are making trekking routes safer, while these expeditions are helping us develop trained young mountaineers who can take on these routes. In the coming months, the Adi Kailash Parikrama, MTB Challenge and Himalayan Car Rally will take this journey forward.”
He expressed the expectation that all expedition teams would follow the principles of ‘Safety First’ and ‘Leave No Trace.’
President of the Indian Mountaineering Foundation, Colonel Vijay Singh, VSM, appreciated the joint initiative and said that with the support of the state government, the youth of Uttarakhand would establish a new identity for themselves at the national level in mountaineering. He extended his best wishes to all the teams for a safe and successful expedition.
Officials from the Tourism Department and Council, members of the expedition teams and their family members were present at the ceremony.
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