If you love mountains and adventure, this one’s for you. Siachen Glacier, the world’s highest battlefield, is now welcoming tourists. The best part? You do not need any NOC (No Objection Certificate) from the authorities to get there!
The region, which had been closed to civilian visitors so far due to India and Pakistan military tensions, is now open to tourists, according to Ladakh’s tourism department‘s notice. Domestic travellers can now visit the civil tourist facility located at the Siachen Base Camp without any special permits.
What does Siachen Glacier Base Camp tourism mean for visitors?
The icecap, among the longest in the world, is located in the eastern Karakoram Range of the Himalayan mountains. Within the camp, the region between 12,000 feet and 15,000 feet is open for civilian visitors, as per media reports.
“The people in Nubra in particular and the tourism-related stakeholders of Ladakh, in general, were demanding opening up of the Siachen base camp for tourists,” the notice stated and added that the department had been pursuing this case for the past two years.
However, while permits to visit the camp are no longer required, the Ladakh district administration will continue to collect an environmental fee.
Besides being an in-use military base, Siachen Glacier Base Camp also has a memorial commemorating the sacrifices of Indian army soldiers who lost their lives during military operations and wars in the area. Another reason for Siachen to be on an adventure traveller’s bucket list is that it is the second longest non-polar glacier in the world, where temperatures can go as low as minus 60 degrees Celsius during the winters. Even in the summers, the weather is near-freezing, making for a remarkable travel experience.
Hero and Featured Image credit: Shutterstock
Related: 12 Of The Highest Lakes In India To Visit For A Thrilling Adventure
Anushka has previously worked with publications such as the Times of India and Being Indian. A graduate from Xavier Institute of Communications, she specialises in entertainment, food and travel. She also likes to write about sustainability and beauty. When not working, you can catch her reading a book, tending to her plants, cooking or playing an instrument.
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