The Siachen Base Camp, Is Now Open To Civilian Mountaineers!

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The World’s Highest Battlefield, The Siachen Base Camp, Is Now Open To Civilian Mountaineers!

Two years after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s announcement, the Siachen base camp is officially open to domestic thrill-seekers. By Naina Atri

On World Tourism Day (September 27 2021), the Centre announced that civilians are invited to explore the Indian army’s Siachen base camp. The opportunity to explore the India-China border has been hotly demanded and highly anticipated, as travellers can now traverse beyond the earlier limit which was placed at the village of Warshi.

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The 10-day trek that takes campers to Siachen starts from the camp, which rests at a height of 12,000 feet above sea level, and leads up to the Kumar logistics base. While small batches had been taking on the trek in the years between 2007 and 2016, the Centre now plans on ‘liberally’ giving out permits, as reported by the Times Of India.

India.com reports that the opening was inaugurated by Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, Member of Parliament, Ladakh, along with the first batch of domestic travellers. The batch was met with representatives of local villages and civil organisations.

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Located on the Karakoram range of the Himalayas, within the Nubra valley, Siachen symbolises hardcore adventure and thrill, as the world’s highest and one of its coldest battlefields. While the western end of the Nubra valley has been a frequent haunt for tourists, the villages along the Siachen river itself were rarely visited. However, with this move, more focus is being placed on tapping into the potential of the region as a tourist hotspot, reports India Today.

Beyond the electrifying adventure, the disputed border area also offers scenic beauty, history, monasteries and other cultural gems that make it all the more appealing. Tourists can also visit the Galwan Valley Martyrs’ Memorial, which stands as a testament to the lives of the fallen soldiers from the 1962 war with China. So prepare for a gripping escapade in the piercing cold and make your way to Siachen.