India To Open Cho La For 'Battlefield Tourism': Top Sikkim Official
India will open Cho La in Sikkim to tourists as part of its Ranbhoomi or battlefield tourism initiative, a top officer in the Sikkim government said on Friday.
The area near Doklam - the strategic trijunction between India, China and Bhutan that saw tension in 2017 - will also be opened for tourists under this initiative, Sikkim Additional Chief Secretary CS Rao said.
The Sikkim government is working on transforming the infrastructure near these areas to support tourism, Mr Rao said.
"Some 30 places have been identified across India for battlefield tourism," Mr Rao said. "We are in touch with the army for setting up infrastructure in the areas identified in Sikkim for battlefield tourism."
Nathu La in Sikkim is already a popular tourist destination.
Tourists will be given special permits to visit the Indian side of the Doklam trijunction, Mr Rao said.
Several rounds of discussions with the army and the Ministry of External Affairs have taken place, sources said. The Bhutan government has been kept aware of the plans, they said.
The army and the state government are looking to start the initiative in late September, sources added.
In the initial months, only 30 vehicles will be allowed to travel to the destination daily, which may increase to 50 cars per day, taking into account road conditions and clearance by the army.
The standoff between Indian and Chinese troops in Doklam in 2017 lasted for 73 days. The Doklam trijunction overlooks the narrow Siliguri corridor in north Bengal, also known as the 'Chicken's Neck', which connects the northeast region with the rest of India.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Vietjet Bengaluru-Ho Chi Minh City daily service on the cards
Ho Chi Minh City: Flight travel between Bengaluru and Vietnam is set for a major boost with Vietjet, Vietnam's largest private carrier, planning to expand its Bengaluru (BLR) –Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) connection to daily service. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Currently, the airline operates four flights per week between the two cities. The airline is exploring this upgrade keeping in mind the increased interest being shown by Indian tourists, especially Bengaluru's high-spending tech crowd, in various exotic and offbeat destinations of Vietnam. "The response to our Bengaluru-Ho Chi Minh City route has so far been quite encouraging, and we may upgrade our current four-times-a-week service to a daily service in the future," Kieu Duong, Vietjet's international PR officer, told TOI on the sidelines of a tour at the picturesque port city of Vung Tau in Vietnam earlier this month. Tour operators have observed that Vietnamese cities like Ho Chi Minh City combine rich cultural attractions, such as the War Remnants Museum, Saigon Opera House, Independence Palace, and bustling Bến Thành Market, with affordability in accommodation, food, and sightseeing. The direct service connects Bengaluru to SGN in just about 4 hours and 40 minutes, with flyers no longer having to go through the hassles of taking connecting flights from other cities in India or from airports in Southeast Asia. Vietjet currently operates flights to six Indian cities – Bengaluru, New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, and Kochi. The airline is not only looking to tap into rising passenger traffic on the India-Vietnam sector, but is also keen on offering flyers from India easy connectivity to destinations in Australia and Far Eastern and Southeast Asian cities, with Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi as transit hubs. "We're very optimistic about our India operations, and our target is to offer our guests an opportunity to enjoy a slice of Vietnam, while providing seamless connections to Australia, China and other destinations on our network," Kieu Duong added. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The airline's two-class configuration on an Airbus A321 aircraft for the BLR-SGN route includes a premium economy SkyBoss class that allows access to dedicated check-in counters, airport lounge, priority boarding, and choice of onboard food and beverages. (The writer was in Ho Chi Minh City recently on an invitation from Vietjet, Vietnam's private air carrier)
India Today
6 hours ago
- India Today
Fear is in the air: Numbers explain Indian passengers' flying anxiety
In the aftermath of the tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad and a series of emergency landings, both in India and abroad, the air has been thick with a fear of flying. From the perspective of would-be passengers, this makes sense. Headlines, of late, have been dominated by news of technical snags, midair diversions, and more. On Saturday, an American Airlines flight aborted takeoff in Denver due to a landing gear malfunction that led to smoke and fire on the assess public safety in aviation, India Today's Data Intelligence Unit analysed the Indian airline sector across multiple indicators. We found that between 2021 and 2023, Indian airlines reported over 500 technical defects to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation each year. In 2022, the number stood at 528. However, by 2024, it decreased to 421, and in 2025, only 183 cases were reported as of July 21. In 2021, Indigo reported the highest number of technical defects, followed by SpiceJet. This trend continued in 2022, with Indigo leading with 215 cases and SpiceJet following with 143. In 2023, Indigo's defect count rose to the trend shifted in 2024. Air India Ltd, which includes both Air India and Air India Express, topped the list with 253 reported cases. Indigo's numbers, in contrast, dropped significantly to just 46. In 2025, Air India remained at the top with 85 technical defect cases reported so far, while Indigo came second with 62. But technical defects are not the only reason for flight for cancellationsWhile technical issues used to be one of the leading causes of flight cancellations, that's no longer the case. In 2023, about 29 per cent of cancellations were due to technical problems. But by 2025, that dropped to 19 per factors have since taken the lead. Weather remains a major cause, accounting for 44 per cent of cancellations in 2023 and 35 per cent in 2025. Operational issues such as crew shortages, baggage delays, and scheduling conflicts contribute consistently, making up around 10–12 per cent of cancellations each year. Meanwhile, cancellations due to miscellaneous reasons have risen sharply from 17 per cent in 2023 to 34 per cent in from passengersDespite improvements in aircraft maintenance and a decline in technical faults, passenger dissatisfaction hasn't gone away. The number of complaints hit a five-year-high in 2023, when 5,513 grievances were filed. That number came down in 2024 to 4,016, but 2025 has already seen 3,925 complaints in just six months. If the trend continues, the total for this year may again cross the 5,000 response to growing safety concerns and violations of aviation guidelines, the DGCA has taken enforcement action against several airline companies. In 2023, airlines received 56 warnings, 203 suspensions, and 26 penalties for regulatory breaches. The number of enforcement actions increased significantly in 2024, with 203 warnings, 329 suspensions, and 112 penalties issued. Already this year, the DGCA has already issued 65 warnings, 61 suspensions, and 79 penalties.- EndsTune InMust Watch
Hans India
7 hours ago
- Hans India
MP CM to address an event on ‘Tiger Day' tomorrow
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav will inaugurate the state-level programme on the occasion of International Tiger Day at Kushabhau Thakre Convention Centre in Bhopal on July 29. He will visit the exhibition showcasing activities related to wildlife conservation and felicitate forest personnel for their outstanding work in the field of wildlife conservation. Yadav will inaugurate vehicles related to wildlife translocation, rescue operations, and dog squads on this occasion. According to the 2022 tiger census, India had an estimated 3,682 tigers, with Madhya Pradesh alone accounting for 785, the highest in the country, which is why it retained the tag of 'Tiger State'. Besides, having won the title of "Tiger State," Madhya Pradesh has achieved the top rank in the effective management of national parks and protected areas. For instance, Satpura Tiger Reserve (STR) has been included in UNESCO's tentative list of World Heritage Sites. According to the central government's evaluation report on tiger reserve management effectiveness, Pench Tiger Reserve ranked the highest nationwide. Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Sanjay and Satpura Reserves were also rated as the best-managed reserves. These parks are known for their unique management plans and innovative conservation methods. "The state's tiger corridors are well-connected to both northern and southern Indian tiger reserves. National parks have played a crucial role in tiger conservation through effective management and strategic relocation of villages from forest areas, freeing vast regions from biological pressure," said the Forest Department. Due to rich wildlife, Madhya Pradesh has emerged as a major attraction in wildlife tourism. The number of both domestic and international tourists visiting the tiger reserves has been consistently increasing. According to a report by the Wildlife Institute of India, Kanha Tiger Reserve has been declared the best tiger habitat in the country. The reserve boasts the highest population of herbivores in India, including chital, sambar, gaur, wild boar, barking deer, nilgai, and hog deer - providing an abundant food source for tigers.
