Shipki La to be opened for tourists, adventure enthusiasts from June 10: Himachal minister

Indian Express

2 days ago

Shimla, June 2
The strategically important Shipki La Pass on the India-China border in Himachal Pradesh's Kinnaur district would be opened to tourists and adventure enthusiasts from June 10, Himachal Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi said on Monday.
'The move will boost tourism in the remote tribal belt and reaffirm India's presence in the sensitive border region,' he said.
Shipki La, a high-altitude mountain pass located at an elevation of over 4,000 metres, has so far remained largely inaccessible to civilians due to its sensitive location and harsh winter conditions.
The Sutlej river, known as Langqen Zangbo in Tibet, enters India through this pass. The area also hosts a dozen substantial buildings used by Indian security agencies and is of immense strategic value.
Negi said Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu would formally inaugurate the Shipki La Pass on June 10, marking a major step towards controlled civilian access to the border. 'Only Indian nationals will be allowed to visit the pass after showing their Aadhaar cards,' the minister said, adding that adequate security protocols and identity verification measures will be in place.
Negi further said, 'Although locals have had access to this pass for a long time. It is a strategically important location, where we are at the height, and the Chinese, on the other side, are on the low elevation. Locals go there for marginal trades. Earlier, locals used to bring sheep from the opposite side in the trade, but since the outbreak of Covid-19 in 2019, customs authorities banned the trade.'
A government statement said the decision to allow limited tourism to Shipki La follows a high-level meeting held recently between defence personnel and the chief minister. Authorities see this as a step towards integrating border regions with mainstream tourism circuits while maintaining national security.
During winters, Shipki La remains cut off due to heavy snowfall. However, with improved road access and better coordination between civil and military agencies, the government is confident of safely facilitating travel during the accessible summer window.
The opening of Shipki La is expected to attract trekkers, photographers and history enthusiasts, offering them a rare glimpse into the majestic landscapes and geo-political importance of the Indo-Tibetan border.