Indian Mountaineering Foundation lowers 2017 permit fees to promote select peaks

Rudugaira Peak (5819m) is one of the mountains being promoted with lower permit fees this year by the Indian Mountaineering Foundation. [Photo] Courtesy of the Indian Mountaineering Foundation

The Indian Mountaineering Foundation recently announced that it is offering reduced permit fees for 81 select mountains in the Indian Himalaya. The “promotional scheme” is for this year only.

“The aim of the campaign is to create more interest and awareness about the vast potential of climbing in the Indian Himalayas,” said Mayank Vyas-Singh, Honorary Editor for the IMF newsletter, Apex, who was relaying the information from Wing Commander S.K. Kutty, Honorary Secretary of the IMF. “Compared to the number of open peaks above 6000 meters, the number of foreign expeditions visiting India [is much] less…. There is no decline [in visitors], but [there isn’t] much growth either. Also a majority of these expeditions go to just a few popular peaks. Hence the aim was also to attract expeditions to some of the lesser-known peaks within the Indian Himalaya.”

More information is available at the IMF website here.

[This story has been updated for additional quote attribution.–Ed.]

Climbers make their way up White Needle (6420m) in the Indian Himalaya. [Photo] Courtesy of the Indian Mountaineering Foundation