Manali: Hamta trekkers to pay Rs 50 at check post

Our Correspondent

KULLU, JULY 20

The forest and tourism departments have set up a check post in the district to register trekkers going to Hamta Pass at Jobdi Nullah in Manali of this district. The trekkers will have to register at the check post by paying Rs 50 per person.

After the registration, the record of trekkers will be available and assistance provided in case of any exigency. Kullu Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Angel Chauhan and Kullu District Tourism Development Officer (DTDO) Sunayna Sharma were present at the launch of the check post.

The revellers undertake trekking from Hamta to Chhatru, Chandertaal, Baralacha, Kibber, Parangla Pass and Tso Moriri Lake. Some of them spend up to two months on these routes. Tourists and travel agents from outside states also go on trekking on these routes without registration. Many people have lost their lives due to accidents during the trekking in the past.

Travel agents had started to put up tents arbitrarily en route. Many times the administration had to carry out rescue operations after some novice trekker lost his way. The DFO said that for the last few years, trekkers were preferring to stay in mountains instead of hotels. Therefore, there was a need to streamline the trekking activities. The check post has been set up to regulate the trekking activities.

“The rising number of trekkers has resulted in the problem of littering in mountains. Mountaineers will have to follow rules for trekking,” he said and added that the department would maintain a strict vigil and action would be taken against the violators.

The DTDO said there were a large number of trekking routes in the district. To ensure safety of the trekkers, similar barriers would be set up on all trekking routes of the district.

#himachal tourism #Kullu #Manali #Tourism