Himachal Pradesh is set to open new avenues for border tourism by granting regulated access to strategic and culturally rich areas along the India-China border in Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti districts. The initiative, supported by the Union government, aims to promote sustainable tourism while ensuring national security and preserving tribal heritage.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu will officially launch the program during his two-day visit to Kinnaur district. Under the new plan, tourists with valid identification can now visit previously restricted locations such as Lepcha-La, Shipki-La, Gue Monastery, Khana, Dumti, the Rani area of Sangla, and Chitkul. These areas, once requiring special permissions from the Indian Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), will now be accessible with enhanced support and monitoring from security forces.
The state government is focused on improving infrastructure, creating livelihood opportunities, and integrating remote tribal communities into the mainstream through responsible tourism. This move is expected to strengthen the socioeconomic fabric of border villages while maintaining cultural and environmental integrity.
A government spokesperson described the initiative as a “transformative step blending security, sustainability, and inclusion,” highlighting its potential to boost national sentiment and unlock the tourism potential of some of India’s remotest and most scenic regions.
