The Siachen Glacier in India, which is the world’s highest battlefield, has now been opened to tourists, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said in Ladakh on Monday.
A part of the Siachen Glacier often referred to as the world’s highest battlefield, is now open for tourists to visit, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said today. The strategically-located glacier, which has been a flashpoint between India and China, was declared open to tourist visits a few days ahead of Ladakh being declared a Union Territory, on October 31. Siachen Glacier comes under the Ladakh region, which along with Jammu and Kashmir, was declared as a Union Territory after the centre’s move to scrap special status for the state.
Highlights:
- The Indian Army had been allowing expeditions to Siachen in the late 1970s till they came to a total stop in 1984
- The announcement regarding the opening up of Siachen for tourists comes a few days ahead of Ladakh being declared a separate Union Territory on 31 October
Rajnath Singh, who is on a visit to Ladakh today, said that while there were “perceptional differences” between India and China, both the countries had not “allowed the situation to escalate”. He also said Siachen “has tremendous potential in tourism”.
The Defence Minister was in Ladakh, along with Army chief Gen. Bipin Rawat, to inaugurate a strategically located bridge across the Shyok River which will provide easy connectivity with the Daulat Beg Oldi sector along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.
“Ladakh has tremendous potential in tourism. Better connectivity in Ladakh would certainly bring tourists in large numbers. The Siachen area is now open for tourists and tourism. From Siachen Base Camp to Kumar Post, the entire area has been opened for tourism purposes,” Rajnath Singh said in a tweet.
The Indian Army had been allowing expeditions to Siachen in the late 1970s until they came to a total stop in 1984.
The announcement regarding the opening up of Siachen for tourists comes a few days ahead of Ladakh being declared a separate Union Territory on 31 October.
In June this year, Rajnath Singh, accompanied by Gen. Rawat, had visited Siachen and praised the “tenacious resolve and unstinting commitment” of the soldiers deployed in the region. He had undertaken an aerial reconnaissance of the Siachen Glacier and interacted with troops at one of the forward posts.
The defence minister, along with Army Chief Bipin Rawat inaugurated a strategically located bridge across the Shyok River which will provide easy connectivity with the Daulat Beg Oldi sector along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China on his visit today, reported IANS.
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