Shri Satpal Maharaj, Hon’ble Tourism Minister of Uttarakhand, attended the FinancialExpress.com Adventure Tourism Meet (ATM) held in Dehradun, Uttarakhand on June 27, 2025 as the Guest of Honour. In an interview with FinancialExpress.com, he highlighted the many initiatives the state is taking to promote tourism.
“In our adventure tourism journey, we want to bring new things, and new adventure sports to Uttarakhand,” he emphasised. The Hon’ble Minister shared numerous data points to showcase all the work being done in the state, especially in adventure tourism.
In 2024, 3,56,000 tourists came to Uttarakhand for rafting. In 2025, this number has already exceeded 2,16,000 before the half-year mark. More than Rs 100 crores have been invested in this project and more than 2,100 youths have got employment through it. Special education and training is being provided to local youths and women for paragliding too. As a result, 47,689 tourists got a chance to experience paragliding.
Adventure sports in Uttrakhand
Rishikesh is the biggest spot in Uttarakhand for bungee jumping. International bungee jumping experts—AJ Hackett from New Zealand—are running bungee jumping and many other adventure sports operations here.
Uttarakhand has 48 trekking routes and 83 mountains which are certified for climbing. In the year 2022, 8,93,000 tourists participated in trekking and climbing activities and more than Rs 150 crores have been invested in this project. In 2022, several prominent mountains were scaled, including the 6,133 m Mt Shrikanth, the 5,922 m Mt Baljuri, the 6,512 m Mt Bhagirathi-II, and the 6,316 m Mt Bandarpooch.
In the year 2024-2025, trek of the year was held in Janpad Bageshwar, Chamoli, Uttarkashi, Pauri and Pithoragarh. 277 trekking firms have been registered. In 2023, the World Acro Paragliding Festival was held in Janpad Pauri, Uttarkashi and in the year 2023, the International Angling Meet was held in Nainital, Uttarakhand.
In the year 2021-22, under the BMC Low Height Altitude Course Training and Trainer, several women guides and mountain climbers have been trained.
Kailash-Mansarovar trip resumed from this year
Sharing some good news, Shri Satpal Maharaj mentioned that the Kailash-Mansarovar trip has started again, and will be commencing from Delhi on 30th June, 2025. The last time this trip was held was in 2019. Due to COVID-19, this trip could not be held further. This year, a total of 5 groups of 50 people will participate in this trip, taking the total to 250. The first group will enter China on 10th July from Lipulekh Pass. The last group will return to India from China on 22nd August. The trip will be run by Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam, Nainital.
The Hon’ble Minister also spoke about the continuing success of the Char Dham Yatra, with numerous devout having registered online and offline for it. Life insurance is also being provided to the pilgrims, he mentioned.
On the need to improve safety standards in adventure sports, Shri Satpal Maharaj mentioned that a lot of work has been done. International safety standards have been implemented and satellite phone are being provided to trekking groups, which are handy in emergencies.
“I think it is very important to involve local communities in adventure tourism,” the Hon’ble Minister stated during the interview, “Local communities get employment and participate, and it is good for the area. In this, we have increased the number of homestays. More than 5,000 homestays have been registered. There was an acute problem that our border villages were empty. Since they are the first villages of India, our Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Jadung, Mana and other places are the first villages of India. We have rehabilitated Jadung. Homes and homestays are being built there. In 1962, Jadung was evacuated in the China war. It is lying there as it is. We are renovating it so that the pilgrims can come here.”
Shri Satpal Maharaj also shared his vision to introduce new adventure experiences in the state. He mentioned the various ropeways that are coming up across Uttarakhand, and his dream to introduce funicular railways, on the lines of the ones in Switzerland.