Uttarakhand Mulls Reopening Nanda Devi Peak After 42-Year Ban

After four decades, Uttarakhand is exploring the possibility of reopening Nanda Devi (7,816 m) for mountaineering. The peak was restricted in 1983 due to environmental concerns and Cold War-era nuclear surveillance activities. The state’s tourism department held high-level talks with the Indian Mountaineering Foundation, which has formally proposed lifting the ban. Officials say reopening must balance revival of adventure tourism with ecological sensitivity and thorough impact assessment. If approved, mountaineers could once again access one of India’s legendary Himalayan summits.