By IANS
New Delhi : India is attracting a growing number of mountaineers from across the globe with as many as 52 foreign expeditions to Indian peaks last year.
According to an analysis by the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF), a national level body regulating mountaineering and adventure sports activities in the Indian mountains, of the 52 foreign expeditions Stok Kangri in Ladakh was the most popular peak.
“Stok Kangri, located at a height of 6,153 metres in Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, is a favourite among mountaineers. Of the 52 expeditions, 26 have been to this peak,” Col. H.S. Chauhan, secretary of IMF, said.
“Not just foreigners, Stok Kangri is popular among Indian mountaineers with four expeditions being carried out last year. In addition to that, 95 individuals took permission to scale the peak,” he added.
One of the main peaks of the Zansker range, Stok Kangri has always captured the imagination of travellers since it first opened to visitors in 1974. Although straightforward, the route is challenging and interesting, providing stunning views of the Karakoram range.
Other favourite peaks include Kun East at a height of 7,077 metres in Jammu and Kashmir and Kedardome peak in Garhwal at a height of 6,830 metres. The IMF study says mountaineers from Europe, especially Germany, Britain, France and Spain, like climbing Indian peaks.
While Germans had undertaken 12 expeditions in 2006-07, British and French mountaineers undertook eight expeditions each. The Japanese and the Koreans undertook four and three expeditions respectively last year.
“The number of Indian expeditions have also been increasing steadily with as many as 60 each year over the last five years. Trekking is also becoming very popular. The IMF has granted permission to 600 trekking groups in the last five years,” Chauhan added.
August is the most favourable time to go mountaineering to the Himalayan peaks. The season generally starts in May and closes by October.