By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 5 May: Trekking enthusiasts planning to explore routes within Nanda Devi National Park will soon be spared the need to visit departmental offices for offline registration, as the park administration is introducing an online registration system for all the trekking routes under its jurisdiction. The portal is currently under development, and officials have indicated that registrations are expected to commence from 15 May.
It may be reminded here that the Nanda Devi National Park encompasses several prominent trekking routes, some of which are operational only during the summer season, while others remain accessible even in winter. At present, obtaining permission to access these routes requires physical submission of applications at departmental offices, a process that often proves cumbersome for visitors. In a move aimed at enhancing convenience for tourists and trekkers, the authorities are now transitioning to a fully online registration mechanism. The park attracts significant number of serious trekkers from across the country and even abroad.
The initiative will benefit not only the individual visitors but also the tour operators who manage trekking expeditions in the region. The officials remind that a similar online system had been introduced last year for visitors to Valley of Flowers National Park. Building on its success, the facility is now being extended to cover all trekking routes within the Nanda Devi National Park area.
Among the major trekking routes in the region include Kuari Pass, Dronagiri, Nanda Devi National Park core zone, Satopanth, Kagbhusandi, Valley of Flowers, and Chenab Valley, all of which attract a steady flow of adventure seekers and nature enthusiasts.
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Abhimanyu shared with the media that the online portal is being built by the park administration and will go live on 15 May, enabling the trekkers and the tourists to complete their registration digitally. He added that coordinated efforts are also being undertaken in collaboration with the Disaster Management Department to ensure safety and preparedness during trekking activities. Furthermore, a new viewpoint is being developed near the Valley Gate along the route to the Valley of Flowers, which will offer visitors a panoramic view of the surrounding landscape. Repair and improvement work on the Valley of Flowers trail is also scheduled to begin from 15 May to facilitate smoother access for visitors during the upcoming season.
