Ban on Trekking and Mountaineering Expeditions by Uttarakhand Forest Department

The ban on trekking and mountaineering expeditions by the Uttarakhand Forest Department from August 27, 2018 has hit the adventure tourism in Uttarakhand. The forest department had cited an Uttarakhand High Court order prohibiting night stay at alpine and sub-alpine grasslands and meadows which are often used by trekkers and mountaineers for the night stay.

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I checked with my Joshimath based guide who confirmed that as of now, no trekking is permitted. He however expects that the Forest Department will come out with the guidelines which would probably include ban on night stays at alpine and sub-alpine meadow on the way to the trekking/mountaineering destinations and to put the limit on the number of trekkers passing through alpine and sub-alpine grasslands.

So, if there are trekkers hut like system, as in Sikkim, then one can trek. But no putting up of tents.
Or does a blanket ban means all treks including overnight stays outside villages are off?

i am leaving this friday with kids for VOF/Hemkund and Gaumukh....guess these are not covered under these given we have permanent establishments for night stay..Might be Tapovan is covered under this but I dont see any forest official trekking all the way to prevent those

My understanding is that the ban is restricted to those trekking routes where the trekkers need to stay overnight at the meadows. This means trekking routes like Roopkund, Kuari Pass, Panwalikantha, Dayara Bugyal, Satopanth etc are out of bound. It appears that now onward, trekkers would need permission from the Forest Department to undertake treks in Uttarakhand.

The link to the detailed directions of the Uttarakhand High Court to Uttarakhand Government regarding conservation of the alpine meadows is given below:

https://www.livelaw.in/ukhand-hc-iss...al-read-order/

Don't understand the panic. Just camp in the forest next to the bugyal. Walk across bugyal next day and you continue your trek. Dayara ,kushkalyani, etc. I always camp next to not on bugyal anyway . More chance to see wildlife, less windy and more cover in rain.

snotty mentions a blanket ban, will sleeping bags still be ok?

Ed.

I think the attention is also on the plastic waste that is accumulating there.
The high court judgement talks about removing all encroachments in the forest land, even religious structures.

Any further updates on the ban?

According to my Joshimath based guide, the forest officials orally say that one can trek to destinations like Gaumukh, Hari ki Dun, Bagini Glaciers, Kedartal etc where there are no bugyals (alpine meadows) en route. However, in respect of trek routes which involve passing through bugyals, they need to put in place some system to ensure that trekkers do not pitch tents on the bugyals and that not more than 200 trekkers per day are permitted to trek on routes which pass through bugyals as per the High Court orders. The Forest Department is working on the guidelines which, according to my guide, may come before the end of this month.

Since ban on trekking would adversely affect the employment opportunities for the locals, let us hope that the Government of Uttarakhand would work out some via media to lift the ban on trekking as early as possible within the parameters set by the High Court orders.

Would Ghangharia and Tipra Kharak come under the Bugyal category?

Is Hemkind Sahib out of bounds?

I don't think Hemkund Sahib is an issue or Ghangharia. These are permanent establishments.
Not sure about Tipra Kharak.

As per India Hikes, Har ki Dun, Tapovan and Kedartal still open (they are accepting booking)

Three of us were all set for Dharansi pass - Dibrugheta in Sep end... what a disappointment...
Can anyone suggest some equivalent alternate with similar days (5-days)/difficulty level?
I have only done Kuari pass (in 3 days) in May. Other two doing 1st trek. Will kedartal be too big a leap?
Thanks!

As per my information they are not giving any fresh permission to Kedaltal. Indiahike might have obtained permission before court permission

They are banking on the stay of the order that is expected soon. As to what is allowed and what not, there is confusion and all depends on the discretion of local authority, who as I know are going along with total refusal at this time.

Those permissions are useless now. Garhwal rifles trek group had to return from bedni after they were asked to do so.