Uttarakhand plans snow leopard tours, heli-skiing and Himalayan car rally to boost winter tourism
December 14, 2025
The decision was taken by the state tourism department following directives issued by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.
Uttarakhand will soon launch new tourism programmes, including snow leopard sightings on the lines of Ladakh and heli-skiing similar to Manali and Gulmarg. Aimed at giving a fillip to winter tourism, the state government also plans to organise a Himalayan Car Rally in the hill regions of Uttarakhand.
The decision was taken by the state tourism department following directives issued by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.
Officials of the state tourism department informed that the Chief Minister has directed them to prepare an action plan for the early launch of snow leopard sighting tours, heli-skiing and the Himalayan Car Rally to promote winter travel in the state.
Dhami instructed that arrangements for these tourism-centric initiatives be made by the government’s major tourism bodies—Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN) and Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN)—for the Kumaon and Garhwal regions respectively. He asked both bodies to ensure all preparations are completed by December 20.
“The state government will launch a ‘Snow Leopard Tour’ in Uttarakhand on the Ladakh model to give a new direction to winter tourism in the state. Under this programme, high Himalayan regions such as Gangotri will be opened to tourists during winter. A snow leopard sighting project will soon be launched in Gangotri National Park in Uttarkashi,” said Uttarakhand Tourism Secretary Dheeraj Singh Garbyal.
Notably, the hills of the Gangotri region in the Uttarakhand Himalayas are believed to have a significant presence of snow leopards, as repeatedly stated by the state forest department.
“The purpose of this pilot project is to promote winter tourism and create new employment opportunities for local communities. Snow leopard tourism will encourage homestays, local guides and adventure tourism, thereby strengthening the economy of international border areas,” Garbyal added.
He further said that adventure sports such as skiing, trekking, paragliding and rappelling will be organised at Auli, Khaliya Top and Bedni Dhar. Although no definite timeline was provided, he stated that the Himalayan Car Rally, as envisioned by the Chief Minister, will also be implemented to promote winter tourism in the state.
In addition, an action plan for heli-skiing will be prepared within the timeframe set by the Chief Minister, the Tourism Secretary said. “Winter carnivals will be held in Mussoorie, Nainital and Uttarkashi; an International Yoga Festival will be organised in Rishikesh; and wildlife and snow leopard tourism activities will be conducted in Jim Corbett, Nandhaur and the Gangotri region. The government’s objective is to establish Uttarakhand as a year-round tourist destination,” Garbyal stressed.
Apart from these initiatives, the Tourism Secretary said that approval has been granted for the development of the Saryu River corridor and the river’s place of origin in Bageshwar.
The Chief Minister has also instructed officials to organise grand aartis and develop new ghats at Devprayag and other Prayags (confluences), along with the construction of ghats and promotion of adventure and wildlife tourism, to support year-round tourism in the state.
