Sikkim opens Cho La & Dok La Border Passes to tourists under Battlefield Tourism initiative
Representative Image (source) X
The opening forms part of the Bharat Ranbhoomi Darshan programme, a collaborative initiative by the Ministry of Tourism and the Indian Army aimed at enhancing accessibility to historically important and previously restricted border areas through regulated tourism.
In a significant move to promote battlefield and border tourism, the Cho La and Dok La passes along the India–China frontier in Sikkim have been officially opened for visitors. The initiative was flagged off on Monday by Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, who inaugurated the start of regulated tourist access by flagging off a convoy of 25 motorbikes and vehicles from Ridge Park in Gangtok. Accompanying him were Sikkim Tourism Minister, Tshering Thendup Bhutia and Addtl. Chief Secy. (Tourism & Aviation), CS Rao, among the other officials.
These high-altitude passes, located at important points along the border, hold deep historical significance. Dok La, at approximately 15,600 feet, was the site of a tense military standoff between Indian and Chinese troops in 2017, while Cho La was a key theatre during the 1967 Indo-China clashes.
The opening forms part of the Bharat Ranbhoomi Darshan programme — a collaborative initiative by the Ministry of Tourism and the Indian Army aimed at enhancing accessibility to historically important and previously restricted border areas through regulated tourism. As per an agency report, the programme is expected to not only highlight the nation’s military heritage but also generate livelihood opportunities for local communities and foster a deeper public appreciation of the sacrifices of India’s armed forces.
Authorities noted that careful coordination with the Indian Army and central government agencies has ensured safe, regulated movement for visitors in these sensitive high-altitude locations, marking a new chapter in heritage and adventure tourism in the northeastern borderlands.
