HMI Darjeeling expedition to cover 50 passes of Sikkim

GANGTOK, (IPR): To commemorate 50 years of Statehood, Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI), Darjeeling, in collaboration with State Tourism department, is organising Swarnim Sikhar Yatra 2026, a mountaineering expedition covering 50 passes across Sikkim.

Led by trained mountaineers and supported by expert agencies, the Yatra will cover iconic mountain passes along with several remote and unexplored Himalayan routes. With a strong commitment to eco-friendly practices, the yatra also seeks to promote lesser-known Himalayan routes in Sikkim. It aims to inspire youth participation, strengthen national pride, and document these routes for future expeditions and training purposes.

The official logo of Swarnim Sikhar Yatra 2026 was unveiled by Tourism minister Tshering Thendup Bhutia during a programme held at Tourism department today.

In his address, the minister highlighted the State’s potential in adventure tourism and the ongoing efforts to promote tourism. He emphasised that development must go hand in hand with environmental sustainability and described the Yatra as a historic initiative. He underscored the need to position Sikkim as a premier destination for adventure tourism and extended his best wishes to the participants. He also urged everyone to respect the mountains and carry forward the message of a sustainable ecosystem, while acknowledging the Chief Minister’s support in strengthening tourism and placing Sikkim prominently on the global tourism map.

In his address, HMI principal Col Rajneesh Joshi, presented an overview of the Yatra and outlined the institute’s plans ahead. He also elaborated on the history and founding of HMI, providing a glimpse into its activities and initiatives. Further, he highlighted the association between Sikkim and HMI, emphasised the scale and uniqueness of the Yatra, and underscored the importance of safety and preparedness, while outlining the expected outcomes of the expedition.

Additional chief secretary C.S. Rao briefed on the expedition, stating that the initiative has been undertaken by the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI). He highlighted that the expedition will cover 50 prominent passes and will be conducted over a period of one month in three phases. He also emphasised the need to strengthen collaboration with the institute and acknowledged the infrastructural gaps along the expedition routes. Further, he spoke about the initiatives taken by the government and urged participants to maintain cleanliness during the journey, encouraging them to report or address any issues to help authorities preserve the environment.