High altitude sickness and biting cold – a description that is befitting the arduous conditions of Siachen Glacier! Siachen has always been vital over India’s defense. Recently, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced that Siachen area is now open for tourism purposes. He made this announcement while inaugurating the newly constructed ‘Colonel Chewang Rinchen Bridge’ over the Shyok River in Eastern Ladakh. Amid the humdrum of the tensions involving Jammu and Kashmir, the government’s move to allow tourists to visit this place is indeed an overwhelming decision.
However, we are aware of the fact that Siachen is the bone of contention between India and Pakistan on the concerns of the demarcation line. It also takes a toll on the battle-hardened soldiers, who easily fall prey to frostbites.
If the conditions in Siachen are so worse, then the question arises – Is it peaceful and safe to travel to Siachen? Well, even the thought of visiting the place makes your blood run cold!
Is it a good idea to welcome tourists in this war zone, strategically?
The tourists are permitted to visit the Siachen base camp at Partapur to Kumar Post. While the base camp of the glacier is located at 11,000 feet, Kumar Post lies at 15,000 feet. Definitely, not a place for the faint-hearted! The temperature drops as low as -60 degrees during the winters. Who likes to snuggle inside the blanket while vacationing in the freezing cold? Nobody, right? Then, what is the agenda behind this decision?
The government states that making Siachen accessible to tourists would serve as an eyeopener for citizens to witness and learn about Siachen’s existence despite climatic adversities. Army Chief General Bipin Rawat believes that spreading awareness about the battlefield in the public eye will give civilians a better appreciation of how soldiers survive and work amidst the hostilities of nature and war.
The motive is to make the tourists realize how soldiers burn the candle at both ends to safeguard the borders from belligerent neighbors, withstanding the obstacles on the frontier.
Siachen – Then and Now
Prior to this announcement, civilian tourists were restricted to the Nubra Valley (the gateway to the Siachen Glacier) and were invited only for annual expeditions. Also, they were kept far away from the base camp and the Siachen Battle School. From 2007 to 2016, the Army Adventure Cell used to operate the ‘Siachen Trek’ in which only a few civilians could venture between the base camp and Kumar.
But with this change, they may be permitted to venture further in small batches as well.
The challenges to overcome
Treacherous terrain and inhospitable weather are the primary concerns in this region. Apart from this, there are several other challenges that visitors might have to face. The Army presence on the glacier generates up to 1,000 kg of waste every year, and it has taken 1.5 years to clear the garbage. The thermal footprint of soldiers and vehicles is causing the snout of the glacier to melt. The arrival of tourists will add more waste and create a mess in this place. Army and IAF would be responsible for addressing the issues.
Before you plan to visit this place, you must know that prospective tourists have to undergo a medical evaluation to check and decide whether they are fit to deal with the extremities of the glacier or not? What do you think? Do you have what it takes to spend a vacation in Siachen?