Uttarakhand Govt announces snow leopard tour to boost winter tourism; 5 other Indian spots to see the Big Cat

The Uttarakhand Government is all set to introduce a ‘Snow Leopard Tour’ to boost winter tourism in the state, as PTI reported. Referring to this, State Tourism Secretary Dhiraj Garbyal added that the initiative will be launched soon and will be implemented on a pilot basis in Gangotri National Park in Uttarkashi district.
The announcement followed a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami with senior officials and district magistrates to review strategies for promoting winter tourism across Uttarakhand.

Under the proposed tour, high Himalayan regions such as Gangotri will be opened to tourists in a controlled manner during winter, a period which is traditionally considered off-season. Garbyal said the snow leopard tourism initiative will be carefully regulated to ensure the protection of the endangered species and its fragile habitat.

To be implemented on the Chief Minister’s instructions, the Snow Leopard Tour aims to boost the economy of border areas by promoting homestays, local guides, adventure tourism and related services. The programme is expected to generate employment while maintaining ecological balance.

The Snow Leopard Tour is part of a wider winter tourism action plan being rolled out by the state government. This includes promotion of the Char Dham Yatra, adventure tourism, cultural festivals and wildlife tourism.
Adventure sports such as skiing, trekking, paragliding and rappelling will be organised in areas including Auli, Khalia Top and Bednidhar, according to the tourism department.

As part of the winter push, winter carnivals will be organised in Mussoorie, Nainital and Uttarkashi, while Rishikesh will host an International Yoga Festival. Wildlife tourism activities will also be promoted in Jim Corbett, Nandaur and Gangotri regions.
The government’s objective, Garbyal said, is to establish Uttarakhand as a year-round tourist destination.

During the meeting, Chief Minister Dhami directed the immediate resumption of snow leopard sighting programmes, helicopter skiing and the Himalayan Car Rally. He also instructed officials to ensure that all arrangements by the Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam and Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam are in place by December 20.
The chief minister also called for meetings with hoteliers and stakeholders, including a proposed meeting in Delhi.

District magistrates were directed to restore roads, hotels and tourism-related infrastructure at major destinations. Dhami said he would personally inspect the arrangements by travelling by road.
He also announced the ‘One District–One Festival’ initiative to create a unique identity for each district, along with plans for an international-level festival. Development works related to the Saryu Corridor, the Saryu origin point in Bageshwar, the Rahu Temple in Paithani, and the Lakhamandal Temple were also directed to be fast-tracked.

According to official data, around 718 snow leopards live in India, with Ladakh alone home to about 477 of them.

Hemis National Park is often called the snow leopard capital of India. Its rocky valleys, sparse vegetation and high-altitude terrain make it one of the best places in the world to spot the elusive big cat.

The rugged upper Himalayan regions, including Kargil and Gurez, provide a suitable habitat. In winter, snow leopards are sometimes seen moving closer to villages and grazing areas.

Regions such as Spiti Valley, Pin Valley National Park and parts of the Great Himalayan National Park are home to about 81 snow leopards. These areas offer ample prey and snow-covered landscapes.

Located in the Eastern Himalayas, Sikkim’s remote, steep mountain regions support small but stable populations of snow leopards and are considered ecologically significant.

Arunachal Pradesh is also home to snow leopards in its high-altitude and mountainous regions, forming part of a broader conservation landscape in the Eastern Himalayas.