The Himachal Pradesh Government has reduced the trekking fee for the popular Triund trek in Dharamshala by fifty per cent. The decision comes after the initial fee imposed by the Ecotourism Society of the Forest Department faced strong opposition from various stakeholders.
A spokesperson for the Forest Department, in a recent press release, announced that the reduction in fees was implemented following the directive of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. The Dharamshala Forest Circle has now granted a 50 per cent discount on both the entry and tenting fees for Triund and various other trekking routes.
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According to the spokesperson, the entry fee for the Triund trek has been revised from Rs 200 to Rs 100 per person per day, while the tenting fee for two persons, inclusive of the entry fee, has been lowered from Rs 1,100 to Rs 550. Notably, registered local guides who are enlisted with the Tourism Department under the HP Miscellaneous Adventure Activities Rules, 2021, will not incur any charges.
The trekking fee had sparked strong opposition from locals engaged in trekking activities in the Dharamshala region and the hotel association. They argued that the fee resulted in a significant decline in the number of trekkers and budget tourists visiting the area.
The Ecotourism Society began collecting the fee in December of the previous year and set up a check post at Gallu on the Triund trek to facilitate the process. In a meeting held on November 23, the society also decided to limit the daily number of tourists to 400 and allowed only 40 tourists to stay overnight at Triund, with permission for the pitching of only 20 tents.
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The Hotel and Restaurant Association of Dharamshala conveyed their concerns to the state government, highlighting the perceived high tariff and the lack of basic amenities. In response, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu instructed the Forest Department to reduce the trekking fee.
The reduction in the trekking fee is expected to attract a higher number of trekkers and budget tourists to the Dharamshala region. Lowering the entry and tenting fees will make the Triund trek more accessible and affordable for adventure enthusiasts.
