Battlefield tourism in Northeast: Sikkim to unlock high-altitude Doklam and Cho La in September

Sikkim will unlock two new high-altitude destinations, Doklam and Cho La under the battlefield tourism initiative for visitors in the first week of September officials announced on July 24. The Northeastern state is preparing to open the two strategically significant high-altitude locations as part of the Central Government’s nationwide battlefield tourism initiative or Rannbhoomi Darshan, which will commemorate India’s military might while promoting tourism in remote and sensitive regions of border areas.

C Subhakar Rao, Additional Chief Secretary of the Tourism and Civil Aviation of Sikkim made the announcement after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched battlefield tourism in India in January this year.

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Around 30 sites have been identified across the country, and three of them are in Sikkim. One is Nathu La, which has been open to visitors for a few years and now Doklam and Cho La are being prepared to open for the public.

Doklam and Cho La hold significant historical and geopolitical importance. Doklam, located near the India-Bhutan-China tri-junction, was the site of a 73-day military standoff between India and China in 2017. Cho La, meanwhile, saw clashes between Indian and Chinese troops in 1967. Both locations are now being developed with the aim of fostering national pride and enhancing eco-sensitive tourism in the Himalayan region.

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Preparations are being made in collaboration with the Indian Army to ensure security protocols and infrastructure readiness. Facilities including parking areas, restrooms, and waiting lounges are being set up at both sites. Army authorities are involved in constructing necessary infrastructure to accommodate visitors and ensure their safety.

Although a precise launch date has not been confirmed, the state government expects the tourism programme to be inaugurated by late September 2025. Once operational, tourists will be allowed access via existing scenic routes through Changu Lake and Nathu La, which are already popular tourist destinations.

In the initial phase, around 25 to 30 vehicles will be allowed to reach the destinations daily. Depending on road conditions and army permissions, this number would increase to 50 vehicles per day. Tourists will be restricted to viewing the India-China border from designated vantage points, as the current plan permits only aerial perspectives of sensitive zones.