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Mountain climbing for foreigners visiting India could get easier. The government is considering to introduce a new category of visa —
called mountaineering or `X-visa’ for foreign tourists. Foreigners coming to India with X-visas would be allowed to trek mountain ranges and peaks that are forbidden for them so far, tourism secretary Sujit Banerjee said.

“The X-visa holders would get inner line permits,” he told ET. The fee for the proposed visa would be slightly lower than the normal tourist visas. The proposed visa holders can also stay for a longer period.

The government is also looking at opening more peaks in the Himalayas for trekking, a bid to satiate rising appetite of foreign mountaineers to scale new heights in remote corners of the country. Trekkers could now also use global positioning system (GPS) and satellite phones (currently banned) in the forbidden ranges falling in Indo-Pak, Indo-Tibet and Indo-China borders, which cover picturesque sites in Ladakh, J&K and Himachal Pardesh.

The tourism ministry has sent a note to the home ministry proposing to allow such a visa for foreign mountaineers. The policy is, at present being vetted by the ministry of home, which would look into the security aspects of allowing such a move. At present, tourists are required to seek special permission from government authorities for trekking certain peaks, which normally takes long time owing to tourists being subject to retinue of mandatory approvals from both centre and state.

Himalayas with heart touching and eye-catching views of nature offer variety of trekking options. Whether you are a novice or a seasoned trekker, there are options suiting all abilities. Great Himalayan mountain range originate from Arunachal Pradesh in extreme east of India and go on to Bhutan, Nepal, Sikkim, Kumaon, Garhwal, Spiti, Ladakh and East Karakoram. This vastness of Himalayan mountains offers many trekking routes ranging from easy to very strenuous and difficult. Himalayas numerous breathtaking and exciting trekking routes provide opportunity to explore the trails made by nature, also enjoy the culture of the place and know about the life of people in mountains. Here are some of the popular trekking routes of Himalayan mountains in India.

India is full of adventures; the Himalayan mountain range alone is world fame for its beauty and Adventure tours. Nubra and Zanskar valleys in Ladakh, PIN Valley, SPITI, and valley of god in himachal pradesh, tiger hill, DARJEELING are few of them. Apart from himalaya there are so many places in south india to visit as well.

India offers great opportunities for trekking, mountaineering, white water rafting, skiing, hang-gliding, mountain biking, and high altitude motorbike and jeep safaris for adventure enthusiasts.