Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang launched 25 motorbikes and tourist vehicles for these frontier regions from Ridge Park in Gangtok, officially marking the opening.
Situated at an elevation of 15,600 feet, Dok La was the site of a standoff between Indian and Chinese soldiers in 2017, while Cho La gained recognition during the Indo-China clashes in 1967.
Tamang mentioned that the opening of Cho La and Dok La aims to enhance tourism in border areas and to generate livelihood opportunities for local residents.
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He noted that the Centre’s ‘Bharat Ranbhoomi Darshan’ or battlefield tourism initiative intends to open strategically important border regions through regulated tourism to educate the public about their historical significance.
This initiative aims to raise awareness of the courage and sacrifices made by the armed forces and to cultivate a sense of patriotism among citizens.
CS Rao, Additional Chief Secretary of the Tourism Department, stated that the state government has been collaborating with the Army and the Centre for the past two months to facilitate safe tourist movement in opening the passes.
Although infrastructure development is ongoing, basic amenities have already been established, he added.
Tourists can explore these areas through a two-day package, with homestays offered at a low cost and fixed vehicle rates, he mentioned.
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(Edited by : Jerome Anthony)
First Published: Dec 17, 2025 4:32 PM IST
