Doklam Set to Open as a Battlefield Tourist Destination in September 2025 After Eight-Year Closure Following India-China Standoff

The strategically significant Doklam plateau and Cho La are set to welcome tourists in September 2025, marking the end of an eight-year closure that began following the 2017 Doklam standoff between Indian and Chinese forces along the India-China border. The India-China Doklam standoff commenced in June 2017 when Chinese troops attempted to construct a road in territory claimed by Bhutan. The two-month military confrontation resulted in the immediate suspension of tourist access to the region, which had remained closed until this announcement.

"We are preparing to open Doklam for visitors in September, when the tourist season starts in Sikkim. It is one of three sites the Defence Ministry identified in Sikkim for battlefield tourism in India," stated C. Subhakar Rao, the State's Additional Chief Secretary overseeing the Tourism and Civil Aviation departments.

The Defence Ministry has designated three strategic locations in Sikkim for the battlefield tourism initiative, all sites where significant military engagements between Indian and Chinese soldiers occurred from 1967 onwards. These battlefield tourism sites include Nathu La, positioned at an altitude of 14,140 feet; Chola (Cho La), located at 17,780 feet; and Doklam, the trijunction point for India, China, and Bhutan, situated at 13,780 feet. These strategic locations hold considerable importance not only for geopolitical reasons but also as symbols of regional solidarity and Indian military resilience.

"Nothing much needs to be done at Nathu La, which is already a tourist spot about 58 kilometres from Gangtok. At the other two Bharat Rannbhoomi Darshan sites (Chola and Doklam), we are constructing cafeterias, restrooms, wayside amenities, and parking spaces jointly with the Army," explained Mr. Rao. Army officials confirmed that infrastructure development at these battlefield tourism sites has continued despite challenging terrain and harsh weather conditions, undertaken in close coordination between civilian authorities and military personnel.

A senior Army officer of colonel rank revealed that "A fourth site in Sikkim, Gurudongmar Lake, is also on the battlefield tourism circuit as a Shaurya Gantavya (destination of valour)." Gurudongmar Lake, located approximately 190 kilometres from Gangtok at an altitude of 17,800 feet, ranks among the world's highest lakes. Situated in the Mangan district, the lake derives its name from Guru Padmasambhava and holds sacred significance for both Buddhist and Sikh communities.

Furthermore, the Defence Ministry's battlefield tourism initiative aims to serve dual purposes, educating civilians about crucial military history India has witnessed while simultaneously stimulating regional economic development. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has emphasised that promoting tourism in border areas functions as a catalyst for economic growth while fostering national pride.