Budget 2026 brings fresh focus to India’s mountain trails

India’s next tourism push announced in the Union Budget 2026 is rooted in the promise of immersive nature experiences. Sunrise over alpine meadows, silent forest paths in the Ghats, and moonlit beaches where sea turtles return year after year.

The government’s latest proposal aims to develop a network of trekking, wildlife and coastal trails across some of the country’s most ecologically rich landscapes, positioning India as a global destination for low-impact, nature-based travel.

Finance Minister
Nirmala Sitharaman said India has both the “potential and opportunity to offer world-class trekking and hiking experiences,” outlining plans for ecologically sustainable mountain trails in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir, as well as in Araku Valley in the Eastern Ghats and Podhigai Malai in the Western Ghats.

The
Budget also proposed turtle trails along key nesting sites in Odisha, Karnataka and Kerala, and bird-watching trails around Pulikat Lake in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

For a tourism sector long dominated by crowded hill stations and seasonal rushes, the announcement signals a shift towards slower, experience-driven travel. Mountain trails in the Himalayas already attract trekkers from across the world.

Trekking trails and eco-tourism boost

Routes like Hampta Pass and Beas Kund in Himachal Pradesh, Valley of Flowers and Kedarkantha in Uttarakhand, and Kashmir Great Lakes and Tarsar Marsar in Jammu and Kashmir are among the country’s most sought-after treks.

By formally developing these trails, the government hopes to improve safety, standardise routes and create local employment. Hoteliers in hill towns see potential, even if details remain sparse.

“As far as
tourism is concerned, we have not seen any major progress in the Budget,” said Digvijay Singh Bisht, president of the Hotel Association in Nainital, speaking to IANS. “But talking about trekking and hiking trails in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and J&K is a step towards sustainable tourism. The coming time will tell at what level these trails will be built.”

What about sustainability?

Ecologists, however, caution that promoting fragile landscapes requires restraint. Speaking to Down To Earth, Suma Vishnudas of the Hume Centre for Ecology and
Wildlife Biology in Wayanad said high-altitude regions are particularly vulnerable.

“Any large-scale human congregation in mountain ranges must be avoided,” she said, pointing to how climate change and human activity together intensify extreme weather events and their impacts.

With recent years seeing landslides, flash floods and glacial risks in the Himalayas, experts argue that trekking infrastructure must be guided by scientific carrying-capacity studies rather than tourism demand alone.

Eastern and Western ghats are also in focus

Beyond the Himalayas, the
Budget shines a light on quieter, less commercialised landscapes. Araku Valley in Andhra Pradesh, set in the Eastern Ghats, is known for its coffee plantations, waterfalls and forest trails.

Sitting nearly 3,000 feet above sea level, it has remained a gentle alternative to crowded hill destinations.

In the Western Ghats, Podhigai Malai including the Athri Hill trek near Tamil Nadu’s Tenkasi district offers short but immersive trails through dense forest. The Athri trail lies within the Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, one of the region’s most biodiverse landscapes, making careful planning critical.

Walking with wildlife

The Budget’s proposal also extends to coastal and wetland ecosystems. Turtle trails are planned along Olive Ridley nesting beaches in Odisha, Karnataka and Kerala. Odisha’s Rushikulya and Gahirmatha beaches already draw visitors hoping to witness mass nesting.

Karnataka Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre said the state has taken steps to protect turtle eggs and hatchlings in Uttara Kannada and Dakshina Kannada districts. It presents a possible model for conservation-linked tourism.

Meanwhile, bird-watching trails around Pulikat Lake could bring renewed attention to the sprawling lagoon, a seasonal home to thousands of migratory birds and a favourite among birders.

Eco-tourism, experts say, such initiatives work best when nature sets the rules. Whether Budget 2026’s trail map becomes a blueprint for responsible travel or adds new pressure on fragile
ecosystems will depend on what comes next.