Niti ultra endurance run puts border valley on tourism map

Dehradun: The three-day Niti Xtreme Ultra Run, which began in the remote Niti Valley of Chamoli district on Sunday, brought athletes, tourists and residents together on high-altitude routes near the border. Organisers said the event aims to promote border tourism and create livelihood opportunities in one of Uttarakhand’s most isolated regions.Organised by the Uttarakhand tourism department in collaboration with the Indian Army, the event features race categories of 75km, 42km, 21km, 10km and 5km across terrain marked by steep gradients, thin air and unpredictable weather. The 75km and 42km races, held on Sunday, saw participation from 117 and 118 runners respectively, while organisers said 186 runners had registered for the 21km race, 167 for the 10km category and 179 for the 5km event.Lt Col Chetan Singh Kabsuri, PRO, defence, Dehradun, said the event was designed to draw attention to remote border villages and strengthen local livelihoods. “This is not just a sporting event. It is an effort to showcase Niti Valley to the country, strengthen ties between local communities and armed forces, and encourage sustainable tourism in border areas,” he said.Indian Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) provided logistical and medical support along the route. Taran Singh Bisht, 48, an international ultra-trail runner from Pindar Valley who took part in the 42km category, said the arrangements helped participants manage the demanding conditions. “Army and ITBP doctors, physiotherapists and ambulance support were available throughout the route, and despite the challenging conditions at such high altitude, the event was well managed. Participants also got an opportunity to experience local culture, traditions and food, which helps visitors connect with the region beyond the race itself,” he said.For residents, the significance of the event went beyond the finish line. Sandeep Rawat, who runs a homestay in Farkiya village, said the run had brought visibility to the valley and created direct benefits for local businesses. “Earlier, we received very few enquiries, but now people from cities such as Chandigarh and Bengaluru are calling and visiting. It has benefited homestays and also helped promote attractions such as the canyon and Chhota Amarnath,” he said.Rawat said tourism could create employment for local youth, but the growth needed better civic planning because of the valley’s fragile ecology. “The benefits are visible, but public toilets and proper waste management will be important because this is an environmentally sensitive region,” he said.Raghvendra Singh Rana, a local businessman who has run a bakery and fast-food outlet in the valley for over a decade, said increased footfall was helping a range of local enterprises. “Tourism benefits everyone, from homestays and food businesses to transport operators, and it is encouraging people to stay and invest in the valley,” he said.Rana, however, said the rise in visitors had also brought early signs of pressure on local infrastructure. “We are beginning to see issues such as traffic congestion, mobile network disruptions and increasing plastic waste. Awareness and proper management will be important as visitor numbers grow,” he said.Residents said they hoped events such as Niti Xtreme Ultra Run would continue in the coming years so that the valley could gain visibility without losing its ecological balance. They said such events could help generate work for local youth, promote homestays and small businesses, and bring more planned development to Uttarakhand’s border villages.