TOURISM RESTRICTED AREAS

Foreigners are not permitted to visit restricted / Protected areas, normally in remote border areas. Information about these areas is available from Indian Missions / Tourist Offices overseas. Most of these areas are away from the normal tourist circuits.

Restricted & Protected Areas :

Certain parts of the country need special permits before they can be visited. Foreign Tourists can visit

North Eastern Region

- Currently the following places require special permits. Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and parts of Spiti (Himachal Pradesh).
- Theoretically, permits are granted to tourists in groups of four or more people on a tour arranged through a recognized travel agent.
- Permits allow for a maximum 10 day stay in each state.

Manipur :

Places for which permit has to be obtained:
- Lohtak Lake,
- Imphal,
- Moirang INA memorial,
- Keibul Deer Sanctuary and
- Waithe Lake
- Kongjam War Memorial.

Authority That Grants Permits -
All Indian Missions abroad
All FRROs &
MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs) State Govt. of Manipur

- Individual Tourists not permitted.
- 6 Days allowed.

Remarks :
  - Calcutta to Imphal by air only.
  - Additional areas opened up:
  - Imphal-Bishnupur-Phubala,
  - Moirang-Sendra-Keibul-Lamjao-Imphal
  - Imphal-Moirang-Lake Keibul-Lamjao-Chur-Chanderpur-Khuga-Imphal
  - Imphal-Litan-Ukhral-Shiroy-Sangsak-Imphal
  - Imphal-Thoubal-Waithu-Lake,
  - Khonjam-Kakching-Thingjao-Waikhong-Sugnu-Imphal
  - Imphal-Khonghampat-Kanglatombi-Kangpokpi-Senapati-Karong-Mao Gate-Imphal
  - Imphal-Nonoh-Khongsang-Nungba-Jiribam-Imphal

  - Foreigners allowed only in groups of 4 or more.
  - 10 days allowed.
  - Entry by road allowed on NH39 & NH53 for Dimapur.
  - Kohima-Imphal-Jiribam-Silchar.


Mizoram

Places for which permit is required:
Varaingle, Thingdawl and Aizwal.

Authority That Grants Permits:-
   - Home Commr., Govt. of Mizoram, Aizwal
   - All FRROs at Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai
   - All Indian Missions abroad

- Individual Tourists not permitted.
- 10 days allowed.


Arunachal Pradesh :

Places for which permit is required:
   - Itanagar,
   - Ziro,
   - Along,
   - Deporijo Miao,
   - Namdapha &
   - Tipi Sujusha(Puki),
   - Bhalukpong

Authority that grants Permits :-
Home Commissioner, Govt.of Aurnachal Pradesh, Itanagar
All FRROs at Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta,
Chief Immigration Officer Chennai
All Indian Missions abroad

- Individual Tourists not permitted. 10 Days alllowed.
- Tourist Groups are to travel on identified tour circuits only.

Additional Trekking Routes Opened-up for foreign tourists:
    Pasighat-Jengging-Yingkion Bhalukpong-Bomdilla-Tawang
    Roing-Mayodia-Anini Tezu-Hayuling


Sikkim :

- Certain areas of Sikkim like Gangtok, Rumtek, Phodang and Zongri in West Sikkim and Pamayangtse have been excluded form the inner line and declared as restricted areas.
- Individual tourists are permitted to visit Gangtok, Rumtek and Phodang.
- Tourists are permitted to visit Zongri and Pamayangtse.
- The duration of stay has been raised from 7 to 15 days.
- Permits can be issued by
  All Indian Missions abroad,
  All FRROs,
  Immigration Officers at Airports at Mumbai, Calcutta, Chennai and New Delhi.


Nagaland :

- In order to promote tourism in the North-east region, the Government of India has decided to allow foreign tourists to visit Nagaland. Until recently the entire state of Nagaland was a restricted area.
- However the Government of India has decided to allow foreign tourists to visit the dIstricts of Dimapur, Kohima, Mokokchong and Wokha for a maximum period of 10 days and in a group of 4 or more.
- This restriction of group is not valid for married couples.
- These permits are issued by the
Under Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Foreigners Division, Lok Nayak Bhavan,    Khan Market, New Delhi 110 003
Directorate of Tourism, Nagaland, Kohima Phone- +91 (370) 21607/ 22214/ 21945
Secretary, Tourism, Nagaland, Kohima Tele-Fax- +91 (370) 33067


Islands of India :


Andaman & Nicobar Islands :

- Permissions to stay up to 30 days are issued on arrival at the airport in Port Blair.
- If you are arriving by sea, you need the permit in advance. As you need it to buy the ticket.
- It is advisable to get a permit while getting your Indian visa. It costs nothing and saves time later.

Following are the places for which permit is required:

1). Municipal Area, Port Blair.
2). Havelock Island.
3). Long
4). Neil Island
5). Jolly Buoy
6). South & North Cinque
7).Red Skin
8). Entire Island of Middle Andaman (excluding tribal reserve)
9). All Islands in Mahatma Gandhi Marine National except boat, Holoday, Twin Islands, Tarmugli Malay, and Pluto
10). Entire Island of South Andaman (excluding tribal reserve)
11). Basatang Island
12). North Passage Island
13). Little Andaman Islands excluding tribal reserve
14). Mayabunder
15). Diglipur
16). Rangat
17). Mt. Harriet
18). Madhuban
19). Ross Island
20).Narcondum Island
21). Interview Island
22). Brother Island
23). Sister Island
24). Barren Island restricted to visit on board vessels.

Authority That Grants Permits:-

AMHA & FRROS All Indian Missions abroad Chief Immigration Officer, Chennai Immigration Officer, Port Blair

Remarks:
- Places for 1 to 8 day and night visit allowed.
- Places from 14 to 24 only day visit allowed.
- Night halt in Place 9 subject to special permission of the U.T.Administration.
- Individual tourists are permitted, 30 days allowed.


Lakshwadeep Islands

- Tourists may visit Bangaram and Suheli islands after obtaining a permit from the Lakshadweep Administration, Willingdon Island, Harbour Rd, Cochin-3.
- For Agatti Island Indian National as well as foreigner need to obtain the entry permit.

North India

Jammu & Kashmir

Places for which permit is required

1) Khaltse Sub-Division (Drokahpa Area) Khaltse-Dunkhar-Skroduchan-Hanudo-Biana-Dha
2) Nubra Sub Division Leh-Khardung-la-khalsar - Tirit upto Panasik Leh-Khardung-La-Khalsar - upto Hund Leh-Sabo-Digar La-Digar-Labab-Khungru Gampa-Tangar (only for trekking conducted by approved tour operators and accompanied by State Police Personnel
3) Nyona Sub-Division Leh-Upshi-Chumathang-Mahe-Puga-Tso-Moari Lake / Kozok Leh-Upshi-Debring-Puga-Tso-Moari Lake / Kozork Leh-Karu-Changla-Durbuk-Tangtse-Lukung-Span Pangong Lake upto Spankmik Authority That Grants Permits :- MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs) District Magistrates

- Individual Tourists not permitted.
- 7 Days allowed.
- Tourist Groups are to travel on identified tour circuits only..

Himachal Pradesh

Places for which permit is required
Poo-Khab-Sumdho-Dhankar-Tabo-Gompa-Kaza Morang-Dabling

Authority That Grants Permits :-
MHA Govt. of H.P. DM /
SDM concerned ITBP/
Spl. Commissioner (Tourism)/
Resident Commissioner DG of Police, H.P., Shimla

For Trekking Only, Individual Tourists not permitted.


Uttar Pradesh

Places for which permit is required

- Nanda Devi Sanctuary,
- Niti Ghati and Kalindi Khai in Chamoli,
- Uttar Kashi Districts.
- Adjoining areas of Milam Glacier

Authority that Grants Permits - MHA Govt. of U.P. DM / SDM concerned

ITBP individual tourists not permitted.