Uttarakhand plans 100-mile ultra run from Mana Pass to Auli from May 2027

Uttarakhand plans to hold a 100-mile (about 161 km) Himalayan endurance ultra run from Mana Pass to Auli in Chamoli district, with the first edition in the first week of May 2027, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced. He made the announcement on Sunday, October 25, 2026, at the Adi Kailash Parikrama Run 2.0 in Gunji, Pithoragarh district, and said the race would be held every year. The state's tourism department said on Thursday, October 29, that it wants the event to attract runners from many countries and become one of the world's leading high-altitude ultra races.

Ultra running, races longer than the 42.2 km marathon, has grown fast in India, and mountain races in particular draw runners who travel, stay for days and spend money in places that see few tourists. Uttarakhand has already tested the idea. The Adi Kailash run in Pithoragarh district and an ultra-running event in the Niti Valley this year showed that high-altitude races can be organised in its border regions. A 100-mile course starting at about 5,600 metres would put the state on the calendar of serious endurance runners worldwide.

The route matters for tourism. Mana village, the pilgrimage town of Badrinath and Auli are already known destinations along or near the route, but visitors usually come for a few days in a short season. A large annual race in early May, before the summer rush, could fill hotels and homestays, bring business to guides, porters, cooks and drivers, and give villagers along the route a reason to invest in tourism. That links to the government's wider aim of bringing life and income back to border villages that have seen people move away.

There are serious challenges. Running at around 5,600 metres means thin air, cold, sudden weather changes and a real risk of altitude sickness, a condition that can be life-threatening if ignored. Organisers will need medical teams, rescue arrangements, acclimatisation rules and strict entry standards. Mana Pass lies in a sensitive border area, so permits and coordination with security forces will also be needed. The environmental load of a large event on fragile mountain slopes, from waste to water use, will have to be managed.

For travellers and runners, the race is still a plan. The state has not yet published how to enter, what experience is required, or what the fees and time limits will be. Anyone hoping to take part should watch Uttarakhand Tourism's official announcements and start building high-altitude experience well in advance.

Short-term: The announcement puts Uttarakhand's border region on the radar of runners and adventure travellers, and starts the planning for permits, medical cover and logistics.

Long-term: If the race becomes a fixed annual event, it could extend the tourism season in Chamoli district, support homestays and local jobs in border villages, and build the state's image as an adventure destination.

Who is affected: Endurance runners in India and abroad, hotel and homestay owners, guides and transport operators in Chamoli district, residents of border villages such as Mana, and the agencies that must manage safety and the environment.

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