Dehradun: The Indian Army is set to host the second edition of the ‘Surya Devbhoomi Challenge’, a high-altitude endurance event, from April 16 to 20 across the Char Dham Himalayan corridor of Uttarakhand.
The event is being held in partnership with the Government of Uttarakhand and strategic partner IconMetrix.
Designed as a multi-day endurance initiative, the challenge blends adventure sports with outreach in some of the Himalayas' most remote regions.
Participants -- endurance runners and athletes from across the country -- will navigate a gruelling 113-kilometre high-altitude route through traditional trails and isolated communities in the Badrinath-Kedarnath belt.
The event also aims to promote sustainable tourism, local community engagement, and awareness of the region's cultural and strategic importance.
The challenge has already captured widespread attention within India's trail running community, drawing participants from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and Ahmedabad to Kolkata, making it a genuinely pan-India event.
A defining feature of the Surya Devbhoomi Challenge is the spirit of unity it fosters -- civilian runners compete side by side with personnel from the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force, as well as veterans, making it as much a celebration of national pride as it is a test of physical endurance.
The event kicks off on April 16 with an Expo and athlete interaction session at Badrinath, followed by three days of competitive stages from April 17 to 19.
Uttarakhand's Tourism Minister is expected to flag off the race, while the closing ceremony on April 20 is likely to be graced by the Chief Minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami and senior Army officials.
A senior Indian Army officer linked to the initiative described its broader intent: "The Surya Devbhoomi Challenge is designed as a platform that combines endurance with purpose -- encouraging participants to engage with the terrain, heritage and strategic significance of the Himalayan region while testing their physical and mental resilience."
Vikramm Sanas, Founder Director of IconMetrix, echoed this vision, calling the event a structured national platform.
"The objective is to build a credible endurance property that aligns with national priorities, including tourism promotion, community engagement, and long-term socio-economic impact in border regions," he said.
The event is expected to
