A Kolkata-based travel company, Altitude Adventure Holidays, has been running an annual event called Let’s Talk Mountains since 2013. The event informs tourists planning trips to hills. This year, the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) officially joined as a partner. The event is set for February 1 at Moulali Youth Centre Auditorium in Kolkata and expects over 200 participants. According to the IMF’s East Zone Chairman, Debraj Dutta, the event helps promote safe and responsible adventure tourism. He said, "There was a need for an adventure tourism-related awareness event to promote responsible and safe adventure tourism practices, educate people about the benefits and risks involved, and to highlight the importance of preserving the environment and local cultures. This event will help tourists make informed decisions and have a more enjoyable and secure experience during their adventure journey. They will also get to connect with experts and like-minded folks, enhancing their overall adventure." Debraj Dutta added that Bengal tourists love mountain destinations. North Bengal’s hill stations like Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Kurseong are becoming more popular than beaches like Digha and Puri. Popular mountain spots include Darjeeling, Gangtok, Manali, and Shimla due to their cool climate, beautiful views, and trekking options. Riddha Datta, founder of Altitude Adventure Holidays, said, "North Bengal and Sikkim are always in high demand among Bengal tourists, considering they are just a one-night train journey or an hour by flight from Kolkata. As our economy strengthens and average spending power increases, people are preferring colder climates for vacations, as our plains experience scorching weather for most of the year. If the vacation is shorter and the budget is tighter, people opt for north Bengal and Sikkim. For longer trips, travellers seek more exotic destinations in Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. Uttarakhand always attracts a certain percentage of travellers for its religious pull." When asked about less explored hill spots, Mr. Dutta pointed to Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Arunachal Pradesh as areas being promoted due to their untouched beauty. The IMF official mentioned Mirik, Rishop, and Lolegaon as hidden gems worth visiting. The event will feature five talks by experts in adventure and photography, including Debasish Mukhopadhyay, Subhamoy Ghosh, Reshmi Pal, Joydip Mitra, and Kallol Mukherjee.