From heaven to havoc: Hills buckle under tourist pressure
The breathtaking landscapes of Himachal Pradesh are now under threat, grappling with serious environmental challenges triggered by unregulated tourism development. In 2024 alone, the state welcomed 1.80 crore domestic tourists — the second-highest ever after 2017’s record of 1.91 crore. This influx is staggering, considering the state’s resident population is just 75 lakh.
With limited infrastructure, Himachal is struggling to accommodate this deluge. During peak tourist season, over 40,000 vehicles enter the state daily. The impact is most visible in Shimla, Manali and McLeodganj, where narrow roads, unchanged for decades, remain jam-packed, turning daily life for locals into a nightmare.
Despite being marketed as an eco-friendly tourist destination, Himachal’s ground reality tells a different story. The roads and hill slopes in ecologically fragile zones are dug up indiscriminately. The state government’s tourism policy does emphasise sustainable and environmentally sensitive development, yet in practice, these principles are largely ignored. Construction has surged unchecked, often in blatant violation of forest conservation norms and environmental safeguards.
Tourist hotspots like Shimla, Manali, Palampur, Dharamsala and McLeodganj have rapidly transformed into over-urbanised zones. Concrete structures dominate once-pristine vistas. Hotels have sprung up on steep slopes, and sprawling bus terminals have replaced green meadows — all happening without serious enforcement of environmental laws. Even though stringent regulations exist on paper, they have failed to halt the environmental degradation unfolding on the ground.
The consequences are now visible and alarming. Unscientific construction and road expansion have led to devastating landslides, flash floods and hill-sinking incidents. Water sources are depleting and cloudbursts are becoming more frequent. The state’s fragile ecology, once its biggest tourism asset, is now its greatest vulnerability.
Environmental activists are sounding the alarm. KB Ralhan, convener of the NGO People’s Voice, highlights that the infrastructure has developed in a chaotic and unsustainable manner. “Mass tourism has led to a complete breakdown in basic infrastructure. We have no proper waste disposal systems, no adequate water supply, and roads are overwhelmed,” he says.
Frustrated residents of Palampur and Dharamsala echoed these sentiments in a conversation with The Tribune. They fear that if tourism continues in its current form, destinations like Shimla, Manali and Bir Billing will lose their charm and ecological balance. “If the destruction continues, who will even want to come here?” asked a local resident.
The call from the ground is clear: tourism in Himachal must be regulated and developed within the boundaries of environmental law. Residents are urging authorities to rethink tourism models — promoting low-impact, eco-sensitive travel rather than mass tourism that strains both nature and infrastructure. Without urgent intervention, the very beauty that draws millions to Himachal each year could be lost — possibly forever.
Himachal Tribune