Tourist Influx Boosts Himachal Pradesh's Hill Stations This Holiday Season
Festive Cheer in Himachal Pradesh
Pallavi Sharma
Shimla/Manali/Dharamshala:
This Christmas, the hill stations of Himachal Pradesh are experiencing a significant influx of tourists, with thousands arriving from various parts of the country to enjoy the festive atmosphere. This surge in visitors has led to a remarkable increase in hotel occupancy rates, and the excitement is anticipated to last through the New Year, promising substantial financial benefits for the state's tourism and hospitality sectors.
High Hotel Occupancy Rates
On Wednesday, hotels in Shimla, Chail, and Kasauli reported occupancy levels nearing 90%, while Dalhousie and Khajjiar saw around 80% occupancy. In Kullu, Manali, and Dharamshala, approximately 50% of available rooms were booked, with late-night festivities enhancing the holiday spirit. The streets of Shimla, Dharamshala, and Manali were alive with celebrations as tourists welcomed Christmas with music, lights, and parties that extended well into the night.
Snowfall Attracts Visitors
Recent snowfall in areas like Rohtang, Lahaul, Keylong, and Koksar has significantly attracted snow enthusiasts. Transportation services from Delhi to Himachal, including HRTC buses and private Volvo coaches, are operating at full capacity.
Toy Train Fully Booked
The Kalka-Shimla toy train is fully booked until January 6, with waiting lists exceeding 65 passengers on several routes, highlighting the extent of the tourist rush.
Traffic Congestion Due to Tourist Rush
The influx of tourists has resulted in severe traffic congestion. Long lines were observed from Shoghi to Shimla city, and heavy traffic was reported at the Sanwara toll plaza in Solan and along the Pandoh-Manali route in Mandi district. Roads leading to Kufri and Narkanda also faced significant congestion, with authorities struggling to manage the holiday traffic.
Celebrations and Hotel Bookings
Christmas Eve featured vibrant celebrations on Manali’s Mall Road, where DJs entertained partygoers until late at night. In Dharamshala-McLeodganj, hotel occupancy surpassed 50%, with visitors flocking to St John’s Church from various regions, both domestic and international.
A hotelier in Dharamshala mentioned that occupancy is expected to increase further as New Year approaches. In Kullu-Manali, pre-Christmas bookings in Banjar, Shoja, Jibhi, Tirthan, Manikaran, and Manali reached 70%, bringing joy to local traders after challenging months.
Tourism hotspots like Khajjiar and Dalhousie have already recorded 80% room bookings, with advance reservations still coming in. Hotels operated by the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation are also projected to be fully booked during the Christmas-New Year period.
Anil Chandel, owner of Hotel Rocky Knob near Sanjauli in Shimla, stated that the surge in tourists following the snowfall has positively impacted destinations such as Shimla, Manali, Chail, Kasauli, Dalhousie, and Khajjiar, with the rush expected to continue through the New Year celebrations.