### Intense Heat and Overcrowding Mar Summer Retreats in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand
For generations, the hill towns of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand have served as cool summer retreats for North Indians looking to escape the scorching heat of the plains. This year, however, these popular destinations have lost much of their charm due to two main reasons: unusually high temperatures and a massive influx of tourists, leading to overcrowding and traffic woes.
**Unprecedented Heatwave**
Tourists expecting cool, pleasant weather were sorely disappointed this summer. Many popular hill stations experienced record-breaking temperatures:
- **Manali**: Often seen as a haven from the summer heat, Manali felt more like a bustling city with temperatures akin to Bangalore but with even worse traffic. One tourist complained about the lack of cool weather and the unbearable traffic congestion.
- **Kangra**: In McLeod Ganj, locals reported temperatures soaring past 41 degrees Celsius, leaving tourists regretting their choice of destination.
- **Shimla**: Known for its cool climate, Shimla recorded a high of 31.7 degrees Celsius on May 29, the hottest day of the season. The city’s temperature fluctuations between 29.9 and 21.4 degrees Celsius on June 1 were significantly above normal.
- **Una**: Matched Delhi’s blistering 45 degrees Celsius on May 31.
- **Kullu**: One of Himachal Pradesh’s most popular tourist spots, Kullu recorded a scorching 38.3 degrees Celsius on May 29.
- **Dehradun**: Hit a sweltering 43 degrees Celsius, matching its 2012 record, with over eight consecutive days above 40 degrees.
- **Srinagar**: Experienced its warmest May in a decade with temperatures peaking at 32.7 degrees Celsius.
**Overcrowding and Traffic Woes**
The combination of high temperatures and a surge in tourism has led to severe overcrowding and traffic congestion:
- **Tourist Influx**: Despite the heat, the desire to escape the plains' heat waves has not deterred tourists. Many found themselves stuck in traffic jams for hours.
- **Congested Roads**: A Delhi resident posted a video showing a congested highway on the way to Manali, lamenting the traffic and the unexpectedly high temperatures. Similar scenes were reported in Shimla, Kullu, and Mussoorie.
- **Tourist Frustrations**: Tourists like Varsha Agrawal expressed regret, saying she spent 90% of her time in traffic and vowed never to return.
**Environmental Impact and Development Issues**
Climate activist Jai Dhar Gupta highlighted the environmental impact of unchecked tourism and development:
- **Vehicular Pollution**: Heavy tourist traffic has significantly increased vehicular pollution in hill towns.
- **Uncontrolled Development**: Unscientific development and tourism activities have ignored the ecological sensitivities of these regions, contributing to rising temperatures.
- **Carrying Capacity**: Gupta suggests implementing a cap on the daily influx of tourists and vehicles to manage the situation better. He warned that exceeding the carrying capacity of these destinations is leading to ecological disaster.
**Social Media Reactions**
- **Traffic Jams**: Posts on social media platforms like Twitter highlighted the severe traffic jams and the lack of parking spaces in popular hill stations.
- **Tourist Traps**: Tourists warned others not to be misled by travel blogs and vlogs that downplay the current issues.
### Conclusion
The once-cool hill stations of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are now grappling with unprecedented heat and overcrowding, making them less attractive as summer retreats. The situation calls for immediate measures to control tourist influx and promote sustainable development to preserve the ecological balance and ensure these destinations remain viable escapes from the summer heat.
