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Today, on World Population Day, which falls on July 11, 2024, we want to discuss the impact of over-tourism. While many famous destinations around the world suffer from over-tourism, today we will focus on Mussoorie in India and share a real experience from a traveler. If you are planning to visit Mussoorie, the beautiful hill station in Uttarakhand, you might want to reconsider your plans. Yes, we strongly advise against going to Mussoorie right now. This warning is serious because if things go wrong, you may find yourself without food to eat or a bed to sleep in. You might even have to spend the night in your car. And if you are traveling by bus, you may end up making a bed at the bus stand.
Along with warning you, we want to share an incident from this Sunday, witnessed by OneIndia Hindi editor Keshav Karna, who returned from Mussoorie on Monday. On Sunday morning, Keshav Karna was shocked when someone knocked on the door of his guest house at around seven in the morning. He opened the door to find a young couple with a child of about one and a half years in their arms.
When he asked what they wanted, they replied, "Sir, we have slept in the car in front of your guesthouse the whole night. The child is small. If you permit, can we use the washroom?" During the conversation, it was revealed that Shailesh Singh from Ghaziabad and his wife had left for Mussoorie with their one-and-a-half-year-old child. On the way, they discovered that their hotel booking had been canceled. Upon arrival, they found that all the hotels were fully booked. With no vacant rooms anywhere, they parked the car on the roadside at night and slept in it. Shailesh's story is not unique; many people are unable to find hotels or guesthouses upon reaching Mussoorie, forcing them to spend the night in cars, on the roads, at bus stands, etc.
If You Want to Visit Kempty Falls
Keshav Karna told Nativeplanet that he got tense when he reached near Mussoorie and saw a kilometer-long line of vehicles on the highway. The vehicles were barely moving, sliding or crawling along the road. The distance, which normally takes one hour to cover, now takes three to four hours. If you want to see Kempty Falls, you must leave at 6 in the morning. If you are even slightly late, you won't be able to reach the falls.
The reason is simple: if there is even a slight delay from 6 AM, a tourist leaving Mussoorie for Kempty Waterfalls at 6:30 or 7 AM should understand that luck is not on their side. Any delay means the entire route will be jammed. The traffic jam is caused not only by the heavy crowd but also by roads closed at many places due to landslides or the risk of landslides due to rain.
This situation is not unique to Kempty Falls but also applies to Tibba Point, Company Garden, Camel Rock, Bhatta Falls, and other popular spots.
Heavy Crowd on Mall Road
Keshav Karna shared his experience, comparing Mussoorie's Mall Road to a fair in a village. He said that the condition of Mall Road is such that there is no place even to put your feet. Additionally, if you want to eat at a restaurant, you will have to wait for an hour to get a table.
Overall, if you head to Mussoorie without thinking or planning, lured by the idea of seeing waterfalls in the rain, your experience could be like Shailesh's. Whether you spend the night on the road or in a hotel, you will undoubtedly face trouble moving around the area. So, if you are planning to go to Mussoorie now, be patient. These waterfalls will remain active even after the rain. You can visit during the off-season and enjoy a peaceful time amidst nature.
Read in Hindi: अभी मत जाइये मसूरी! नहीं तो कार में बितानी पड़ेगी रात
