The three-day Gandhi Jayanti long weekend caused major traffic jams at popular hill stations like Mussoorie, Manali and Nainital. The roads leading to these tourist spots were jam-packed, and people had to wait for hours in their vehicles while the traffic moved at a slow pace. The situation highlights not just overtourism but also the “long weekend” trap.
Long Weekend Causes Traffic Jams In Mussoorie, Manali & More
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This year, Gandhi Jayanti fell on a Friday, which gave people a chance to plan a holiday over a three-day weekend. Thousands of people rushed out of the cities to visit the mountains, causing extreme traffic jams on the roads. Routes leading to Manali, Mussoorie, Shimla and Nainital were completely jam-packed. Visuals going viral on social media showed cars lined up one after another and moving very slowly.
According to The Times of India, the Chandigarh-Shimla National Highway-5 witnessed heavy traffic, and long queues of vehicles were reported, with traffic moving slowly for several hours. Several mountain roads leading to Manali were also congested. According to Hindustan Times, Mussoorie, a hill station in Uttarakhand, also witnessed a major influx of tourists on October 3. It led to long queues of vehicles along the Mussoorie-Dehradun road. Thousands of cars arrived from Delhi-NCR, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. A viral video posted by Instagram user @kapilfarswan001 shows scooters lined up on Mussoorie’s road near Maggi Point, close to Mount Stone Cafe.
Also Read: Delhi To Mussoorie In Less Time? ₹716 Cr Bypass To Cut Travel By 40 Min
Mussoorie Hotel Occupancy Reaches 90%
According to Hindustan Times, hotel occupancy in Mussoorie was reported to be around 90%. A journey from Delhi to Mussoorie, which usually takes around five hours, was taking several extra hours due to the rise in traffic. Heavy congestion was also reported on roads to Badrinath Dham and Hemkund Sahib as pilgrims travelled through the region.
The situation was definitely not what the travellers hoped for. Many people waited for the long weekend to escape cities and the stress of work, just to spend hours sitting in a car. The situation not only highlights overtourism at the hill stations but also shows how the “long weekend” can force people to leave the city for a holiday destination, ultimately ruining the holiday by leaving them stuck in traffic jams.
Also Read: Delhi To Get 2 New Flyovers Linking Modi Mill And Kalkaji, Easing Traffic In South Delhi
What do you think of this situation and how did you spend your long weekend?
Cover Image Courtesy: @raxitavijay/ Instagram and @kapilfarswan001/Instagram
FAQs
Where is Mussoorie?
Mussoorie is a popular hill station in Uttarakhand, India.
What is a long weekend?
A long weekend is an extended holiday that combines Saturday and Sunday with an extra non-working day, usually a Friday or a Monday. The three-day weekend gives people a chance to take a small vacation.
What are some popular hill stations in North India?
Mussoorie, Manali, Shimla and Nainital are some popular hill stations in North India.
