As states across India eased travel norms, tourists started rushing in humongous numbers to hill stations, beaches and more. A large number of people were just waiting for the restrictions to be lifted to break free and escape to the tourist spots. At many of these places, the authorities had to even tighten norms to bring the crowds under control. The prolonged pandemic has given rise to the new travel trend called ‘revenge travel’. It is the urge to travel after being cooped up at home for an extended period of time. And the most popular hilly towns have already turned into tourist hotspots. Here is a list of 6 overcrowded hill stations you must avoid visiting right now:
1. Manali
Manali streets have been getting jampacked with visitors and the tourist influx skyrocketed after Himachal lifted the mandate of RT-PCR tests. To keep a check on the crowds, the security in Manali has been increased and the police are on the watch for Covid rule breakers. The security in Manali has been increased and the police are on the watch for COVID-19 rule breakers. The hotels in Manali got overbooked after the lifting of restrictions.
2. Haridwar
Several pictures of people flouting social distancing measures in Haridwar’s Har ki Pauri Ghat surfaced on the internet. According to ANI, tourists even said that they are not scared of COVID-19 and they feel like they have come out of jail after two years. They even said that they have gone there before the third wave. The ghats are having huge crowds.
Also Read: These Destinations Are Sending Back Tourists As Anti-Travel Emerges As The Newest Trend
3. Shimla
Shimla has now put restrictions on people visiting the hill station. According to the latest guidelines, only senior citizens will be permitted to sit on the ridge and pavements along the Mall Road. Police deployed at various spots will ban and fine maskless tourists. Moreover, if Shimla’s Mall Road and Ridge have more tourists than the capacity, then their entry can be banned. This is done to avoid overcrowding and implement appropriate behaviour.
4. Nainital
Over 8,000 tourist vehicles were sent back from Nainital and Mussoorie as part of the Uttarakhand government’s efforts to reduce crowding at tourists hubs. Tourists will also need negative RT-PCR tests, prior hotel bookings, and registration on the online portal. According to a Live Mint report, Uttarakhand Police Headquarters Spokesperson DIG Nilesh Anand Bharane has urged tourists to visit places in Uttarakhand other than Mussoorie and Nainital to avoid overcrowding at one place. The police has also set up additional checkpoints and barricades on roads leading to popular tourist spots.
5. Dharamshala
In a video from Dharamshala, a little five-year-old boy named Amit was seen asking unmasked tourists, “Tera mask kaha hain?” ( Where is your mask?) The kid has become the mascot of the local police and the video created a huge buzz on social media. Dharamshala is one of the popular hill stations and should be avoided until things are normal.
6.Lonavala
Thousands of tourists flocked to Lonavala from Mumbai and Pune, which resulted in overcrowding at the hill station. This forced the local administration to shut the tourist spots. Section 144 was implemented at these spots and tourists were told to take a U-turn and return to where they came from.
Also Read: 6 Less-Crowded Alternatives To The Popular Hill Stations In North India
If you’re travelling now, do not forget to check the entry rules at the destination before planning your journey. To know the latest rules of Indian states, click here.