Munish Sood
MANDI: As glass façades rise and concrete spreads across the once-serene hills of tourist hotspot Manali in Kullu district of Himachal, Mandi MP and actress Kangana Ranaut has offered a gentle but powerful reminder of what truly matters.
In a Facebook post, Kangana Ranaut shared glimpses of her self-grown forest of fruit trees and flowers that surround her bungalow at Simsa village in Manali.
Built around 2017, Kangana’s European-style mountain retreat stands apart — not for its luxury, but for its lush greenery. While most homes in the area are now overshadowed by rapid commercial construction, Kangana has created a private ecosystem around her property with trees, flowering plants and seasonal fruits, especially peaches, which she proudly showed in the video.
“Even though tall buildings have come up all around, the trees I planted shields me from the chaos,” she said, panning across her blooming garden and stone-paved courtyard as well as showing a tall building rising next to her house’s entrance.
Manali’s changing landscape
What was once a tranquil Himalayan town is now racing toward urban saturation. Hotels, homestays and restaurants are mushrooming across Manali’s popular areas — Old Manali, Vashisht and even the outskirts like Simsa and Jagatsukh. The explosion of unplanned construction is not only choking the natural landscape, but also eroding the region’s ecological and cultural identity.
Kangana’s video appears to address this transformation subtly but sincerely. Her words are a reflection of deep concern: not everyone has the land, means or awareness to grow a living shield around their home. And as the town expands vertically and horizontally, many locals are left with little or no green cover — compromising both their privacy and their peace.
Unlike manicured city gardens, Kangana’s greenery is raw, rooted and real. Her orchard includes flowering shrubs, fruit trees and shade-giving plants that she has nurtured over years. This personal forest is not just an aesthetic choice but a statement of self-sufficiency and sustainability.
Born in Himachal Pradesh, Kangana has always maintained a strong emotional connection with her homeland. Her home in Simsa isn’t just a weekend getaway, but a return to roots. She recently opened a café and restaurant in Manali, promoting not just local cuisine but also the idea of mindful tourism — one that respects nature instead of replacing it.
