MANDI/BANJAR:
Tirthan Valley, a jewel of Himachal Pradesh tourism and one of Kullu’s most top-rated destinations, is fighting for its survival.
Despite being home to the UNESCO-listed Great Himalayan National Park and the trout-rich rivers that attract eco-tourists from across the globe, the valley’s ground reality is tragic — a network of dangerous, broken roads that threaten both lives and livelihoods.
Stakeholders from both Tirthan and Jibhi Valley, including those into tourism, villagers, panchayat members, youth and environmental activists, took to the streets in a joint protest, declaring that they would no longer accept the government’s indifference toward the failing infrastructure in this once-thriving tourism belt.
Locals say tourists forced to undergo hell-like experience
Lalit Kumar, president of the Jibhi Valley Tourism Development Association, led the protest and issued a sharp warning: “This is not tourism, it’s trauma. We market Jibhi and Tirthan to the world, but our roads are a disgrace. Every turn is a risk. We are risking the lives of our guests only to keep our livelihoods afloat. If this is not resolved now, there will be a mass exodus of tourism operators from the valley.”
Varun Bharti, president of the Tirthan Conservation and Tourism Development Society, said, “Tirthan is internationally known, yet domestically ignored. We have waited decades for development that is yet to come. Fix the roads before you promote the valley in the next glossy brochure.”
Khem Bharti, one of the oldest tourism entrepreneurs from Jibhi, recalled the early promise of the region: “I have hosted travellers since the time no one even knew this place. Now, the world wants to visit, but the roads are forcing them to turn away. Tourism is the backbone of this region — and right now, it’s broken.”
‘This is not just a road crisis, it’s a betrayal’
Guman Singh, from Himalayan Niti Abhiyan, voiced deep concern about the systemic failure: “This is not just poor planning, but it’s betrayal. The people trusted governments for decades and what do we have? Roads with no parapets, no drainage, no crash barriers — only potholes and promises. We will not stay silent anymore.”
Gaurav Sharma, a budding young entrepreneur from Jibhi, said, “We have inherited the tourism dream, but the infrastructure is a nightmare. Our generation is ready to innovate and build — but how do we grow when even the roads don’t support us? We are done waiting. We’re done watching our future sink into potholes.”
Panki Sood, a leading tourism professional in the region, said, “You can’t plaster over broken roads with social media ads. If ministers really believe in tourism, let them drive through these routes once. Only then will they understand why this protest was inevitable.”
The 9-km Gushaini–Pekhri road is symbolic of the rot. Built over a decade ago, it still lacks railings, drainage or parapets. Similar stories echo across Banjar–Bathad, Dehuri–Shanad, Nagladi–Sharchi, Gushaini–Tinder and other routes. Not a single black spot is marked. Water flows freely over roads, damaging farmland. Landslides are frequent. Accidents are common.
Rinku Chauhan, Pradhan of Noanda panchayat, stood with the people and demanded urgent intervention. “We’ve sent memorandums, begged for repairs, but the PWD’s silence has been louder than our cries. If this government wants to be taken seriously in Himachal, let them start here — with roads that connect lives, not headlines,” said Rinku.
Main demands of protesters
• Immediate repairs and widening of all key roads in the valley
• Construction of parapets, crash barriers and drainage systems
• Black spot identification and preventive safety measures
• Fixed timelines and accountability from the Public Works Department
Munish Sood
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