As air quality remains poor in Delhi, a significant number of tourists are flocking to Himachal Pradesh’s hill stations seeking fresh mountain air.
Over the weekend, popular destinations like Shimla, Manali, Dharamshala and Kullu have seen a surge in visitors. With work-from-home options available in Delhi offices, many tourists are also inquiring about long-term bookings in homestays, hoping to make these serene locations their temporary homes.
In Shimla, occupancy rates have reached 60-70%, while Manali and Dharamshala report 40-60% occupancy. Following fresh snowfall in Lahaul-Spiti’s Chandra Valley and Keylong, even more tourists are expected to arrive in the coming days.
Schools closed in Delhi amid pollution
In response to rising pollution, Delhi schools have been temporarily closed, leading to an increase in family trips to Himachal. From Friday onwards, tourist traffic started picking up and by Saturday, parking lots in Shimla were packed with vehicles from outside states. The city’s largest parking at Lift Car Park was full by 1 pm, and “Parking Full” signs were posted at entry points. Shimla’s Mall Road and Ridge saw bustling crowds of visitors throughout the day.
Dharamshala homestays draw large number of tourists
Anil Chandel, the owner of Hotel Rocky Knob at Sanjauli in Shimla, said that employees from multinational companies are now arriving for work-from-home stays to escape the Delhi smog. Other Himachal spots like Manali, Manikaran, Tirthan Valley and Jibhi in Banjar are seeing increased occupancy, reaching up to 60%.
In Solang Nala, tourists are enjoying activities like paragliding and river rafting, while Dalhousie and Khajjiar in Chamba have also started attracting visitors in larger numbers.
