Kasauli, Chail, Narkanda, Dharamshala also see considerable footfall after months of slowdown
Pallavi Sharma
DHARAMSHALA: After nearly three months of a tourism slowdown due to heavy rain-triggered travel hesitations, Himachal Pradesh’s popular hill stations are witnessing a vibrant revival in weekend tourism.
From Shimla and Kufri to Chail, Kasauli, Narkanda and Dharamshala, a visible surge in tourist footfall over the past two weekends has brought back cheer to the state’s hospitality sector.
Shimla, in particular, saw traffic lines of tourist vehicles entering the city as early as Friday evening, continuing through Sunday. Popular nearby getaways like Kufri and Narkanda are also seeing a considerable number of visitors. “This is the kind of crowd we were waiting for,” said Anil Chandel, owner of Hotel Rocky Knob near Navbhabar Chowk on the Cart Road in Sanjauli, Shimla.
According to the state’s tourism department, the improving weather conditions post-monsoon and the end of Durga Puja holidays in eastern India have encouraged travellers from states like Gujarat, Punjab and Delhi to head to Himachal for short getaways.
Hotels report high occupancy rates
Hoteliers across the state are reporting a strong rebound in bookings. Kasauli hotels and resorts operated at nearly 80 to 90% occupancy this past weekend, while Chail saw a 30% jump in bookings compared to the previous week. Advance bookings from Gujarat and other states for October are also flowing in steadily.
Gaurav Kanwar, a tour operator in Shimla, expressed optimism: “The moment the skies cleared, tourists started coming in again. It’s a good sign ahead of the winter season. If this trend continues, we’re looking at one of the best seasons in recent years.”
Even homestay owners, who suffered during the rainy months, are beginning to see their rooms fill up. The ripple effect is also being felt by restaurants, cafés and small businesses that rely heavily on weekend tourism.
Positive outlook for winter season
With the winter tourist season just around the corner, industry insiders believe the current surge could be a strong indicator of what’s to come. The tourism department is also gearing up to support infrastructure and crowd management as popular destinations anticipate an influx of travellers, especially during Christmas and New Year holidays.
A Tourism Department official said, “The improvement in weekend tourism is not only benefiting hotels and homestays but also taxi operators, local eateries and small business owners. It’s a chain reaction that supports the broader economy.”
