By Imtiaz Ullah
Over-tourism occurs when there is an exponential burst of visitors at a particular destination. Now “Exponential” is a subjective term, but it is highlighted in each destination by local residents, hosts, business owners and tourists.
A fine example of over-tourism is when the rent prices push out local tenants to make way for holiday rentals, that is overtourism. When narrow roads become jammed with tourist vehicles, that is over-tourism. When wildlife is scared away, when tourists cannot view landmarks because of the crowds, when fragile environments become degraded – these are all signs of over-tourism.
When there is an impact on the climate, a place that receives normal snowfall may not receive snowfall at all. Adverse floods in the coastal areas may result from global warming which is deeply concerning. Over-tourism also plays a part in global warming.
Is the beautiful destination of Manali, a Victim of Over-tourism?
This is a very easy question, no prize for guessing. Some sights that are common in Manali during high season – prolonged traffic snarls, choked highways, overflowing parking places and packed hotels. The worst affected is the ecologically fragile Rohtang Pass, with crowds becoming totally unmanageable, and sometimes unruly too. Over-tourism goes against the principles of a sustainable tourism economy.
Considering the grave impact on this beautiful tourist destination, the NGT has now ordered that not more than 1200 tourists vehicles, 800 of these petrol and 400 diesel, will be permitted per day. To ensure this, all tourist vehicles headed for Rohtang Pass need a valid permit that can be availed online. But the question remains, is it helping?
Over-tourism is causing ecological damage to Manali. The damage caused by such large hordes of tourist can have a severe impact on the fragile mountain ecology. Clearing the huge garbage, disposable food packets, plastic bottles, cups and other food waste dumped by tourists is a daunting issue. High vehicle emissions not only raise the temperature but also causes faster melting of snow. It also blacken the surface of the snow and glaciers of the region.
One alternative that may be helpful – start exploring the less travelled places near Manali rather then travelling only to Manali which is making this place vulnerable and making it a victim of over-tourism. Exploring other places may distribute the ratio of travellers evenly.
In my quest to explore the less travelled trails, I stumbled upon a place near Manali called Palchan village which is still pristine and surreal; a hidden gem away from honking cars, loud music and free from the hustle-and-bustle of city life. I had a conversation with my friend Kapil Thakur, the owner of Clifftop Cottage and the very next moment, I received an invitation from him to spend the new year in his beautiful abode.
Experiential stay at Clifftop Cottage
Now you may be inquisitive to know about “experiential stay”. To keep it very simple, it means “less of travel more of experience(s)”. Experiential travel not only enriches you as a human being, but also introduces you to new cultures and customs.
Kapil indeed believes in providing unique experience to his guests and creating memories of a lifetime.
Clifftop Cottage is situated in Palchan village, about 10 killometres from Manali, enroute Rohtang Pass. The cottage features three types of rooms. Completely furnished in wood, the Attic Room is something that is straight out of a fairytale. The spacious room comes with a king size bed and a child bed that makes it ideal for a couple or a small family of three. Bright interiors and a spacious balcony overlooking the magical surroundings adds a certain charm to the room.
A Room adorned with a golden touch of wood, the Super Deluxe Room comes with all the modern amenities required for a comfortable stay. The spacious room comes with a king-sized bed and other necessary furniture that can accommodate two adults and one extra guest.
Cozy and comfortable Deluxe Garden View Room is ideal for a couple or 3 guests with a king sized bed or the addition of an extra bed. The rooms comes with bright interiors and wood panelled walls and wooden flooring. The room offers an enthralling view of the surrounding gardens and the beautiful valley of Manali. To sum it up, Clifftop Cottage is a blend of local architecture and a taste of luxury.
We had a wonderful stay at Clifftop Cottage and the hospitality was top notch. If you wish to visit Manali but still wish to stay away from the maddening crowd and the pangs of over-tourism, then Clifftop Cottage can be your prefer go-to place. Fancy skiing? It is just about the ideal place for skiing. By the way, Kapil himself is a national level skier, you can learn basics of skiing under his guidance. Don’t forget to sip some coffee while gazing at the Dhauladhar and the Pir-Panjal ranges of the Himalayas.
When you stay amidst the cacophony created by tourists at the heart of Manali, over-tourism seems like a reality. But when you explore the nearby villages in the vicinity of Manali then over-tourism starts seeming like a distant reality.
Imtiaz Ullah is a Corporate Attorney, Travel Writer with The Traveller Trails and also acts as an advisory member of NGO- Sarvahitey. He is the founder of travel website- NomadLawyer.org. His travel philosophy is exploring new places, meeting new people, knowing the culture, eating like a local, all with a full time job. He always believes in the idea- “Don’t just be a traveller, but a Responsible one”. He is involved with various projects that aims at upliftment of the society and also promotes responsible and volunteer tourism. According to his words, “Mother nature has given us beautiful places to explore. It’s our duty to payback”.
