People And Their Problems

New Delhi, 20 July 2007

Destination Mountains

NEED TO PRESERVE LEGACY & SERENITY

By Dhurjati Mukherjee

Mountains, as the famous poet John Keats realised during his walking tour of Wordworthian Lake District, can make people feel big and big people small. The sublime can terrorise, chastise or humiliate but it can also elevate, aggrandize or transfigure. The call of the mountains is indeed fascinating. All round the year, barring a month or two, the mountains become a place of tourist attraction because of their favourable climate and the pollution-free atmosphere. Factors such as the panoramic scenic beauty of the valleys and ecology of these regions have always attracted people, both Indian and foreign, to visit the mountains.

In India, hill stations are popular tourist destinations. Whether it is the beautiful lakes of Srinagar or of Nainital, the royal elegance and idyllic retreat of Shimla, the imposing Kanchenjunga of Darjeeling or the high snow-clad mountains overlooking Manali – all present a distinct manifestation of grace and leisure as its hallmarks. Mention may also be made of Mussourie, Shillong, Mt. Abu, Ooty and, of course, Kedarnath-Badrinath. Their beauty and charm, the layers of time, the histories within history and the cohabitation of the banal and the sublime, the people and the peaks are indeed significant.

These places no doubt compare with the best tourist attractions anywhere in the world. A fact reiterated even by foreign tourists and travelers, who are increasingly coming to discover the hidden beauty of nature this country has to offer. Also the unity among diversity of the mountains in Himachal Pradesh, Kashmir, Uttaranchal or West Bengal as is evident from their distinct folk cultures could be an example for others to emulate.

In recent times, the hills have assumed great importance not because of tourism alone but for varied reasons. Environment has become a subject of great concern the world over and experts are involved in extensive research in its preservation. There is need to protect the hills along with forests, lakes and rivers in the mountainous terrains to maintain ecological balance. This aspect has caught the attention of respective State governments but more positive action needs to be taken.

Delving into history, the 18^th century India saw the growth of a new urban concept – the ‘hill station’. Initially built by the British rulers, these towns grew to become retreats from the heat and dust of the plains. But it was Shimla, the most significant of all hill stations which was made the ‘summer capital’ of British India in 1864, a status it retained up to Independence.

In 1822, the first European house called ‘Kennedy House’ was built in Shimla to become the residence of Charles Pratt Kennedy, newly-appointed Political Officer of the Hill States. In 1827, the station was visited by Lord Ahmerst, British Governor General of India. Realising the importance of the hills, the British took keen interest to develop these places. Shimla received focal attention and witnessed the fastest development of buildings. Even today some of the finest structures of the British colonial genre still stand over its seven hills.

Though the British chose Shimla as their summer capital, Darjeeling was a favourite tourist destination for them. They developed tea plantations on a large scale and built the necessary infrastructure. The British legacy, specially the tea plantations, is very much evident today in this district of West Bengal. Referred to as the “queen of hills”, Darjeeling offers tourists a view of the Kanchenjunga, highest peak visible from India.

Besides, Darjeeling tea is extremely popular in the West as a pure drink with medicinal properties and recent initiatives to promote tea tourism have gained momentum. Some tea gardens have been identified where tourists would be allowed to stay in the colonial bungalows of the tea garden managers.

Srinagar, considered the Switzerland of India, where till the 80s most Indian films were shot, is undoubtedly a place of great attraction. Gulmarg, Sonemarg and, of course, Pahalgam are again gradually becoming favoured tourist destinations thanks to the reduction in terrorist activities as a sequel to better Indo-Pak relations.

However, even as there is an all-out effort to promote eco-tourism, the increasing flow of tourists to these hills has started causing problems. Congestion, water shortage, power breakdowns and water pollution are common issues other than the serenity and peace of the area getting disturbed. There is a need now to popularize new hill stations and the State governments must start acting. Tamang or Bomdila in Arunachal Pradesh, Munnar in Tamil Nadu or Palampur or Keylong in Himachal Pradesh, to name only a few, need to be put on the tourist map. 

There is no denying the fact that the call of the mountains is irresistible. From the challenge of scaling a peak to a wish to climb even a modest spur, or for some to see a mountain is to climb it is there. Treks ranging from a day to a week are popular from some of the tourist destinations. Mention may be made of the famous Amarrnath yatra which goes via Pahalgam or regular treks undertaken from Darjeeling.

River rafting, ice skating and skiing are some of the popular sporting events which have further added an attraction to some hill stations. White water rafting facilities are available near Kullu, Rohtang Pass and Solang Nullah offer a variety of slopes for skiers, other than Gulmarg and Auli.   

In the coming years, ecotourism, adventure tourism, hill tourism, spiritual and religious tourism, all of which lie embedded in the hills and mountains is bound to become more popular in the country. However, efforts should be made so that these places are projected historically and aesthetically through a definite plan and programme.

The State governments need to formulate a policy for maintaining the sanctity and serenity of the hills to tackle tourist rush in peak season. Other than this, attempts should be made to revive folk culture, encourage and popularise folk artists to display their art through organizing festivals. Hill stations should have both tourism and preservation going hand in hand.--- INFA

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