Shimla and Manali, two prominent tourist destinations in Himachal Pradesh, are witnessing a substantial increase in tourist activity in anticipation of the Christmas festivities. The National Highway leading to the Atal Tunnel experienced significant traffic congestion, particularly between Manali and Vashisth Chowk, Potato Ground to Rangadi, and Solang Nala to Atal Tunnel. Similar congestion was observed on the highway connecting Shimla and Shoghi. Additionally, Rohtang and Sissu areas, having recently received snowfall, are attracting a higher number of tourists, with expectations of increased footfall in Manali in the days leading up to December 28 due to dry weather conditions.
Despite the absence of a white Christmas, the weather in Himachal remains chilly, with minimum temperatures ranging from -2°C in Sissu and Atal Tunnel areas to 4°C in Shimla and as low as 2°C in Manali. The Meteorological Centre, Shimla, forecasts the possibility of light rainfall or snowfall at isolated places between December 29 and 30.
Hotel occupancy in Shimla and Manali is reported to be between 80% and 90%, reflecting a near-full capacity. Hoteliers advise potential visitors to check room availability due to the surge in demand. The influx of tourists is viewed as a positive development for the tourism industry, which faced setbacks during the monsoon season due to landslides and floods.
Tourists are also exploring alternative destinations such as Kasol, Tirthan Valley, and Jibhi Valley to avoid overcrowding. In response to the heightened demand, hotel bookings in Shimla are extending to nearby towns like Kufri, Chail, Narkanda, Kasauli, and Solan.
The Winter Carnival, Shimla's inaugural event starting on Christmas day and lasting until New Year's Eve, aims to attract tourists and revitalize tourism following the monsoon-related challenges. Hoteliers in Shimla are optimistic about recovering losses, with the administration expecting nearly one lakh tourist vehicles this holiday season. To manage the anticipated increase in traffic, the administration has strategically divided the city into four sectors and deployed ten platoons of police for traffic and security management.
