My Experience in Mussoorie

My Experience of abusing nature and its far reaching consequences

Ahmedabad, a city which is having highest UTCI (Universal thermal climate index, above 46 points) among South Asian cities, wherein 331 days out 365 days are considered hot (as per by CEPT & World Bank Report). As an Amdavadi, it’s always a natural choice to go to hill stations for a vacation. This time we decided to go to Rishikesk and Mussorrie for the obvious reason. We flew from Ahmedabad to Dehradun via Delhi on 21^st June, 2023. Though it wasn’t a direct flight but the journey was quite comfortable thanks to Vistara as we were served hot Indian food on board. It was International Yoga day and the programs were put up in Delhi airport. My daughter also started from Bangalore to Dehradun at the same day. We were to meet on Dehradun airport to proceed to Mussorrie. We all reached to Dehradun airport almost at the same time. We were quite apprehensive whether electric taxi (Tata-Nixon) would function properly in the hilly region. But our own Tata Nixon didn’t disappoint us a bit. Even during our entire vacation, we used the same vehicle. One good news for the people who experience nausea during the journey of hilly terrain. We didn’t face such a problem with electric vehicle as we both have severe problem of nausea in mountains while travelling on the road.

As expected the weather and natural beauty of Mussorrie was breathtaking to the point that every time it would amaze us to our disbelief. Everything was so good there. Many places can be visited. Information is readily available everywhere nowadays. After I went to different places in and around Mussorrie, I observed the mismanagement on the part of human intervention, excessive commercialization, and exploitation of the nature. We have deeply messed with the nature that we are facing the consequences of it. The recent floods and devastation in Himachal Pradesh, Uttrakhand and other Northern parts are the live example of it. Except Lal Tibba all other places are heavily commercialized. Government’s failure is quite evident. Development is essential but not the cost of nature. It’s quite reckless. Everywhere food stalls and other stalls are put up selling all type of items in plastic containers and packaging. Tourists litter everywhere. Why can’t a different approach be used in these areas for e.g. no plastic at all. There must be strict enforcement of garbage disposal mechanism on sellers and tourists both. If one goes to Kempty fall and Bhatta fall, he/she will regret of coming to these places. Everywhere small hotel accommodations are come up. You will see piles of garbage dumped near to these places even in that beautiful valley. Now this is a high time that governments, NGO’s, and people need to wake up and do something about it. Government should start a social media campaign to create an awareness on a big scale, and influencers, celebrities should play an active role in this.

With these thoughts, we left Mussorrie and reached to Rishikesh to view Ganga in its majestic avatar. Again, we felt the sense of disappointment, when the beautiful ghats of ganga were over crowded by excessive business activities selling items to the tourists. What are the reasons that administration is not able to do things correctly because of unwillingness or incapability? R What if the ghats are devoid of all type of commercial and religious activities and only open for the people who just come and sit and appreciate the serenity and beauty of Ganga. It can be a very good opportunity for people to come closer with the self amidst the said environment near Ganga. Though it’s my imagination but it’s doable. Let’s restore the beauty of our mountains and contribute our bit by pledging as a tourist not to litter anywhere.

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