Dalhousie: Himachal Pradesh is blessed with the very best of natural beauty, with lofty mountains, lush green landscapes, thick forests, flowing rivers and creeks full of fresh water, lakes and level plain areas. For nature lovers of this country and overseas, Himachal provides some of the most spectacular scenic locations, which makes this hill state a tourist’s paradise.
Successive state governments have made various policies with regard to the development of the
Photo: Johar Singh
tourism industry in the state. But is enough being done…. On a recent visit to a popular hill station of a neighboring state of Uttarakhand, I was so very much impressed with the manner in which the place has been kept clean and made presentable too. Even in this rainy season there was negligible water logging on roads. Very nice gardens and places of tourist interest have been developed around the hill-town. A nominal fee is being charged by the local authorities from visitors who wish to see these places. In return what tourists get is well maintained flowers beds, beautifully laid down lawns and colorful fountains. There are street hawkers selling roasted corncobs and tikki-chhat too, but you won’t find any sort of litter lying around their vends.
While driving through the countryside there, various locations can be found which provide a panoramic view of the deep valleys and ravines. There are kiosk selling eatables, but they are not at all an eyesore having been set up in locations that do not hinder the view of the tourist.
We cannot stop the strings attached with the tourism boom. Just imagine a tourist walking on a two kilometer-long Mall road and not finding any place to eat or drink. He won’t like such a place at all. Infrastructure has to be provided to the tourist who has spent so much money to visit a place. We keep criticising the authorities that they play an important role in destroying the natural beauty of a place but it has to be realised that a place which won’t have any infrastructure would also be unable to attract tourists. A virgin piece of land looks very pleasing to the eye but it won’t be appreciated by many if many are not able to reach such a place and if it is not popularised.
I would like to mention the state of affairs at a very beautiful town of Dalhousie, which has suffered political apathy of successive state governments. Dalhousie had been a part of the earlier Banikhet constituency of the state and after the delimitation it has been renamed as Dalhousie constituency. Sadly this town has been neglected by the state government. The reasons for this are many, the foremost and the most important being that the population of this town is small and thus does not have a political clout with regards to voting strength. The legislative members of this area had not shown any interest in the development of this town in general. The area is suffering at the hand of the politicians who have a selfish political interest.
The area is suffering as political leaders are putting in more efforts in putting hurdles in the developmental works, rather than concentrating their efforts on getting new projects for the area. Blaming the state government for not doing enough for this town won’t be a very wise thing, as it is the unwillingness of the political masters of this area that is to be blamed. The locals are also not able to raise their voice as they are under a lot of pressure in regards to transfers and other undue troubles which they face at the hands of the politicians. The state government won’t have a step motherly attitude towards this small and beautiful town if the people’s representatives are pushing enough to get various developmental projects sanctioned for the area.
It won’t be inappropriate to mention here that in the recent past Himachal government had sanctioned a number of new ropeway projects for various parts of Himachal including Shimla, Manali and Dharamsala. Had the local politicians shown a developmental farsightedness for the area, such projects won’t have been far from reality for this town. Bringing in such projects will have a multi-pronged effect on the development of the area. A trickledown effect would have led to generation of employment and also revenue for the local population. A simple method of Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT), or Public Private Partnership (PPP) can help the projects achieve completion in record time.
Dear Johar,
The article on Dalhousie was well written. True picture of the townand attitude of the politician. My suggestion in your future article for uplifting of Dalhousie areas follows:- KAMLA NEHRU PARK:Situated at Upper Dalhousie (Bakrota) where PanditJawaharlal Nehru in August, 1954 planted a sapling during his visit. Sincethen this place has been neglected. To keep his visit and memory alivedalhousie citizens would very much like to develop this as a full fledged park and picnicspot for tourists and locals with a normal entrance fee for upkeep the place. ROCK SIDE GARDEN: Tourist Department of Chamba took a right and appreciable step todevelop this place. Tourists now very much appreciate this natural rock gardenand usually organize picnic and enjoy the natural surrounding of the place.But now unauthorized construction have taken place in side the rock gardenwhich has spoiled the beauty of the place. What is required is to developthis place and plant decorated plants instead of bushes in and around Rock Garden Development of Kahl Pukhar. 4 Kms from Gandhi Chowk. this is beautifulgreen meadow with a stream flowing through it and is also surrounded withdense forest. This place is easily accessible to tourists by road. This spotholds enormous capability to attract tourist of all age group. Keeping this viewthis spot be developed as Japanese type garden without disturbing theecology of the place. Sukhdev Bawa.
Why should a "Japanese style" garden be planted in Himachal Pradesh?
The topography of the place being referred to in this post is such that a Japanese garden can be very appropriately setup there. Also a japanese garden does not involve too much of concrete structures. They have water bodies too. A small creek flows near this place and this small hillock will house a Japanese garden in a very good manner.
Dear Johar,
The article on Dalhousie was well written. True picture of the townand attitude of the politician. My suggestion in your future article for uplifting of Dalhousie areas follows:- KAMLA NEHRU PARK:Situated at Upper Dalhousie (Bakrota) where PanditJawaharlal Nehru in August, 1954 planted a sapling during his visit. Sincethen this place has been neglected. To keep his visit and memory alivedalhousie citizens would very much like to develop this as a full fledged park and picnicspot for tourists and locals with a normal entrance fee for upkeep the place. ROCK SIDE GARDEN: Tourist Department of Chamba took a right and appreciable step todevelop this place. Tourists now very much appreciate this natural rock gardenand usually organize picnic and enjoy the natural surrounding of the place.But now unauthorized construction have taken place in side the rock gardenwhich has spoiled the beauty of the place. What is required is to developthis place and plant decorated plants instead of bushes in and around Rock Garden Development of Kahl Pukhar. 4 Kms from Gandhi Chowk. this is beautifulgreen meadow with a stream flowing through it and is also surrounded withdense forest. This place is easily accessible to tourists by road. This spotholds enormous capability to attract tourist of all age group. Keeping this viewthis spot be developed as Japanese type garden without disturbing theecology of the place. Sukhdev Bawa.
Why should a "Japanese style" garden be planted in Himachal Pradesh?
The topography of the place being referred to in this post is such that a Japanese garden can be very appropriately setup there. Also a japanese garden does not involve too much of concrete structures. They have water bodies too. A small creek flows near this place and this small hillock will house a Japanese garden in a very good manner.
It has been very well written.
Dalhousie is actually going through a phase of political inefficiency. A lot need to be done for the improvement of this town. The green cover is still present in Dalhousie and the area a very nice climate.
New faces in the political front need to address the situation. The political heads of the state should seriously consider bringing in new and young faces in the political arena of this constituency so that the years of stalemate with regard to proper development should end. The new people in both the political and social spheres will help bring in new and fresh ideas.
Implementation of centrally aided projects should see the light of the day and state should also setup a committee which has no political bias and help this town regain the days of pre-independence glory coupled with the modern day development projects.
It has been very well written.
Dalhousie is actually going through a phase of political inefficiency. A lot need to be done for the improvement of this town. The green cover is still present in Dalhousie and the area a very nice climate.
New faces in the political front need to address the situation. The political heads of the state should seriously consider bringing in new and young faces in the political arena of this constituency so that the years of stalemate with regard to proper development should end. The new people in both the political and social spheres will help bring in new and fresh ideas.
Implementation of centrally aided projects should see the light of the day and state should also setup a committee which has no political bias and help this town regain the days of pre-independence glory coupled with the modern day development projects.
If I am not wrong the entire politics of Dalhousie is based on a single family. The family has alliances to both the political parties.
As you mentioned:
The area is suffering as political leaders are putting in more efforts in putting hurdles in the developmental works, rather than concentrating their efforts on getting new projects for the area.
It is because of the tug of war between the family that Dalhousie is suffering. But I must say that Dalhousie looked much better this year when I visited in summers than it has been in the previous years!!
When did you visit last time to Dalhousie. I mean the time before this year. "that Dalhousie looked much better this year when I visited in summers than it has been in the previous years!!"
If I am not wrong the entire politics of Dalhousie is based on a single family. The family has alliances to both the political parties.
As you mentioned:
The area is suffering as political leaders are putting in more efforts in putting hurdles in the developmental works, rather than concentrating their efforts on getting new projects for the area.
It is because of the tug of war between the family that Dalhousie is suffering. But I must say that Dalhousie looked much better this year when I visited in summers than it has been in the previous years!!
When did you visit last time to Dalhousie. I mean the time before this year. "that Dalhousie looked much better this year when I visited in summers than it has been in the previous years!!"
You are right Johar, but I think lot has to be done by the citizens as well. If people feel and think that there needs to be improvement in the town, they need to come together and get the administration and the government to listen to their demands. Until then we cannot blame politicians for everything.
You are right Johar, but I think lot has to be done by the citizens as well. If people feel and think that there needs to be improvement in the town, they need to come together and get the administration and the government to listen to their demands. Until then we cannot blame politicians for everything.
Varun ji, since when has government really done what the citizens need.. A whole lot of hogwash and noise about development taking place where actually nothing is being done..
I think it was on Himvani that you'd also reported of a peaceful public protest in Chamba over dam building (Sal Ghati).. where the activists were brutually attacked by political goons… all over himachal and the rest of our country too.. voices of people and activists are carefully silenced, whenever they get too loud.. so raising a public voice probably will get you no where.
The politics of Dalhousie seem no different than the rest of the state.. where inspite of all the noise.. reckless construction, unplanned tourism and a severe lack of foresight and long term planning is going to reach a point of no return.. all for the greed and vested interests of few.
Varun ji, since when has government really done what the citizens need.. A whole lot of hogwash and noise about development taking place where actually nothing is being done..
I think it was on Himvani that you'd also reported of a peaceful public protest in Chamba over dam building (Sal Ghati).. where the activists were brutually attacked by political goons… all over himachal and the rest of our country too.. voices of people and activists are carefully silenced, whenever they get too loud.. so raising a public voice probably will get you no where.
The politics of Dalhousie seem no different than the rest of the state.. where inspite of all the noise.. reckless construction, unplanned tourism and a severe lack of foresight and long term planning is going to reach a point of no return.. all for the greed and vested interests of few.
nice article mr. johar , keep it up
nice article mr. johar , keep it up
Johar its a nice one,
Johar its a nice one,
Hi johar
The article posted by you is really authenticated. Hopefully somebody realizes this as starts thinking of Dalhousie instead of Filling their own pockets through politics.
Hi johar
The article posted by you is really authenticated. Hopefully somebody realizes this as starts thinking of Dalhousie instead of Filling their own pockets through politics.
Comments are closed.