Mukesh Semwal@Uttarakhand
1.4K posts
@MukeshSemwalUt1
PhD from Baroda Gujarat...lives in uttarakhand... social activist
The first day of the Kedarnath Yatra has once again exposed a hard truth — our approach to Himalayan tourism is deeply flawed. I witnessed severe difficulties faced by pilgrims due to an overwhelming rush. This is not devotion alone — this is mismanagement. There is no serious planning on carrying capacity. Fragile Himalayan regions like Kedarnath cannot handle unlimited numbers. Regulating footfall is not restriction — it is protection: of people, of ecology, and of faith itself. We also need to question the growing “zip-pass tourism” model — helicopters, express access, rushed darshans. This may look efficient, but it sidelines the very people who sustain the local economy. Small dhabas, tea sellers, porters, and local businesses depend on pilgrims who stay, walk, and engage. When tourists come and leave within hours, the local economy loses its lifeline. And when disasters or disruptions occur, communication collapses. Panic spreads, bookings get cancelled across the region, and once again, it is the local communities that suffer the most. This is an ecologically sensitive zone. Visual spectacles like helicopters showering petals may look grand, but they are completely unnecessary and out of sync with the spirit of the Himalaya. We must ask: 👉 Are we building a system that respects the mountains? 👉 Or are we turning sacred spaces into high-speed consumption zones? We are not against tourism. We are for sustainable, responsible tourism — one that balances faith, environment, and livelihoods. Because in the Himalaya, every decision echoes far beyond the moment. And while such issues trend only when something goes wrong and are quickly forgotten, I consistently raise these concerns through my videos to build long-term awareness — do subscribe and join Eco N Energy Talk: @EcoNEnergyTalk" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">youtube.com/@EcoNEnergyTalk
#Kedarnath #SustainableTourism #Himalaya #CharDham #ResponsibleTravelFor eight years, Hemant Mali, a tour operator from Baroda, has successfully guided hundreds of pilgrims through the treacherous yet sacred terrain of the Char Dham in #Uttarakhand. This year, however, was different. For the first time, he brought along his own parents, fulfilling their long-pending wish to have them experience the pilgrimage he had facilitated for so many others. But fate intervened cruelly.
Just two days ago, migrant workers from Bihar were struggling to board train outside Surat railway station in Gujarat, and the BJP did nothing. But now, the same BJP has arranged special train from Surat to Kolkata for Bengal workers, for votes. Only elections matter to the BJP, and they will throw you away like a used tissue paper after that. 🙌
आज सच में यह खुशी कई गुनी बढ़ गई कि मुझे गुजराती समझ आती है। वीडियो में ऑस्ट्रेलिया में एक गुजराती बच्चा अपने पिता से पूछता है कि हम हिन्दू हैं या मुसलमान? और फिर पिता ने जो समझाया है न, बिल्कुल दिल भर आया। सब टाइटल हैं गुजराती न समझने वालों के लिए देखिए। दुनिया ऐसे ही खूबसूरत बनेगी। ❤️
