Highways choked, hotels fully booked as tourists throng Himachal Pradesh

Hotel occupancy in major tourist spots, including Shimla, Manali and Dharamshala, is almost full and tourists have been heading to less popular spots.

Days after the Himachal Pradesh government relaxed Covid-19 related restrictions, a massive tourist influx resulted in midway holdups on national highways and unprecedented traffic jams. Meanwhile, parking lots have been full and people are forced to spend the night in their vehicles due to complete hotel occupancy. Hotel occupancy in major tourist spots, including Shimla, Manali and Dharamshala, is almost full and tourists have been heading to less popular tourist spots in a bid to find accommodation and in guest houses or homestays.