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News18
6 days ago
- Business
- News18
Why India's Hills Are Full of Houses Nobody Lives In: Second Home Crisis Explained
While tourism brings jobs, real estate inflation pushes locals out, especially young adults. This has resulted in cultural erosion, increase in waste and uneven development of land It started during the pandemic: as cities shut down and the air was heavy with uncertainty. Thousands of urban Indians particularly the well-off, NRIs, and tech professionals began eyeing hill stations not just for a vacation, but for permanent escape. 'Work-from-mountains" became the new 'work-from-home." But by 2024–25, something strange happened. The hills didn't get more lived-in, they got emptier. And in villages where most people can't afford real estate, plots now carry price tags that rival metros. So why are these homes being built if no one's really moving in? The second-home trend in hill towns exploded post-2020, fueled by: But in most cases, these homes are only occupied for 10–30 days a year, if at all. The rest of the time? They sit locked, maintained by caretakers, slowly turning villages into patchworks of ghost homes. Where It's Happening Uttarakhand (Mussoorie, Mukteshwar, Ranikhet) Land prices have tripled in places like Mukteshwar since 2019. In Almora, locals report that 'out-of-towners" own nearly 40% of new construction, yet these houses remain empty most of the year. The impact of this is shrinking rental options for locals, groundwater strain, and rising resentment. Himachal Pradesh (Manali, Dharamshala, Jibhi) The Himachal government has been grappling with land-sale rules, especially around non-Himachalis buying property. While there are legal limits, workarounds via long leases and company names have made second-home investments surge. Because of this, entire villages near Jibhi now host Instagrammable stays but no school-age children which is a serious demographic drain. Coorg and Chikkmagaluru (Karnataka) Coffee estate owners and wealthy Bengaluru families are buying up heritage properties and turning them into second homes or boutique stays. Many locals, however, are being priced out of ancestral lands. This has resulted in cultural erosion, increase in waste, and uneven development of the land. Ooty and Kodaikanal (Tamil Nadu) NRI Tamil families and Chennai investors are pushing prices into crores. Old British cottages are being razed for modern second homes. This has led to pressure on hill ecology, waste disposal issues, and local youth migrating out due to affordability gaps. Climate + Infrastructure: Cracks in the Mountain Dream In parts of Uttarakhand and Himachal, there's a growing rift. While tourism brings jobs, real estate inflation pushes locals out, especially young adults. Small hoteliers can't afford to expand. Teachers and government workers can't rent in the places they serve. What used to be community-driven hamlets are now becoming locked gates, seasonal lights, and empty windows. Solutions? Or Stalemate? Some hill states are starting to push back: Himachal has laws limiting land purchase by outsiders, but loopholes exist. Sikkim and Arunachal restrict land sales to non-residents completely. Eco-sensitive zoning has been proposed in some districts, but enforcement remains patchy. When a Home Isn't Really a Home The rise of second homes in India's hill stations reflects aspiration, but also alienation. For many buyers, it's about escape. But for the people who live there year-round, it's becoming harder to stay. And in places where the air is pure but the homes stand hollow, we're left asking: Who are the hills really being built for? tags : At Home explained Homestays Ooty Shimla view comments Location : Bengaluru, India, India First Published: July 25, 2025, 15:48 IST News explainers Why India's Hills Are Full of Houses Nobody Lives In: Second Home Crisis Explained Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Himachal govt puts on hold entry fee at Churdhar wildlife sanctuary
The forest department of Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday put on hold its order imposing user charge on visitors to the Churdhar Wildlife Sanctuary in Sirmaur district, officials said. A controversy had erupted earlier this month, with locals alleging that the 'user charge' was imposed by the state government on people going to the Churdhar valley where there is an ancient temple. The Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had termed it as a 'fee on religious pilgrimage'. Officials had maintained that the user charge was imposed only on trekkers visiting the Churdhar wildlife sanctuary. People going to the Shirgul Maharaj temple has to pass through some portions of the sanctuary. In an order issued on Tuesday, deputy conservator of forests, Shimla Wildlife Division said, 'It has been decided to keep in abeyance the order regarding collection of charges in view of numerous representations received from various stakeholders including religious organisations, local residents and citizens in this regard.' The officer said the decision to impose the user charges was taken to address environmental and sanitation concerns but it has come to light that the order has raised apprehensions among devotees and local people regarding accessibility to Churdhar temple, a significant religious site located in the sanctuary. Therefore, the order shall remain suspended till a comprehensive model is developed that considers exemptions for religious pilgrims and establishes a fair and transparent charging mechanism for other users, the officer said. Earlier, the Hatti Samiti, the principal organisation of more than three lakh Hattis living in Trans Giri area of Sirmaur had opposed the entry fee from devotees coming from other states to visit the ancient temple of Lord Shrigul Devta situated on the top of Churdhar peak. In a letter addressed to chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the Samiti had demanded that entry fees should not be taken from the devotees. According to the fixed slabs, Himachal residents had to pay ₹20 per person, non-Himachalis ₹50 and foreigners will be charged ₹200. The officials said trekkers, hikers and campers had to pay ₹50 to ₹100. The charges were set at ₹10,000 to ₹15,000 per day for movie and documentary shoots, ₹3,000 per day for wedding shoots, ₹200, ₹300 and ₹400 for tenting (Indian citizens), ₹500 per tent per day for foreign citizens and ₹100 for travelling by mule and horse.
