DHARAMSALA, April 7: — Surging temperatures and erratic weather linked to climate change are threatening the ecological balance and tourism-driven economy of Dharamsala, a prominent hill station in Himachal Pradesh’s Mid-Himalayan region.
Local hoteliers and residents say the town is experiencing unusually high temperatures this early in the year, a trend that could deter visitors and disrupt the region’s water supply systems.
“This April, the temperature has already reached 31°C. If this continues, tourists will start avoiding the lower areas of Dharamsala,” said Sanjay, a hotelier and former scientist with the Geological Survey of India. “The tourism industry, which is the backbone of our local economy, will take a serious hit.”
Sanjay also raised concerns about the ecological consequences. “Higher temperatures accelerate the melting of snow in the Dhauladhar range. If snow vanishes early, the region could face a severe drinking and irrigation water crisis later in the year.”
He noted that despite visible changes in climate patterns, policy discussions remain absent. “It’s ironic that policymakers aren’t prioritising climate adaptation strategies for the Mid-Himalayan region, where people’s livelihoods are deeply linked to natural cycles,” he added.
Dalip Kumar, another hotelier, echoed the concerns. “Dharamsala was once known as the wettest place in the country. It used to rain whenever the temperature touched 30°C, cooling the region,” he said. “That pattern is now broken. Snowfall has declined, and summer rains have become scarce.”
Residents believe that changing snowfall patterns on the Dhauladhar mountains have disrupted the microclimate of the area, leading to hotter and drier summers.
With temperatures rising earlier and rainfall becoming unpredictable, the tourism sector, water availability, and long-term sustainability of hill stations like Dharamsala may face unprecedented pressure, stakeholders warn.
