Doon traders cash-in on tourist influx

As <g data-gr-id="24">mercury</g> continues to soar above 40 degrees Celsius in Dehradun and other areas of the hill state, tourists have started heading to nearby hill stations, especially Mussoorie. State roadways buses are running full to capacity. “There are busses from Dehradun to Mussoorie from 7am to 7pm, after each 30 minutes. Almost all buses are full to capacity,” said a bus ticket collector at Dehradun. Many are also hiring <g data-gr-id="21">taxi</g> to reach the hills. An operator charges Rs 140 per seat (approximately) on a seat-sharing basis. However, the rising mercury level has resulted in a windfall for traders in Mussoorie. 

Around 20,000 tourists thronged the hill station this weekend alone. “Almost all hotels and lodges are full. However, one can be hopeful of finding an accommodation for a night stay near the Kempty Falls, which charges a minimum of Rs 1,000,” said a local. The Kempty Falls, one of the major tourist attractions in Uttarakhand, is 15 km from Mussoorie. Private taxi operators charge Rs 60 per person for a drive from Mussoorie to the Kempty Falls. The weekend witnessed serpentine queues of vehicles, jostling to get a parking, on narrow roads. A shopkeeper said: “All schools have closed for summer vacation. So, it’s the peak time for the arrival of tourists. Nearly, 200 to 300 people can be spotted at a time at the Kempty Falls.”