Tourists heading to the mountains to escape crowded cities are now finding themselves stuck in long traffic jams instead. Photos and videos from Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are now drawing attention
online after showing vehicles lined up for kilometres in popular tourist spots. Many social media users are now questioning whether fragile hill areas can continue handling the growing number of private vehicles every holiday season.
The discussion started after an X (formerly Twitter) user shared images from Koksar in Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul region. The post showed a massive traffic jam stretching through the mountains, with vehicles barely moving on narrow roads.
Sharing the image online, the user wrote, “5 km jam in Koksar (Lahual) Imagine escaping the traffic chaos of cities only to end up stuck in kilometre long jams again in the mountains. I guess the time has come to introduce limited vehicle entry in such fragile areas, at least to keep them congestion free and peaceful.”
The image quickly spread online as many users pointed out how overcrowding has become a regular problem in hill stations during peak tourist seasons. Several people also raised concerns about pollution, waste and pressure on mountain roads that were never built to handle such large numbers of vehicles every day.
5 km jam in Koksar (Lahual) Imagine escaping the traffic chaos of cities only to end up stuck in kilometre long jams again in the mountains. I guess the time has come to introduce limited vehicle entry in such fragile areas, at least to keep them congestion free and peaceful. pic.twitter.com/0oNEmBWoM0
— Nikhil saini (@iNikhilsaini) May 11, 2026
Traffic Scenes Worry Travellers
Along with the Koksar photo, another video from Snow Point in Nainital, Uttarakhand, also began circulating online. The clip showed long lines of cars stuck bumper-to-bumper near the tourist spot, while visitors waited for hours to move ahead.
The video carried the caption, “Snow point me full traffic jam.” Many users said the visuals looked no different from city traffic despite being shot in mountain areas known for peace and natural beauty.
Several social media users said places like Lahaul-Spiti have changed rapidly in recent years because of increasing tourism and easier road access. Some felt the charm and quietness of these places are slowly disappearing.
A user wrote, “Once upon a time lahual and spiti was a mystery land, we really used to wonder what kind of heaven it was. Reaching there was thought of a adventure in itself and considered possible once in a lifetime for most. All that has now ruined and ended.”
Another person commented, “Heard once a local was saying, “Jaam hai to kaam hai.””
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Users Suggest Stricter Rules
Many people online suggested that authorities should start limiting private vehicles in crowded mountain areas, especially during holidays and weekends.
“Yes beyond a point only small state transport tourist buses should be allowed,” a user commented.
Another person wrote, “People should be walking and hiking up in those mountains and not driving their cars.”
A comment also read, “This has become a scene of every year at this time.”
