Tourists turning away from traveling to Tiger Hill in India

To reduce the crowd in Tiger Hill, one of the most popular tourist destinations in India, the country’s administration has recently changed the coupon system. However, a new problem has arisen with this attractive tourist point of Shailshahr. As a result, tourists from tour operators are angry.

In the shade of nature, Kanchenjunga from Everest shines in the first rays of the morning sun. Domestic and foreign tourists flock to Tiger Hill year after year to see such a natural scene. However, complaints have surfaced that the cost of tours to Tiger Hill is increasing day by day. Tourists and tour operators are disgruntled as the entry fee to Tiger Hill has been reduced to Rs 70 per head in a shock. They claim that this extra money is being taken in some unnecessary sectors. As a result, tourists are also losing interest in visiting Tiger Hill.

Although the administration claims, the GTA and the forest department have charged a minimum amount to keep the place clean. On an average, more than a hundred people visit this popular place every day. The country’s administration has said that this money has been charged for cleaning the waste they throw here.

Earlier, tour operators had complained about the cost of going to Tiger Hill. They claim that they had to pay only ten rupees for parking fee in Tiger Hill. Later he added an entry fee of Tk 70 per head to the cost when the forest department and GTA started collecting fees. As a result, apart from tourists, drivers have to pay 80 taka. But compared to that, some tourists complain that the service in Tiger Hill is not improving.

Recently, the administration has introduced a coupon system to reduce congestion in Tiger Hill. To get to Tiger Hill, the car needs to collect coupons first. Car drivers and tour operators are also unhappy with that coupon. According to traffic police sources, there is a system of giving coupons to 550 vehicles to go to Tiger Hill every day. Coupons are available from Karshiang, Sukhiapokhri, Darjeeling Sadar and Jorbanglo daily between 8 am to 6 pm.

General Secretary of Darjeeling Association of Travel Agents Pradeep Lamar said, this coupon system should be given up. The money being taken for Tiger Hill by the forest department is completely baseless. There is no international border at Tiger Hill, so what is the need for coupons? If there is a sanctuary, it should be closed during the breeding season from June 16 to September 16. It didn’t happen. There is no reason for the forest department to charge a fee in the name of this sanctuary. If the money keeps increasing like this, Darjeeling will only become a tourist spot for paying money. Tourists will lose interest in it. Besides, car drivers and tourism traders will also lose their income.

A tour operator, who did not want to be named, said since the coupon was introduced, many taxi drivers do not want to take the Tiger Hill route. If tourists cancel the tour for any reason, then the coupon is not refundable. Travel to Tiger Hill has become more complicated due to these disturbances.

It should be noted that the popular tourist center Tiger Hill has introduced the coupon system since 2019. Initially no separate fee was required for this coupon. But later the forest department added a charge of Tk 50 per head. Costs increase further in 2022. In addition to this, a GTA charge of 20 taka is added. However, the Forest Department claims that this fee is required to enter sanctuaries across India.

Read More