Dear tourists visiting Shimla and other parts of Himachal,

There is resentment among the local folks against you. Except the tourism and the transport industry, few people want you in the state. Why has the Atithi Devo Bhava sentiment changed? Probably, because, you don’t behave like an Atithi, forget being a Dev.

It is high time this imagery is corrected. Here’s a laundry list of things that you need to keep in mind, if you feel that we should be more welcoming rather than being sullen about your presence in the state:

  • Remember, Himachal is my home, not your garbage bin. Please don’t litter. Keep your water bottles and empty chips packets in your car and not on the Highway. Throw them only in dustbins. Remember, last year, during the COVID pandemic, the lockdown helped the state keep away 3,000 tonnes Of tourist trash
  • Please follow traffic rules. The hill folks have valid driving licenses and if they are in a lane and not cutting the lane like you, it is for a purpose. They want to keep the other lane free for the vehicle stuck on the other side ahead; and not because they are not as smart as you or they don’t know driving.
  • Don’t park your cars anywhere for the sake of “just one-minute-selfie.” There are hundreds of jerks like you ahead who are taking those “one-minute-selfies” and obstructing traffic to the tune of hundreds of minutes.
  • Respect the local people and don’t argue with them if they try and teach you some guest etiquette. It is you who has come to their home, so respect their code.
  • It may be a holiday for you, but the locals are working and local schools are on and children have to go to school the next morning; their parents have to go to office, so don’t ruin their sleep with your loud blaring music while camping.
  • And when you leave, don’t say, “Shimla/Himachal is bad — congested, polluted.” It’s you who has made it dirty. So deal with it.
  • Leave your attitude at home. If you have that attitude of being charitable to the Himachal economy, stay at home. We don’t need your money. We love our peace more.

The last point needs to be highlighted more so during the COVID times, when many of you are not observing COVID Appropriate Behaviour and putting yourself and the local folks at risk.