By Arun Kumar Singhal
It had been almost 20 years since I last visited Sahastradhara, so I decided to drive down yesterday with my family to enjoy the streams. But oh no—what I saw upon reaching the place was a world apart from what I had known. I could never have imagined such severe deterioration.
Those who have visited the place in recent years will understand what I’m talking about. “Sh*t” is the word that comes to mind upon seeing the present state of Sahastradhara, which actually means ‘a thousand streams’.
As someone who has been a Doonite since childhood, I have witnessed Sahastradhara—once one of the most beautiful and vibrant tourist spots, the first choice for picnics—gradually fall into ruin. Besides being a famous picnic spot in Dehradun, it was known for its sulphur-rich waterfalls with therapeutic properties. Once a pristine natural retreat, it attracted tourists with its cascading streams and scenic beauty. However, over time, uncontrolled urbanisation and encroachments have gradually destroyed its charm, all due to the reckless decisions of the administration and so-called ‘visionary’ officials. To them, artificial beauty mattered more than natural charm, and in their misplaced ambition, they have wreaked havoc, destroying the place beyond words.
The once-beautiful Sahastradhara has been reduced to nothing more than a ‘nallah’—a stinking, polluted stream for the first 1–2 kilometres, in an area where tourists once enjoyed pristine waters. Rampant construction of shops on both sides has completely obstructed the view of what is now just a filthy drain.
Worst of all, on a weekend, not a single tourist was in sight—an obvious indication of the place’s decline. Most of the shops were shut down, giving the area an eerie feel, almost like a drug haven. To my utter shock, the Sahastradhara ropeway, which was set up a few years ago as a tourist attraction to ferry visitors to the mountains, lay in complete disrepair—nothing more than a junkyard of rusting machines.
To check on the state of affairs beyond the first 1–2 kilometres of the once-pristine Sahastradhara stream, I drove further to see what had become of the previously isolated areas from where the waters once flowed. To my utter surprise, the area was filled with chaotic constructions—so-called resorts, hotels, and shacks—built right up to the stream, blocking its natural flow and polluting the area beyond expression.
Some youngsters were loitering there, but not in a very healthy state, raising serious concerns about what exactly was going on. The question remains: For what purpose were they there? I can only say that the place has been ruined right under the nose of the state capital’s administration.
Before the situation worsens further, I strongly recommend that the Uttarakhand High Court intervene immediately. The deteriorating condition of the area must be addressed without delay, and all encroachments should be removed to restore the stream to its original beauty. Needless to say, the so-called ‘visionary’ tourism and administrative officials—whose shortsighted planning and self-serving motives have destroyed this once-picturesque picnic spot—should be held accountable, and others like them should be kept out of any future decision-making.
Once again, I reiterate: the encroachments and all unauthorised constructions must be demolished, no matter what. My visit to Sahastradhara has left me deeply disheartened beyond words.
All right-thinking citizens will agree that an immediate intervention by the High Court of Uttarakhand is necessary. Urgent preventive and restorative measures should be taken, including the deployment of police pickets to avert any untoward incidents.
(Arun Kumar Singhal, a resident of Doon, is an economist. He has been a social worker, an author, and a writer specialising in energy and environmental issues.)
