In a move that has stirred unease among heritage lovers and tourism stakeholders, the Himachal Pradesh government has offered 14 HPTDC properties—including the historic Kashmir House in Dharamsala and Hotel Uhal in Jogindernagar—for lease to private players. A government notification confirming the decision has already been issued.
Located in the foothills of the Dhauladhar range, Kashmir House isn't just another hotel—it's a piece of history. Built in 1935 by Lala Amar Nath Sood, it was later owned by Maharaja Hari Singh of Kashmir, who eventually sold it to the Punjab government when Kangra was part of undivided Punjab. After state reorganisation in 1966, it came under the Himachal government’s custody. In the 1980s, then Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh handed it over to the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) to run as a heritage hotel.
Hotel Uhal in Jogindernagar also one of the oldest properties of the Himachal Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC). Built during the tenure of Dr YS Parmar, Himachal’s first Chief Minister, the property sits strategically along the Pathankot-Mandi highway, near the historic Shanan Power House.
The government’s justification for this move is clear: many of these properties have been running in losses for years. However, critics argue that these properties shouldn’t be given to private players as they have the potential to be developed into prime hotels.
“Instead of offering these units to private players, HPTDC should run these hotels, as these have a large area with immense scope for expansion. The properties can be turned into profit-making hotels if these are renovated with additional investment,” HPTDC insiders argue.
The issue has drawn sharp criticism from the BJP and the HPTDC Employees Union, both questioning the intent behind the leasing plan.
“We have an example right before us of losing out the biggest money-spinner Hotel Wildflower Hall at Mashobra to the Oberoi group. The state government fought a legal battle for 29 years and spent lakhs to take back Wildflower Hall,” a bureaucrat said.
Whispers in the corridors of power suggest that leasing terms may be tailor-made for specific private players, though the government maintains no final decision has been made.
“There is no final decision on leasing out these HPTDC properties even as most of these have been in losses for many years,” said a minister in the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government.
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