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Land Subsidence and the Sinking City Dynamics in Joshimath
Highlighting the nexus between the tourism–carrying capacity and infrastructure development in the region, the instances of sinking and cracking of houses in Joshimath are shown to be a result of the heavy pressure on the land to develop infrastructure for the tourism industry, which has exceeded the region’s TCC.
Joshimath, a small town located in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, has been in the news for slowly sinking into the ground and developing cracks in houses, which have led to the complete evacuation of the city. The sinking and cracking of houses in Joshimath are due to the heavy pressure on the land to develop infrastructure for tourism industry, which has exceeded the region’s carrying capacity (Singh 2021). This raises serious concerns about the impact of tourism development on fragile ecosystems and local communities, particularly in mountainous regions. The city holds immense significance as it serves as a gateway to several noted
pilgrimage sites, such as Badrinath, Hemkund Sahib, and the Valley of Flowers (UTDB nd). Moreover, it is a crucial link to villages along the China road and is en route to the disputed composite area of Barahoti, Sangchamalla, and Lapthal (Shukla 2019). This highlights the strategic importance of Joshimath as a hub of religious, cultural, and geopolitical significance. The city is also popular for its natural beauty, pilgrimage sites, adventure sports, and wildlife reserves. Some of the popular tourist destinations in
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