MANALI, HIMACHAL PRADESH, INDIA The tourist town of Manali in the Kullu Valley of Himachal Pradesh attracts thousands of foreign hikers and hedonists every year - drawn by the promise of cheap high quality marijuana in an idyllic setting. Many never leave.

The north Indian state of Himachal Pradesh lies at the foothills of the Himalayas. Manali, a tourist town in the Kullu Valley is the set-off point for trekkers, spiritual seekers, and hedonists drawn by the promise of cheap high quality marijuana in an idyllic setting. Many never leave.

Despite this influx of foreigners, it is Indians who make up the majority of tourists. Honeymooners and families from across the country come north to escape the sweltering summer months.

This Himalayan Shangri-La is in danger of being spoiled by the environmental impacts of intensive tourism. Add to this global warming and India’s rapidly increasing reliance on the automobile. Result: the Himalayan glaciers are fast disappearing and the snowline is higher every year.

There is trouble in paradise.

MANALI, HIMACHAL PRADESH, INDIA In a hilltop village above Manali largely untouched by tourism a local woman enjoys a clear day before the oncoming monsoon.

MANALI, HIMACHAL PRADESH, INDIA Manali town dump. Intensive tourism pushes an already inadequate infrastructure to breaking point. Yearly flash floods wash the contents of the dump into the Beas River below. The dump is then ready to be filled up for another year.

MANALI, HIMACHAL PRADESH, INDIA A convoy of Indian Army trucks climbing the mountain road to Rotung Pass (13,000 ft.) which separates the Beas Valley from that of the Chenab. Himachal Pradesh borders Kashmir to the north making it of strategic importance.

ROTUNG PASS, HIMACHAL PRADESH, INDIA Tourists climb the mountain road from the town of Manali to Rotung Pass at 13,000 ft. in the Himalayas. The majority of the thousands of yearly visitors are Indian nationals from other states who escape the heat of the summer months.

ROTUNG PASS, HIMACHAL PRADESH, INDIA Tourist camp dwellings at the Rotung Pass. The Himachal Pradesh state region of the Himalayas is in danger of being spoiled by the environmental impacts of intensive tourism. The Himalayan range is greatly threatened by global warming. Glaciers are fast disappearing and the snowline is higher every year.

ROTUNG PASS, HIMACHAL PRADESH, INDIA A horse trek heads in one direction - a motorcycle tour in another.

ROTUNG PASS, HIMACHAL PRADESH, INDIA . Tourists arrive at Rotung Pass.

ROTUNG PASS, HIMACHAL PRADESH, INDIA A shopkeeper approaches one of the many rubbish pits to dump another bag of packaging discarded by tourists. The Himachal Pradesh state region of the Himalayas is in danger of being spoiled by the environmental impacts.

ROTUNG PASS, HIMACHAL PRADESH, INDIA A tourist bus traces a mountain road through the Himalayas in Himachal Pradesh.