A viral image of empty liquor bottles in Rishikesh has sparked debate over tourism's impact on the town’s spiritual essence. Shared by The Himadri Foundation, the photo, showing bottles scattered by the River Ganga, was captioned “Rishikesh – The Growing Graveyard of Spirituality.” The foundation lamented the town’s degradation, blaming tourists for bringing alcohol and smoking to sacred sites.  

Many people online echoed this concern, criticizing tourism for Rishikesh’s decline. Others, however, defended tourism’s economic benefits, arguing that locals also consume liquor and that blaming visitors is misguided. Some suggested stricter littering laws rather than discouraging tourism.  

The debate extended to social media platform X, where opinions remained divided. While some called for a tourist ban, others emphasized the need for better waste management and tourist policing. Many agreed that preserving Rishikesh’s sanctity requires balancing tourism with stricter cleanliness regulations rather than outright restrictions.