A video by British travel creator Alex Wanders showing litter scattered at a popular tourist site in West Bengal has ignited discussions about India’s ongoing challenges with waste management and civic responsibility.

 

Wanders, who was traveling between Darjeeling and Kalimpong, stopped at Lovers’ Viewpoint, known for the confluence of two rivers that meet but do not immediately mix, creating a visually striking scene. In his video, he expressed disappointment at the state of the site, saying that despite recommendations to visit India’s mountains for their beauty, the treatment of the land left him frustrated.

 

Highlighting the piles of trash just a few feet from dustbins, he criticised careless tourist behaviour. “There’s always going to be a bin nearby. Bin, viewpoint. Yet people just throw garbage. Who cares about nature, the planet, the environment?” he remarked.

 

Wanders also reflected on domestic tourism, noting that visitors often neglect environmental responsibility when no international tourists are present. “It’s beautiful, but it’s always spoiled. People trash their own country,” he said, underscoring the need for greater accountability and awareness.