A video showing loudspeakers and DJ equipment at the world’s highest Krishna temple has sparked debate among Himachal Pradesh residents about noise pollution in a protected wildlife sanctuary.
Social media user Nikhil Saini shared footage of a kirtan event at Yulla Kanda Krishna Temple, located inside the Lippa Asrang Wildlife Sanctuary in Kinnaur district. The temple sits at 12,778 feet above sea level.
Social Media Post Sparks Debate
Saini criticized the use of amplified sound equipment in the ecologically sensitive area. “The entire sanctuary is for wildlife and wild animals. How much disturbance must they be facing from this,” Saini wrote in his post on X, formerly Twitter.
The video shows people gathered at the remote temple with speakers, microphones, and DJ equipment for devotional singing. Several users commented positively on the religious gathering, calling it a special moment.
Saini questioned this approval. “Our nature has already deteriorated so much due to construction. And now you people have reached the world’s highest temple with DJ and speakers for kirtan. How is this right?” he asked in his post.
The Yulla Kanda Temple sits in the middle of a sacred alpine lake within the Lippa Asrang Wildlife Sanctuary. The protected area was established in 1974 and covers 3,089 hectares.
The sanctuary provides habitat for endangered species including snow leopards, Himalayan black bears, brown bears, and musk deer. The region also supports numerous bird species that depend on the undisturbed mountain environment.
Impact of Noise on Wildlife
Wildlife experts note that noise pollution can significantly impact animal behavior. Loud sounds interfere with how animals communicate, hunt, and detect predators. Species in high-altitude environments are particularly sensitive to human-generated noise because these areas typically remain quiet.
Studies show that artificial noise can force wildlife to abandon traditional habitats and cause chronic stress that affects survival and reproduction Joktacademy. According to research published by the U.S. National Park Service, more than 800 peer-reviewed studies have documented the effects of noise on wildlife.
A meta-analysis published in Biology Letters examined effects on more than 100 species. Animals that have not adapted to human sounds face even greater risks when exposed to amplified music in remote wilderness areas.
Research from Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution confirms that chronic noise exposure can affect animals over their lifespan, leading to changes in species interactions and altering communities
The temple attracts pilgrims throughout the year, with larger crowds during Janmashtami, the festival celebrating Lord Krishna’s birth. Traditional devotional practices have long been part of the site’s religious significance.
The Kashang valley where the temple is located provides critical habitat for species that depend on minimal human disturbance. The area’s alpine scrub and coniferous forests require protection from activities that disrupt natural conditions.
Wildlife sanctuary regulations in India typically prohibit activities that disturb animals or damage habitat. The Noise Pollution Rules set specific decibel limits for amplified sound, though enforcement in remote mountainous areas presents challenges.
Forest department officials in Himachal Pradesh have not yet issued a public statement addressing the concerns about noise at the temple site.
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