The majestic panorama of snow-covered Himalayas triggers an aspirational yearning for a personal haven amid such picturesque landscapes. This aspiration transforms into reality for urban elites capable of constructing second homes, a phenomenon often resulting in what is colloquially referred as "ghost homes" by the locals. These houses, primarily used during a handful of summer days, lie dormant for the rest of the year. This study delves into the dual facets of this phenomenon: the potential ecological benefit of intermittent residency, alleviating pressure on mountain ecosystems, versus the prospect of second home owners embracing a more sustained and personally enriching connection with their mountain investments. This difference in the nature and frequency of interactions of the owners with their second homes would bring out the two sides of the urbanization on the hills. Conducted through ethnographic fieldwork across various sites in Uttarakhand, the study synthesizes perspectives from interviews and narratives of multiple stakeholders involved in the genesis of this trend. Beyond the stereotypically (mis)understood view of second homes as mere spaces for recreation, this research explores their intricate economic, social, and, crucially, ecological dimensions.