If your experience of winter is incomplete without snow, then take heart that India is home to many hill stations and towns where the powdery stuff falls frequently. The northern states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are the top places to enjoy snowfall in India, and recent weather conditions are proving that to be true once again. Shimlaites woke up to a white landscape on Sunday, and while the dusting was not very heavy, it is expected to increase in the coming days.
In a first in many decades, Shimla and its nearby tourist resorts experienced the season’s first snowfall on December 8, even as the weather department predicted more snow and rains in the state on Monday. It started snowing in most places in the Lahaul and Spiti district, including Jispa, Koksar, Keylong, Gondhla and Sissu, on Sunday afternoon. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted snowfall at the higher reaches of Shimla and Mandi districts for Monday.
There has also been snowfall in nearby regions, such as Kufri, Kasauli and Narkanda, which has caused the temperature to plummet. Due to comparatively high minimum temperatures, the snow in Shimla did not last long, but it nevertheless had a big effect. The snow-covered surroundings provide the ideal setting for those who want to engage in snow-related activities, tour colonial-era structures and learn about Shimla's regal past as the former summer capital of British India.
Manali received the season's first snowfall on the evening of December 8. Temperatures in this scenic town are currently in the subzero range. The weather department predicted that Manali’s weather will witness occasional snowfall over the next 10 days.
Gulmarg received its first snowfall of the season on November 13. The town transforms into a haven for skiers and snowboarders each year, drawing adventurers worldwide to its powdery slopes. The destination also features the iconic Gulmarg Gondola, one of the highest cable cars in the world.
On December 8, fresh snowfall occurred in the higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir, as both minimum and maximum temperatures dropped further on Monday due to chilly winds sweeping across from snow-clad mountaintops. Gulmarg, Sonamarg and Pahalgam received fresh snowfall, with visitors having a tough time negotiating vehicular movement on the slippery roads in the area. The IMD has predicted light snowfall in parts of south Kashmir during the next few days.
The Kupwara and the Baramulla districts of north Kashmir also witnessed snowfall. As per the report, two to three inches of snow had accumulated, and the IMD forecasted wet weather for the next 24 hours. The 40-day-long period of harsh winter called the ‘Chillai Kalan’ will start on December 21 and end on January 30. During this period of extreme cold, most water bodies in the valley freeze, making the movement of boats difficult.
Uttarakhand witnessed snowfall on Sunday, with all higher reaches of the Uttarkashi district, including Gangotri and Yamunotri Dham, experiencing the same for the first time this season as the temperature dropped significantly. Snowfall has occurred in the Gangotri, Yamunotri and Harsil Valley. The temperature of the Gangotri and Yamunotri Dham area reached around 0°C. With this heavy drop in temperature, a cold wave has started in the district.
Due to snowfall in the beginning of December, good snowfall is possible this winter. The IMD predicted light rain in some places in Uttarakhand and snowfall in the high-altitude areas of the hill districts on Monday and Tuesday.
