A Wintry White Experience in Kashmir

Similar to most tropical countries, India too gives a warm welcome to the winter season, with many places still using air conditioners and sunglasses. This time of the year offers relief from the heat and humidity of the summer and monsoon months, with woolen clothes out to beat the sheets of icy cold winds in most regions. Kashmir too bears an inviting look with a spectacular view for visitors. Tourists visit Gulmarg in this region to ski and indulge in other adventure sports that the winter season has to offer in Kashmir.

Winter Holiday in Kashmir

For those of you looking to throw snowballs and use your earmuffs, Kashmir is the place to be for a vacation. Gulmarg is the ideal place for winter sporting activities in the Indian Territory.

Among the various activities available in Gulmarg, you can opt for gondola rides, sledding, snowboarding, and skiing, which last from 15th December to 15th April every year. The frozen Dal Lake in Kashmir, along with Pahalgam and Mughal gardens views, are so amazing that they take your breath away. You can also visit Sheshnag Lake, Betaab Valley, Chandanwari, Baisaran, and Avantipur while you are touring Kashmir in the winter months for an added wintry flavor.

Picturesque Setting

As the mercury drops to sub-zero levels, forming icicles on rooftops, you will see snowflakes floating in the air in places like Gulmarg. Another fascinating view is of children skiing and indulging in other activities over the totally frozen Dal Lake during the cold months here in Kashmir.

Tourists crowd to visit Kashmir in the cold season only to get a first-hand experience of snowfall, which is unavailable in other parts of the country, even on the coldest days of the year. The white landscape offers unimaginable beauty as one sits under the roof sipping a hot beverage and relaxing in warm clothes. The first day of snowfall causes roadblocks, with most of the offices remaining closed, and governmental agencies working to remove the snow from the blocked roads.

• Also Read: Best Snow Fall Destinations in India You Must Visit!

Snow Use

Usually, the local folks welcome the snowfall with a smile, and you can see their happy faces as soon as the snow starts falling. This assures them that snow will cause glaciers to form, which will melt throughout the year to provide water that can be used for important activities like drinking and farming, among others, by the Kashmiri people.

As you go out for a stroll on the snowy ground, you can see children making various objects from the snow fallen on the ground. During snowfall, these children stay indoors, with the parents returning home early from work on such wintry days. ‘Kangri’ is used by most locals to keep their bodies warm, and the rooms are kept warm using kerosene oil or gas-based ‘Bukhara’s’. The hotels offer central heating systems, and newer houses use ‘Hamams’ to keep the rooms warm and free from the cold.

Thus, you not only get to view a whitewashed picture of Kashmir but also learn about the lifestyle of the local folks of Kashmir in the winter months. Do not forget to sit by the fireside and talk to the other tourists in the evenings that are snow-free and opt for trekking in the daytime while the snow is still falling to make your experience more exciting and unforgettable.