Manali, Kufri witness season’s first snowfall

Dipender Manta
Tribune News Service
Mandi, November 15

Manali, Kufri and upper reaches of Dharamsala wore a white mantle following snowfall, the season’s first, on Wednesday evening, bringing cheers to hoteliers and tourists. The weather was partially cloudy on Thursday and tourists immediately rushed to the Solang valley to enjoy the snow.

Higher reaches of Mandi district like Shikari Devi, Prashar and Kamrunag also received fresh snowfall late on Wednesday, resulting in drastic dip in temperature in the entire region. Manali upper areas received around 10 cm snow, while the main town experienced 5 cm snow. Hoteliers are expecting good business in the coming days as snowfall is considered a boon for the tourism industry. Diki Thakur, who runs a cottage in Rangri near Manali, said, “It’s after a long time that Manali received snowfall this early. Hence, we are expecting a good winter season this year.”

The occupancy in hotels is around 60 per cent these days and hoteliers are expecting surge in tourist footfall in the coming two to three days. According to hoteliers, the number of inquiries being made by tourists has increased since morning.

Anup Thakur, president of Hoteliers Association, Kullu-Manali, said, “With snow in Manali and its nearby places we are hopeful of increase in tourist influx in the coming days. Hoteliers are also offering huge discount in bookings —— up to 40 per cent, which will attract more tourists here in Kullu-Manali.” Farmers are also a happy lot as snow is considered white manure for apple orchards. Kullu district is known for apple production in Himachal Pradesh, where vast tracts of land are covered under apple cultivation.

“Apple orchards require long chilling hours.This timely snowfall will maintain moisture,” said Ramesh Thakur, an orchardis .The people of Ani and Nirmand falling in outer Seraj have been cut off.

Kufri looks serene in white

• Shimla's nearby tourist destinations Kufri and Narkanda were on Thursday enveloped by a blanket of snow, giving the resort and its neighbouring areas a picturesque look.
• The residents of Shimla shivered as icy winds brought down the minimum temperature to 3.3 degree Celsius. The day's temperature fell by over 2 degrees from Wednesday's 16.2 degrees.
• This was the season's first snowfall that froze Kufri, Narkanda and Kharapathar. According to the Met office here, Shimla recorded 15.5 mm of rain. IANS

Snowfall in U’khand

• Dehradun: The hills of Uttarakhand have received snowfall with light rain reported in some parts of the state in the past 24 hours, weather officials said on Thursday.
• It has been snowing continuously in the Badrinath hills, Gangotri and Yamunotri since Wednesday with the temperatures falling to sub-zero levels.
• Light rain was reported from Pauri, Rudraprayag, Chamoli and Uttarkashi. The Met office has predicted the onset of the winter. IANS