Tourists prefer snow-covered regions over Kasauli, Chail

With snow eluding the hill stations of Kasauli and Chail, there was a noticeable decline in the number of holiday revellers visiting to celebrate the New Year here. Tourists preferred the snow-covered regions of Kullu and Manali, prompting hoteliers to shorten their two-day New Year packages to just one day. Although the tourist rush did pick up in the evening, many visitors found little to do in these towns and chose to head towards Shimla instead. Attractions such as winter festivals featuring local cuisine and folk music are yet to be organised, despite repeated requests from hoteliers over the years.

While cold weather conditions in Kasauli a few days ago hinted at the possibility of snow, the town has experienced bright, sunny weather for the past two days. This clear weather drew day visitors from Chandigarh and nearby areas, where foggy conditions had taken hold. The widening of the Kalka-Shimla Expressway has made traveling to Shimla from Chandigarh and its surrounding areas more comfortable, encouraging tourists to travel to Shimla which offers a gamut of attractions.

"Our occupancy has been much lower compared to the last two years, and this can be attributed to factors like cheaper travel to destinations such as Dubai, Vietnam and Thailand, along with the lack of tourism activities in Kasauli," said Rocky Chimney, vice-president of the Kasauli Residents and Hoteliers Association.

To manage the flow of traffic on the roads leading to key tourist spots like Kasauli and Chail, the police deployed two additional reserve forces. Tourist numbers were expected to rise in the evening, as several hotels had arranged for musical bands to entertain guests and ring in the New Year. Kasauli did experience an influx of day visitors, with the markets bustling and traders enjoying a surge in sales of woollen items.