The Kashmir Valley’s upper reaches witnessed fresh snowfall on Saturday morning, while the plains received rain, resulting in a dramatic drop in the day’s high temperatures.
Fresh snow fell in areas like Gurez, Pir ki Gali, Zojila, Drass, and Macchil sectors, while rain lashed the plains of Srinagar, Pulwama, Shopian, Anantnag, and Baramulla. The weather change has caused a dramatic drop in temperature throughout the Valley.
The recent snowfall in high-altitude locations, the Mughal Road, an alternate route connecting Kashmir to the rest of the country, was blocked to vehicular on Thursday, according to officials. The highway links the Shopian district of south Kashmir with the twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri in Jammu.
The Gurez-Bandipora and Srinagar-Kargil highways remained closed to traffic following the snowfall. The authorities have also closed Sinthan Top and Margan Roads for traffic movement.
The lowest and maximum temperatures, according to IMD, were 2.0 and 6.0 degrees Celsius, respectively.
One of the most amazing travel spots Gulmarg, also received snowfall, which is well-known for its jaw-dropping views in the winter. Gulmarg is well-known for its winter sports. The white pearly joy brought amusement for the tourists present in the hill station. In addition, it is the epicenter of skiing in India, drawing athletes from around the world.
Tourist were seen cheering the snow, taking pictures, skiing, snowboarding across the snow clad mountains. A common sentiment was shared by all tourists for the friendly nature and hospitality of the people of Kashmir.
Most of the people were cherishing the magnificence of the valley.
Holidays upheave the Tourism amid Snowfall
Tourists come to Kashmir from all over the country and the world, especially in the winter when the valley receives a lot of snowfall.
Holidays are right ahead with Diwali, Christmas, New years ahead, Gulmarg is a feast for the eyes. Tourists all across the world, are heading towards the winter wonderland. It attracts sports lovers from all over the world as the skiing capital of India.
The tourism sector has benefited from the early snowfall in Gulmarg and other parts of Kashmir, as travelers flocked to the valley to take in the incredible beauty. Due to early snowfall on Thursday and Friday, a number of tourists who had come to experience the magic of crimson Chinar leaves dropping in autumn were in for a nice surprise as they could see the white Gulmarg.
“We learned that the weather was changing when we were in Srinagar. Thus, we arrived and took in the valley’s breathtaking scenery. It’s not unfair to claim that Gulmarg, in Kashmir, offers a glimpse of heaven. We are thrilled, Manzar Khan, a Delhi tourist, told PTI.
The early snowfall has created positive “word of mouth” advertising for Kashmir as a tourism destination, so locals in the travel industry anticipate stronger business this winter. “The festival holidays have become a good window for tourist arrivals”, tour operator Shoaib Ali stated. “We are optimistic about a better winter season based on the feedback we have received from our guests.”
A Gujarati tourist exclaimed, “Kashmir is a hundred times better than what we had imagined; it’s like we have come to heaven. The people here are amazing and very cooperative as well.”
Its a Snowfall houseful ahead
According to a Tourism Department spokesperson, they expect a significant number of visitors beginning around December 15th, much like they did last year. In addition to foreign visitors, he said, “we have also seen local visitors, as people from Jammu and Kashmir are also actively participating in the winter games.”
The renowned winter sports spot in the Baramulla region of North Kashmir is getting ready to welcome thousands of enthusiasts of adventure and winter sports.
This season, a large number of heli skiers from Germany, Russia, the USA, France, and Australia are anticipated to visit Gulmarg. Gulmarg is the only heli-skiing resort in Asia.
At 3,979 meters, the Gondola is, incidentally, one of the longest and highest cable cars in Asia. Since the Gondola cable car system is the only way to access the peak, heli-skiing on Mount Apharwat’s slopes is an adventure in and of itself.
After December 15, the majority of the hotels in Gulmarg are already completely booked, with very few rooms left, according to a tour operator. “There won’t be any rooms left for Christmas and New Year’s in the next 15 days,” he stated.
The great 3rd edition of the Khelo India Winter Games was place in Gulmarg in February of this year. Eleven winter sports categories were presented by over 1,500 athletes from 29 states, union territories, and institutional teams. 
These comprised ice skating, ice hockey, bandy, Nordic skiing, snowboarding, bobsleighing, snowshoeing, and skiing.
The British first developed Gulmarg as a ski resort when they formed the Ski Club of India in 1927. Gulmarg became a very popular destination for skiing in the years leading up to independence. Usually, the skiing season starts right before Christmas and concludes in March of the following year.
