0 Despite havoc, tourists throng Himachal to enjoy snowfall

SHIMLA: Despite paralyzed roads, power, water supply and communication facilities, the glittering snow has continued attracting thousands of tourists to Himachal Pradesh who are ready to pay any cost to enjoy this precious gift from almighty.

These days this is common view on roads of Himachal when tourists are pushing their cars that have stuck in snow or couples walking on blocked roads to reach their destinations with luggage in hands. Most of the hotels have no heating arrangements and taxi drivers are charging huge fares. But the number of tourists arriving in state is not decreasing despite very heavy snowfall since Monday. Not only honeymooners, but hundreds of families and winter sports lovers from plains are rushing to Shimla, Manali, Dalhousie and other tourist resorts of the state. Very few are complaining of problems that they are facing but others are enjoying cold and white nectar to the full extent.

Heavy snowfall in Himachal. Pic: Manali-Rohtang highway

“Closure of roads and power failure is common on hill stations after heavy snowfall. Contrary to complaining, we should understand the situation and enjoy the weather,” a tourist from Noida, Manshu Ahuja, said, who himself had to walk to reach his hotel in Manali on Wednesday. Another tourist from Chandigarh, Sumit Kumar, who stuck in traffic jam for whole day to reach Manali, said, “We are here to see snowfall and not the traffic jams. Authorities should arrange for proper machineries to remove the snow fast and appropriately.”

According to sources, in addition to over 700 tourist vehicles, including 30 Volvo and other tourist buses, many private cars wearing non-Himachali registration number are entering Shimla, Manali, Dalhousie and Dharamshala every day. However its off season in Himachal, but constant arrival of tourists is keeping hoteliers’ chin up.

Tourists from neighbouring states of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi have thronged Shimla to see the snowfall. Shimla has received 15cm snow since last 24 hours. Snowfall continued on Wednesday and tourists congregated on the Ridge to enjoy it. Tourists are enjoying snowfall in Dalhousie, but hoteliers in Khajjiar were not happy as tourists are avoiding this beautiful place due to weak infrastructure and chances of road blockade.

As according to forecast, weather would be pleasant after Friday, hotel occupancy in Shimla, Manali and Dalhousie is likely to increase by 10 to 20 per cent. “Even more tourists from neighbouring states would throng Himachal after two days when weather would be dry. We expect numbers of tourist to be double by the next week,” a hotelier, Roop Singh Negi, said.

Meanwhile, denying the reports by national TV channels and newspapers that dozens of ski trainees have been stranded in Solang Valley near Manali, director of AtalBihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports, Randhir Singh Salhuria, said all students are safe and having fun in fresh snow. “Parents of these trainees are concerned about their children. Some irresponsible persons have published these fake reports. Children are safe in their hostels at Solang,” he added.

Detail: Despite havoc, tourists throng Himachal to enjoy snowfall

0 Good snowfall ensures cheering summer in Himachal

SHIMLA/ MANALI: Heavy snowfall on Himachal hills has once again ensured a cheerful summer tourist season, pleasant climate, bountiful drinking water and good time for winter games lovers.

More snowfall in Himachal from February 22

The state is witnessing unexpectedly high flow of tourists in February and is sure about bumper season between April and July when tourists would throng here to get respite from the heat of plains. The current spells of snowfall are acting like magnet to attract tourists to Himachal. Hotels in Shimla, Manali and Dalhousie have already swarmed with inquiries for summer season.

Heavy snowfallin Solang Valley of Manali has cheered the winter games enthusiasts who have flocked here for skiing, snowboarding and other activities. Ski slopes here are covered with hundreds of amateur and professional skiers. “Watching skiers on television always thrills me and now that I’m attempting skiing here, it is like dream come true for me,” a tourist from Indore, Praveen Jain, said.

Some tourists are complaining of swindle and overcharging from them. Harika Kalantri, touristfrom Hyderabad, complains, “I and my husband were charged Rs 4,200 for skis for couple of hours. When we interacted with another couple, we came to know they were charged Rs 2,000. And then we got to know that service providers first entice the tourists and charge arbitrary rent for few minutes. Nobody was present there to control this swindling.”

It is snowing on high hills of Kullu, Shimla, Chamba, Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur while lower hills are experiencing light showers. A moderate cold wave is persistent in the state and Keylong in Lahaul was coldest inhabited place in Himachal at -10.4 degrees Celsius followed by Kalpa at -5.4 degrees C. Night temperature in Manali(0.6), Shimla (5.5), Dharamshala (7.6) and Solan (4.2) is still cold. According to Shimla Meteorological office, a fresh western disturbance has entered the state and it would bring more snow to high hills of western Himalayan regions from February 22.

While Manali has experienced good snowfall this year, it is still below the average in Shimla. According to hoteliers in Shimla, shortage of drinking water is the main problem in Shimla during summers and they are expecting more snowfall till March. An hotelier, Chandra Sharma, said, “More snowfall means enough drinking water for summers. Otherwise we are forced to bring water from many kilometers for our guests. Snow on hills  also helps keep the temperature down.”

Detail: Good snowfall ensures cheering summer in Himachal

0 Heavy snowfall in Himachal Pradesh

Most of the parts of Himachal, including Manali, Shimla, Chamba, Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti have been experiencing heavy snowfall since Monday morning.

Manali town after snowfall on Tuesday.

Detail: Heavy snowfall in Himachal Pradesh

0 Hoteliers beg for services from Himachal CM

MANALI: Upset with the deteriorating condition of tourism industry of Manali due to weak infrastructure, a group of representative from Manali hoteliers association met with chief minister Virbhadra Singh at Dharamshala and begged for better facilities to the tourist town, on Tuesday.

President of association, Anup Ram Thakur, said chief minister has assured that flight service to Himachal would be resumed soon and he would discuss with centre the plan to lay rail line up to Sundernagar (Mandi). “We had a detailed discussion on bad conditions of highways. Parking, byepass road, traffic jams are another problems that we are facing. We do not have sufficient toilets at tourist places. CM has assured us that we would see a change shortly.”

According to hoteliers, in 2012, they have suffered huge losses due to weak infrastructure, permanent cancellation of flights, lack of tourism promotion, increased taxes and no support from government.

Detail: Hoteliers beg for services from Himachal CM

0 No flights to Himachal: Manali may see fall in foreign tourists’ arrival

MANALI/SHIMLA: Manali may witness a big drop in arrival of foreign tourists this year as no flight connectivity is forcing them to change their destinations, travel agents in Manali claim.

A plane at Kullu-Manali airport in Bhuntar (file photo)

Problems of high end tourism industry of Manali does not seem ending as the hill town continues suffering losses worth over Rs 15 lakh every day only due to unavailability of flights. As there is no flight operating to Kullu airport since September, the industry has already suffered losses worth over 15 crore and now dark clouds are hovering over summer season which is starting from April 15.

Travel agents say foreign clients are cancelling their tour plans to Manali for coming days. Manali travel agent association president Anil Sharma said, “Our regular clients from abroad who are in contact with us only ask for the status of flight on Delhi-Kullu route. As nobody is sure about the flight connectivity status in summer season and tourists want to be sure about their advance booking, most of the cream tourists are cancelling their plans. Very few tourists would reach here this year.”

The star category hotels in Manali are also suffering the brunt of indefinite cancellation of flights. Hoteliers claim only budgeted tourists are reaching here and many of their clients cancelled their bookings in winter season. “Nobody wants to suffer the hectic surface journey of 14 hours from Delhi. Booking in most of the luxury hotels to a far extent depends on flight connectivity,” an hotelier Rajesh Thakur said.

Tourism entrepreneurs in Manali say cancellation of only one available flight would continue causing losses worth Rs 15 lakh every day to tourism industry of Manali. As most of the high end tourists from abroad are planning their tour to Himachal for trekking and various adventure activities, the negative reply from tour operators regarding flight booking is diverting them to other destinations.

“It is amazing that the 48-seater plane that used to operate sorties to Manali never landed with empty seats. Even Kullu airport is capable of handling multi-sorties between April and July. But, nobody is interested in this sector,” Anil Sharma said.

Detail: No flights to Himachal: Manali may see fall in foreign tourists’ arrival

0 Snow, rain trigger cold waves in Himachal

SHIMLA: A fresh wave of cold has gripped the entire state after snowfall on higher reaches and rain on mid and lower hills on Friday.

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Vehicles buried under thick blanket of snow in Kinnaur, Himachal
(Pic: Hitesh S Negi)

High altitude areas of Himachal including Lahaul-Spiti district, parts of Kinnaur, Manali and Chamba, Dhauladhar ranges of Kangra are receiving snowfall since Thursday night. Blizzards have stopped outdoor movement of residents in Keylong, district headquarter of Lahaul-Spiti, where 5cm fresh snow has been accumulated. Given the heavy snowfall forecast for next 48 hours, high alert has been sounded by Lahaul-Spiti administration. Shimla meteorological office has issued a warning of heavy snowfall on high hills and hailstorms on low hills in next two days.

 

Solang near Manali recorded 15cm snow while Rohtang pass has got over 30cm in last 20 hours. Total snow accumulation on Rohtang pass is expected to be near 25 feet (750cm). Rain lashed mid hills of the state and overcast sky made the day colder in low hills. At -4.6 degrees Celsius, Keylong was the coldest inhabited place of Himachal followed by Kalpa, Manali and Shimla at -3, 2 and 6.4 degrees Celsius minimum temperature. Decreasing atmospheric pressure has caused increase in minimum temperature by 2 to 3 degrees Celsius in last 24 hours. But Una, in the plains of Himachal, was warm at 27 degrees Celsius, highest in the state.

Hundreds of tourists in Manali thronged Solang valley and enjoyed the fresh snowfall on Friday morning. “We have been to Solang on Thursday but we reached here for one more time as it was snowing here on Friday. We were lucky to see snowfall and enjoyed as much as we could,” tourist from New Delhi, Vikas Mehta, said. Manali administration has also alerted tourists not to go towards isolated areas as snow may trap them.

Dark clouds and light showers in Shimla have triggered the cold waves. High mountains of hill queen also experienced light snowfall. People in Kinnaur and Spiti, where up to 180cm of snow had wreaked havoc earlier this week, are praying for clear weather now. “It would take weeks to melt the heaps of previous snow and now more snow is scaring us. We are praying almighty for pleasant weather,” a resident from Kaza, Tanpa Lote, told Himachal Vacation over phone.

Detail: Snow, rain trigger cold waves in Himachal

0 Snowfall, rain trigger cold waves in Himachal

MANALI/SHIMLA: With frequent spells of snowfall and freezing temperature in May end, weather in Himachalseems to have turned ‘uncommon’ which has made life miserable for both people and administration.

Snowfall in Himachal

High hills of Himachal, including Lahaul valley, are getting heavy snowfall on Thursday. Keylong in Lahaul has received 5cm snow; fresh snow accumulation at Gulaba has reached nearly 10cm while it is over 20cm on Rohtang pass. Jalori pass on Kullu-Shimla bypass is also experiencing snowfall while almost all hills in Chamba, Kullu, Kinnaur, Lahaul-Spiti and Kangra with height more than 12,000 are receiving heavy snowfall since Thursday morning. The active western disturbances are causing rain in mid and low hills of the state. The mercury has plunged in all parts of Himachal and its freezing in high altitude areas.

Border Roads Organization (BRO) has lost its predetermined target of April 15 to open Rohtang for vehicular traffic as snowfall has again blocked a large portion of highway which was recently opened. “We had opened 32km Manali-Marhi highway from south of Rohtang and from north side it was 5km beyond Koksar. Frequent snowfall is not allowing us to work continuously and now we’ll have to remove snow from Gulaba (26km) and Koksar one more time,” BRO commander Colonel Yogesh Nair said. On other side, Baralacha-la on Manali-Leh highway is also getting heavy snowfall; BRO will restart its snow clearance operation from Darcha in Lahaul.

Snowfall on higher reaches and cold waves in lower valleys are nightmare for farmers and fruit growers. Snow in Lahaul is delaying sowing of peas, one of the two cash crops of district, apple growers in Kullu, Shimla and Mandi fear damage to apple crop which is on its blooming stage. Bringing slight shivers back, state capital Shimla experienced moderate rain all the day.

In last 24 hours, minimum temperature in Himachal had increased by 1 to 2 degrees Celsius which is again likely to drop by many notches. At 0.5 degrees Celsius, Keylong witnessed coldest night in the state. Minimum recorded temperature in Manali(7.4), Shimla (11.7), Kalpa (4.2), Dharamshala (11.6) and Solan (9.7) was higher than that of Wednesday but forecast is for even more drop in it in next 24 hours.

According to Shimla meteorological office, the active western disturbances shall bring more snowfall and rain in nest 24 hours. “Mid and low hills of Himachal may witness thundershowers and hailstorms in next 24 hours,” weatherman predicted.

 

Landslide at Nehru Kund

Five years after a devastating landslide had killed nearly a dozen people at Nehru Kund, 7km from Manali, another landslide on Wednesday evening has wreaked havoc in the area. Huge boulders came down on the highway and a vehicle was damaged partially. Luckily nobody was injured in the incident. The area near Nehru Kund is witnessing landslides for a decade. Manali SDM Vinay Dhiman said nobody was injured in the incident and a Tata Sumo that was plying the route was hit by a small boulder.

Detail: Snowfall, rain trigger cold waves in Himachal