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| Tourists celebrate Christmas at Gulmarg | | | Syed Tahir Bukhari
Early Times Report
GULMARAG, Dec 25 : Despite the harshest winter in the valley, a large number of domestic and foreign tourists today visited Gulmarag in North Kashmir to celebrate, "Jashn-e-Chilli Kalan" on the eve of Christmas. Although the slopes in the tourist resort were covered with snow, the white flakes from the sky in the coming days are expected to add to the celebrations. According to sources, this year it would be the first of its kind eco-friendly celebration with a wide range of events especially for the tourists. "The show will highlight the beauty of Gulmarg and we will encourage all to keep Gulmarg clean and green," the sources added. The New Year show will be a part of the festival Jashn-e-Chillai Kalaan" which is being organised by the Tourism Department from December 29. A senior official of tourism department told Early Times that the skiing potential in Gulmarg and its natural slopes with world renowned ski experts, who evinced keen interest are arriving at Gulmarg this year. Official said that life is again coming back on the track after flood fury in Kashmir and hopped that the days are not too far that this sector will again enjoy the free atmosphere and tourists in good number like past years will come to the valley to enjoy the natural beauty. Domestic and foreign tourists from different locations come to Gulmarag to enjoy Christmas as this was the best place in the world to celebrate such festivals, official said. The popular skiing resort was visited by a large number of foreign tourists last year on the eve of Christmas and "we have not made any kind of restrictions here. People can come and enjoy the moments here in Gulmarag and elsewhere", he said. Gulmarg is cheap and most affordable place for winter games across the world for both domestic and international tourists. Besides winter sports, tourists can also enjoy the snowy beauty of the valley, official maintained. This place is called as 'heartland of winter sports in India'. Gulmarg will play host to a number of activities as part of the 'Snow Festival' much to the delight of holiday-makers, most of whom are already camping in one of best ski destinations of the world, braving sub-zero temperatures.
Sources said some tourists had complained that hotels were being rent out to them at high rates which was becoming unaffordable for them.
It is learnt that the main attractions for tourists here will be snow cycling, ice skating, snow-sculptor activity and sledge-race. |
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