Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Dec 24: Gulmarg, the Kashmir's famed ski resort, is hosting thousands of tourists who have come from all across the country to celebrate "Winter Carnival", a festival of Christmas and New Year eve that begins on Friday.
With Gulmarg draped in a white blanket of snow, the tourists have come fully prepared to acclimatize with the weather condition. Many are enjoying the snow clad slopes. The carnival has been organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Department.
Gulmarg in north Kashmir received fresh snowfall on Thursday, much to the delight of the tourists. On Friday too, there was a light snowfall.
The nine-day Carnival will continue till January 1 during which many programmes including skiing, musical, games, snow biking, ice skating and Gandola ride would be held.
The Assistant Director Jammu and Kashmir Tourism, Javid-u-Rehman, said all the hotels in Gulmarg were occupied fully and bookings are likely to continue till March 2022.
He said December is a busy period in Gulmarg.
"This year it is going to be a mega event of festivities in Gulmarg for the tourists," Rehman said. "Everything is being done for the benefit of the guests."
Tourists and skiers visiting Gulmarg from across the world create a different atmosphere during the winter months, he said.
Rehman said the tourists who were reluctant earlier to visit Kashmir due to Covid-19 got the confidence after tourist service providers were put in priority group and vaccinated.
He said 5.84 lakh tourists visited Gulmarg this year. The highest arrivals of 53,219 was witnessed in November followed by 47,384 in October. |
