Snowfall Sparks Fresh Hope for Kashmir’s Tourism

 

Suhail  Khan

 

Gulmarg, Dec 22: A long-awaited snowfall swept across Kashmir’s premier tourist destinations on Sunday, delivering both celebration and relief to visitors and the region’s tourism-dependent economy. The precipitation also ended a protracted dry spell that had raised concerns among residents and businesses.

 

A tourism official told Kashmir Convener that the key resort circuit of Gulmarg, Pahalgam, and Sonamarg received between two and five inches of fresh snow throughout the day.

He said the snowfall has transformed the premier tourism destinations into pristine winter vistas, boosting prospects for holiday festivities and seasonal sports.

 

In Gulmarg, steady snowfall cloaked roads, forests, and meadows in a thick white blanket, significantly reducing visibility and driving down temperatures. Officials reported nearly two inches of accumulation in the area, while Sonamarg, along the Srinagar-Kargil highway, also received snowfall.

 

The weather coincided with the commencement of Chillai Kalan, the traditional 40-day period of intense cold in Kashmir. Meteorological data indicated temperatures had fluctuated in the preceding days.

 

The dry spell had threatened winter tourism activities, including skiing in Gulmarg, which is renowned for its powdery alpine-quality snow. “In recent years, skiing days here have diminished due to scarce snowfall,” stated local skier Ishfaq Farooq. “This fresh cover will allow enthusiasts from India and abroad to resume the sport.”

 

Hotelier Tanveer told Kashmir Convener, “This snowfall is like a New Year’s gift delivered straight from the heavens. Our calendars were empty, and worry was setting in. Now, the phones have started ringing again with bookings. The white blanket outside isn’t just snow; it’s hope for the months ahead.”

 

“The clouds have lifted, and so have our spirits. With this fresh snow, we expect full occupancy. This snow means our machinery and our livelihoods are back in motion,” he added.

 

The Indian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering in Gulmarg has enrolled multiple batches of trainees this season. Authorities anticipate a rise in international visitors following the snowfall.

 

Adventure sports advocate Waseem Akbar, speaking to Kashmir Convener, described the snowfall as a vital boost for local morale and livelihoods. “Winter sustains adventure tourism and the local economy. Snow ensures hotels remain operational, guides and pony-wallas find work, gondolas run, and markets stay active through the harsh season,” he stated, adding that the snowfall brings relief to people across the Valley.

 

Chillai Kalan will conclude on January 31, to be followed by the milder phases of Chillai-Khurd and Chillai-Bacha. The period is typically characterized by sub-zero temperatures, frost-covered scenery, and frozen water bodies.

 

This season’s tourism outlook follows a challenging year for the sector. A terrorist attack in April at Pahalgam’s Baisaran meadow, which claimed 26 lives, led to a significant drop in visitor numbers. Kashmir, which had welcomed a record 2.6 lakh tourists in the previous year, saw arrivals decline by approximately half this year. In response, security was enhanced at major resorts, with additional checkpoints and bunkers installed after a thorough safety review.

 

Sunday’s snowfall also marked Pheran Day, an observance celebrating the traditional Kashmiri winter cloak.

 

The tourism industry has greeted the snowfall as a potential turning point for recovery following the Pahalgam attack.

 

“This snowfall has brought happiness to our faces,” said Abdul Rouf, a hotelier in Gulmarg. “The past year has been terrible for tourism in Kashmir, but this can be a turning point for revival.”

 

“The change is in the cards, and Alhamdulillah, the snowfall has turned Gulmarg into a winter wonderland. The revival has begun, as we have received many bookings since yesterday,” he added.

 

“This snowfall was much needed not only for Gulmarg or other premier destinations but for the entire Kashmir Valley. Many people depend on this sector, which plays a crucial role in sustaining the livelihoods of a large number of youth here.”

 

Another hotelier, Javid Ahmad, said, “The snowfall isn’t just a reason for happiness; it’s a real blessing for everyone affiliated with tourism. This was much needed, and we are now hopeful of seeing crowds return to Gulmarg and business thrive again.”

 

Meanwhile, the rush of tourists was witnessed increased in Gulmarg other parts of Kashmir where snow turned into white winterland while the smiles back on the faces of tourism industry affiliated, now everyones eyes are on the coming days how this can help back return to tourists in Kashmir.

 

In a recent press briefing, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed hope for tourism to revive in Kashmir, stating, “I don’t have snow; I can’t sell Gulmarg. We see glaciers receding, snowfall reducing—these are facts we must confront. The reality of climate change can no longer be ignored.”

 

He also called for a unified and collaborative effort to position Jammu and Kashmir as the world’s premier tourism destination.

 

“Our achievement will not be measured by a single tourist visit, but by the choice of visitors to return to us again and again,” he stated, according to Kashmir Convener.