Time: December to March Average Temp. Day temp –5°C and night –10°C
Clothing: heavy woolens Dressed in a white coat of snow, it looks lovely, sit by a fire place and relax or go skiing at Gulmarg.
Set like a jewelled crown on the map of India, Kashmir is a multi-faceted diamond, changing its hues with the season. The Mughal Emperor, Babar when describing Kashmir wrote, “If there is heaven on earth, this is it, this is it!” An equally popular destination in winter, it is also known for its lush green golf course, which is the highest in the world. A must is a fun filled ride in the gondola lift through the pine-clad slopes.
Winter in Jammu and Kashmir starts in the month of December and it is extremely cold then. Even though the trees have a bare look and the beauty of the hued gardens no longer catches the eye, there is an altogether different charm in the surroundings. The snow covered landscape is a visual treat as well Through December, to the beginning of March is winter time, which presents Srinagar in yet another mood. Bare, snow-covered landscapes being watched from beside the warmth of a fire is a joy that cannot be described to anyone who has not experienced it. Some houseboats and hotels remain open in winter-these are either centrally heated or heated with ‘bukharis', a typically Kashmiri stove kept alight with embers of wood, quite effective in the winter. Winter tourism Winter tourism in Kashmir, if planned and managed effectively could prove to be one the best economic opportunities. If only our myopic policy and decision makers could see fifty years ahead of now, they could make Kashmir a true paradise. The development that is taking place is short-sighted and temporary. Till and until massive developmental measures are taken, keeping in view the ecological viability, Kashmir will end up as a poor-man's Switzerland. Eco-Tourism is still an unheard phenomena by the people at helm, that's why Pahalgam, a beautiful resort 90 kms from Srinagar, had to bear the burn of a massive ugly monster. The J&K Bank and the government hand-in-hand created an amusement park in Pahalgam. Domestic tourists might be attracted to such an ugly scar for the cheap thrills it provides but a serious tourist will vow never to return to Kashmir. A tourist visits Kashmir for the solace and wonderful opportunities it provides for trekking, mountaineering, river rafting, fishing, animal trails, camping, bird watching and not for a ride on the hooting train in the amusement park! |