Skiing Dreams Dashed As Auli And Gulmarg Experience Scanty Snow

The absence of snowfall at premier skiing destinations in the Himalayan towns like Auli in Uttarakhand and Gulmarg in J&K has disappointed wintersports enthusiasts.

Auli witnessing scanty snow

In Auli, a renowned skiing destination near Joshimath in the Garhwal Himalayas, temperatures are currently maintaining around 8¡ãC, marking a notable deviation from the typical 1¡ãC to 3¡ãC range during this season. This deviation has cast uncertainties over the viability of skiing activities in the town once again.

The national winter games, traditionally hosted by Auli annually, have faced cancellations on multiple occasions¡ªnamely in 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2021, and 2023¡ªdue to inadequate snowfall.

auli

Similarly, Gulmarg, renowned as Kashmir's winter wonderland, is facing the disappointment of not being able to open its famed ski slopes this year due to insufficient snowfall.

Situated at an altitude of 8,694 feet, Gulmarg is a popular tourism destination, and its current bare hillsides indicate changing global weather patterns and their impact on the region.

no-snow

'No snow anywhere in Gulmarg'

The meadow, typically bustling with skiers engaged in training sessions in January, now stands empty and silent. Chairlifts and snow-beaters are inactive, and patches of melting snow have replaced the once four to six feet of accumulated snow that delighted visitors.

Ecologists, as well as those who depend on tourism for survival and livelihood, have expressed concern over the prolonged dry spell. Tourism stakeholders have expressed desire for the "much-needed snowfall" soon, hoping for a surge in tourists in February.

"There is no snow anywhere in Gulmarg bowl. The slopes of the meadow appear barren. The situation is the same across the Valley. The resorts in Europe are facing the same fate," said Javaid ur Rehman, assistant director of tourism in Gulmarg.

"Although the tourism is not yet affected, it is definitely going to have an impact in the coming days. There will be cancellations if the dry spell persists," he added.

There is also a fear that the lack of snow might affect the skiing trips of adventure tourists and winter sports "National winter games are being held between February 2 and 6," Rehman said.

The games have been organised for the past three years. Not only Gulmarg but other tourist resorts like Pahalgam in south Kashmir and Sonamarg in central Kashmir have also been without any winter allure for adventure tourists.

Akib Chaya, president of the Gulmarg chapter of J&K Hoteliers Club, said that the tourists were returning disappointed due to the lack of snowfall. "This month's bookings are packed, but we expect an impact. Foreigners come for skiing in February," he said.

Netizens express concern

As visuals of a snow-less Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir have garnered attention this season, netizens, many of them tourists, expressed worry about the Himalaya range, suggesting climate change is contributing to adverse consequences.

This tourist is trying whatever option is available in Gulmarg nowadays -skiing on snow is normal but skiing on ice is not everybody¡¯s cup of tea .#Gulmarg pic.twitter.com/M2dK2HrEGM

¡ª Farhat Naik (@Farhat_naik_) January 4, 2024

Gulmarg without snow ?? pic.twitter.com/XyCF3QQkGe

¡ª ??Paradise Kashmir ?? (@reshi2r) January 5, 2024

Is it actually that bad in Kashmir this year?? Saw a reel from Gulmarg ski resort that there is no snow. Don¡¯t know about snowfall patterns in Kashmir but it really looked shocking to see Gulmarg that warm & bare. ?

¡ª Siddharth's Echelon (@SiddharthKG7) January 7, 2024

#ClimateChange is taking toll on #ski resorts all over the World with #Gulmarg, #Kashmir being no different. So far this season Gulmarg is without snow making everyone anxious . pic.twitter.com/Pk1VpnL1wi

¡ª Dr. Mahnoor mir (@The_Dr_Mahnoor) January 8, 2024

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