Mussoorie gets its first snowfall of the season along with Uttarakhand’s high-altitude areas
The temperature plummeted across the state, especially in the high altitudes of the state following heavy showers resulting in the hills, roads, and deodar trees draped in a white blanket of snow.
The weather in the mountains of Uttarakhand took a sudden turn on Friday morning as several high-altitude areas, including queen of hills Mussoorie and nearby hills experienced the first snowfall of the season. Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines, along with other hilly areas, witnessed heavy snowfall plunging the temperature to sub-zero level.
The temperature plummeted across the state, especially in the high altitudes of the state following heavy showers resulting in the hills, roads, and deodar trees draped in a white blanket of snow. As Mussoorie hill town witnessed the first snowfall of the season, the queen of hills became the most hunted and trending search in the social media on Thursday. On the other hand, Dehradun and other low-lying areas witnessed continuous heavy rainfall throughout the day.
The snow has blanketed high-altitude regions, including Mukhba, the winter abode of deity Ganga, Gangotri, Yamunotri, Badrinath, and Kedarnath, intensifying the cold in the higher area of the state.
Mussoorie’s first snowfall of the season was also recorded in another tourist area, Chakrata, and its high-altitude peaks, including Lokhandi, Asmar, Kharamba, Deoban, Mashak, Koti Kanasar, and Mundoi laden with white sheet of snow. Besides, renowned trekking belts of Chopta hills in Rudraprayag and Kedar Kantha Uttarkashi witnessed heavy snowfall.
Although the snowfall was delayed in the current winter season, it brought cheers to the tourists camping in the area. On the other hand, local businessmen claimed that the snowfall has brought back the magic of Mussoorie as hospitality and tourism activities in the hills of Uttarakhand were awaiting a big thrust.
It’s notable that traditionally snowfall in Mussoorie and other high altitude areas had been occurring mainly in the last week of December but this winter has been delayed by almost a month.
“The snowfall has brought smiles on the faces of hotel owners and those involved in the tourism industry. Business owners, who had been waiting for the snow for long, are now hopeful that the number of tourists will surge in the coming days. This must give a fillip to the sluggish winter tourism in Mussoorie and other high altitude areas of the state this season,” said Anurag Aggarwal, a local businessman.
Meanwhile, the regional meteorological centre in its forecast has stated that weather is likely to remain so for the next 3-4 days in Uttarakhand. Temperature is likely to dip further and increase atmospheric chill.
