Everyone loves snow or the ‘idea’ of snow. Snowman, snowballs, SNOW!! India has remarkably diverse climatic conditions, just like its culture. It doesn’t snow all over India but only in its northernmost parts. The hill stations in this area are popular tourist attractions primarily because of snow and all the snow adventures that it brings with it. Skiing, Snowboarding, Heli-Skiing, Sledding, Ice Climbing, Ice Sledging, Ice Skating, Forest Camping, Paragliding are some activities one can enjoy here. Listed are the seven best places to see snow in India, to experience the best snow of your life.
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Manali, Himachal Pradesh
Manali is one of the most popular holiday destinations in India. People from all parts of India come here to experience snowfall. It’s also a popular honeymoon destination, and couples who come here share some romantic time and create beautiful memories together. The famous places in Manali are Solang Valley, Rohtang Pass, Gulaba, Manali Mall Road, and Tosh.
There are many snow activities that tourists enjoy here, such as Skiing, Snowboarding, Heli-Skiing, Sledding, Ice Climbing, Ice Sledging, and many more.
Mussoorie, Uttarakhand
Mussoorie in Uttarakhand is also known as Queen of the Hills, another destination where tourists can experience rich snowfall. The major tourist spots in Mussoorie are Kempty Falls, Gun Hill, Soham Heritage Art Centre, Camel Back Road, George Everest House, The Mall Mussoorie, Jharipani Falls, and Mussoorie Lake.
The best time to visit Mussoorie during snowfall is From December to February. This hill station is famous for SkyWalk Adventure, Valley Crossing in Mussoorie, Zip Swing Adventure, Rock Climbing Adventure, Paragliding, and Nature Walk.
Shimla, Himachal Pradesh
Shimla is the capital of Himachal Pradesh and is rich in cultural heritage, history, architecture, floral, and fauna. People visit Shimla all year round to witness the beauty of the seven hills on which Shimla is situated—Prospect Hill, Summer Hill, Observatory Hill, Bantony Hill, Jakhu Hill, Inverarm Hill, and Elysium Hill. The main tourist spots in Shimla are Ridge Road, Shimla Winter Carnival, Toy Train Ride, Kufri, and Mashobra.
The best time to visit Shimla to experience Snow is December to February. It’s famous for ice skating, Forest Camping, Paragliding, and sightseeing.
Gulmarg, Jammu & Kashmir
The literal meaning of Gulmarg is a meadow of flowers. Located in Kashmir, in the Pir Panjal Range in the Western Himalayas, it is perfect for spending your winter vacations watching the snow. Gulmarg is also the world’s second-highest cable car, Gondola.
The main tourist attractions in Gulmarg are Baba Reshi Shrine, St. Mary’s Church, Alpather Lake, Gulmarg Biosphere Reserve, Ningle Nallah, Maharani Temple, Ferozepur Nallah, and Khilanmarg. One can even enjoy the Gulmarg Gondola, Skiing and Golfing here.
To experience the best snowfall of the year, the best time to visit Gulmarg is from December to February.
Auli, Uttarakhand
Auli is a trendy hill station located in Uttarakhand at 2,909 m above sea level and gives a splendid view of the Himalayan peaks. The two highlights of Auli are that it has the longest cable car in India, and it is also home to the second tallest mountain in India—Nanda Devi (7816 m). Places to see are Nanda Devi National Park, Joshimath, and the Trishul Peak.
It’s primarily famous for snow sports such as skiing and hiking. Other prominent tourist attractions include Camping, Ropeway Ride, and Trekking. January & February are the best time to visit Auli to experience heavenly snow.
Dhanaulti, Uttarakhand
Dhanaulti is located near Mussoorie. With beautiful mountains, ambient environment, and breathtaking views, Dhanaulti is still a hidden gem among hill stations. Therefore it is far less crowded than other hill stations. You can visit Dhanaulti for some alone time and enjoy the beautiful snow-covered mountain views with your favourite warm beverage. Dhanaulti is also an ideal winter honeymoon destination. The main points of tourist attractions in Dhanaulti are Surkanda Devi Temple, Dashavatar Temple, Deogarh Fort, Eco Parks, Potato Farms, Apple Orchard Resort and Tehri Dam. It’s best to visit here from December to February.
Narkanda, Himachal Pradesh
Narkanda is located in the beautiful valleys of Himachal Pradesh. It is slowly gaining popularity because of the exciting adventure sports such as skiing, rafting, horse riding, mountain biking, and paragliding. It’s also famous for Hatu peak, Hatu Mata Temple, Stokes farm, Mahamaya temple, Tanni Jubbar Lake, Jau Baug, and Kacheri.
Narkanda starts experiencing snowfall from November to February and is the best time to visit this hill station.
Pollution-free is the way to be
When you visit these hill stations and are awed by the beauty that surrounds you, do take some time to reflect on how you can play a huge role as a tourist to keep these places pristine and pollution-free. As many people visit hill stations, the pollution levels have risen there to an alarming rate caused due to the littering by the tourists. With heaps of plastic bottles and plastic wrappers laying everywhere, it is spoiling the environment and wrecks the beauty of the place.
Therefore, as a responsible tourist, when you visit a hill station and keep all the garbage in a spare carry bag until you can find a disposal bin to trash it in.
Precaution is better than cure
These were the seven places in India to experience the best snowfall. The situation due to the pandemic is slowly getting better, and people have started travelling again. But the pandemic is not completely over; therefore, if travelling, make sure to take care of the basic guidelines and rules laid by the government and healthcare officials. Also, follow the local Covid-19 restrictions to stay safe.
If you want to know more about places in India where you can experience snowfall, go to https://aertrip.com. It is a platform that solves all your doubts about your travel destination, including COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines, Hotels and bookings, available flights, and flight schedules. It also helps with organizing and planning your trip.
