Sabha khan
Srinagar, Feb 9: The tourists who had earlier postponed their visit to Kashmir in absence of snow are now coming in large numbers as the majority of tourist destinations have received enough snowfall recently.
“I had dropped the plan of visiting Kashmir after the images showing Kashmir in runes went viral on social media,” Ronak Ghosh, a tourist from Kolkata said. “I had never been to Kashmir before but the moment I heard Kashmir received snowfall I decided to visit here.”
Ghosh claimed that he visited the valley on February 2 and enjoyed the snowfall by exploring various areas of the Himalayan territory.
“I have travelled across every state of India but the experience in Kashmir is amazing,” Ghosh said. “The people are incredibly loving and caring. I enjoyed the hospitality of Kashmiris,” he said, adding that everything being said about the mountainous region is “absolutely true.”
Kashmir is known for its scenic beauty. The blanket of snow that engulfs the entire region attracts millions of visitors across the globe. However, the region has seen a significant decline in tourist numbers due to climate change resulting in losses to thousands of individuals whose livelihoods rely on winter tourism.
“Kashmir has witnessed a number of cancellations in the absence of snowfall. The market, according to my estimation, had declined by sixty percent until the end of January,” Bilal Ahmed Ganie, a tourist guide said. “However, tourists have begun visiting again after the recent snowfall. I anticipate our local business will thrive once again,” he added.
Ananya, a resident of New Delhi, said that she enjoyed visiting places such as Gulmarg, Dhoodpathri and Sonamarg.
“I took a lot of pictures on a snow cart at Sonamarg. I would love to visit Kashmir again and again every year,” said Ananya, the six-year-old child. “I also loved the food at Krishna Daba,” she added.
