Words can hardly express the feeling of having cotton-soft snowflakes gently kiss your face while the entire environment transforms into a chilly wonderland. This winter, go on a snowy journey and visit these 10 snowfall places in India.
Sonmarg
Sonmarg is a lovely hill station in the Indian union territory of Jammu & Kashmir. In proximity are the huge Himalayan glaciers of Kashmir Valley, especially Kolhoi Glacier and Machoi Glacier, as well as several peaks above 5000 metres. The perfect time to play with snow in Sonmarg is from mid-December to mid-April. Sonmarg is about a three-hour drive from the Srinagar airport.
Manali
Fresh snowfall begins in mid-September on the Rohtang Pass, 51 kilometres from Manali. However, Manali and the surrounding areas receive new snowfall in January. It is open all year and each season provides guests with a new form of fun. The temperature can rise to 7 degrees and plummet to 0 or even -5 degrees at night.
Ladakh
Normal people do not visit Ladakh in January, but adventure seekers such as yourself do. In January, Ladakh is completely frozen. A mind-blowing Chadar Trek is available for adventurers along the frozen Zanskar River. The temperature is approximately -5 degrees during the day and can drop to -25 degrees at night. Even during the day, temperatures in certain areas can reach -35 degrees Celsius.
Sangla Valley
Sangla is a city in the Baspa Valley, also known as the Sangla Valley, in Himachal Pradesh’s Kinnaur District, near the Tibetan border. So, what are you holding out for? Simply pack your belongings and depart.
Patnitop
Another lovely highland station in India’s Jammu and Kashmir state. Patnitop gets a lot of snow in November, December, January, and February. The splendour of this region is mesmerising, covered in sparkling white snow. Patnitop is beautiful due to the enormous fields of apple orchards and mighty-high trees. During the winter, the highest temperature is around twenty-four degrees (25°C), while the lowest temperature is approximately fourteen degrees (-01°C). Patnitop is 85 kilometres from Katra and takes around three hours to reach.
Narkanda
Popular highland resort Narkanda is located 70 kilometres (two hours’ drive) from Shimla. Around the final week of December, Narkanda has snowfall, which brings in a lot of skiers at that time. The highest temperature often hovers around fifteen degrees (16°C), with the coldest temperature during the winters being around minus ten degrees (-9°C).
Munsiyari
The evergreen trees of Munsiyari are covered in pearly white dust, making it a beautiful site to witness snowfall. Late December brings snowfall to Munsiyari, a 15-hour journey from Delhi and a favourite “snowfall near Delhi” location for Himalayan fans. Around 4 degrees is the typical daytime temperature.
Pahalgam
Rooftops with slants and snow-covered pine trees. In India, Pahalgam is one of the greatest locations to experience snowfall. This is the location if you want to play in the snow and build snowmen as in movies. Good snowfall occurs in Pahalgam in the months of December and January. When the temperature falls below zero (-0), the whole mountain range and the rocky terrain are completely blanketed with snow, creating a stunning view.
Hemkund Sahib
While the Valley of Flowers trip is blocked in December because of the significant snowfall, the Hemkund Sahib route sees some experienced mountaineers at this time. Fresh snow covers the whole area, and the temperature stays between -10 and -20 degrees Celsius.
Auli
Auli is a skier’s paradise, giving real meaning to the term “winter wonderland.” Don’t miss skiing in Auli or riding Asia’s longest cable car. In the final week of December and occasionally in mid-January, Auli receives new snowfall. If you’re considering visiting Auli in December, check accuweather.com to see if it will snow. From Rishikesh, Auli is a 10-hour trip away via good roads. The greatest time to visit Auli is in February since this is when the annual world ski championships take place, drawing visitors from all over the globe to watch.
Gulmarg
In January, Gulmarg receives a lot of snowfall. You can build your own snowman if it is good enough. Beautiful Gulmarg is a year-round tourist destination in the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir. Pack thick woollens if you’re going to Gulmarg in January since the temperature might dip as low as -8 degrees Celsius.