Welcome the New Year with Sunshine: Tourists Flee Foggy Plains for Himachal

Shimla/Manali, Dec 31 (NationPress) As a thick layer of fog enveloped northern India on the last day of 2024, disrupting daily activities, vacationers are making their way to the hills of Himachal Pradesh to bask in the warm sunshine and usher in a new year filled with warmth.

However, a word of caution: It is advisable to secure your hotel booking in advance, or you might find yourself spending a night in the biting cold.

According to Shimla’s Meteorological Department, sunny weather is expected to prevail across the hill state until January 3, after which there is a likelihood of additional rain and snow.

They have also issued a warning about potential frost as the cold wave continues following last week’s extensive snow and rain.

The weather in popular hill destinations such as Shimla, Kasauli, Chail, Kufri, Narkanda, Dharamsala, Palampur, and Manali is notably warm and ideal for escaping the harsh chill of the plains, which are largely shrouded in fog.

In the hills surrounding Manali, Kufri, and Narkanda, a pristine white blanket of snow remains. “The mornings in Shimla are delightful these days. We are truly enjoying soaking up the sun,” shared Abhey Singh, a visitor from Noida.

“We feel much more comfortable in the hills where the sun shines regularly, as opposed to the plains where the cold sends shivers down our spines,” his wife Deepti added.

A senior official from the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) remarked, “We encourage tourists to come and enjoy the long hours of sunshine in the hills, as fog envelops the plains, making it an exciting experience to bask in the sun.”

In Shimla, which sits approximately 7,000 feet above sea level, the minimum temperature registered at 6.4 degrees Celsius, with sunrise at 7:19 am and sunset at 5:29 pm. The maximum temperature peaked at 15.7 degrees, which is 2.7 degrees above the usual.

Tabo, an ancient hub of Buddhist culture in the picturesque Spiti Valley, recorded the lowest temperatures in the state, plummeting to minus 17.3 degrees.

Delighted by last week’s snowfall, hospitality industry members report that many destinations are brimming with a sudden surge of tourists.

However, locals express frustration as the influx of visitors has led to significant traffic congestion, with parking lots perpetually full.

Traffic jams have been prevalent throughout the day, with minimal management from the police at the state entry point of Parwanoo town on the Chandigarh-Shimla National Highway 5, resulting in daily commuters spending hours on the road.

Hill destinations, including Shimla, Kufri, Narkanda, Kasauli, Chail, Manali, Dalhousie, Palampur, and Dharamsala, are bustling with visitors.

Corporate executive Ravi Aggarwal noted, “Hotel prices in Shimla and its surrounding areas have nearly doubled.”

“Taxi drivers are openly overcharging tourists, with no government regulation in place,” his wife Jayshree added, saying, “It feels like holidaymakers are being taken advantage of in the name of nature.”

In the honeymooners' favorite spots of Kufri and Naldehra, which is home to one of the oldest and most scenic golf courses in India, pony owners are aggressively pursuing tourists, ignoring refusals and charging exorbitant fees for rides.

In Manali, visitors hoping to see the snowy landscape around the Atal Tunnel beneath the Rohtang Pass should be prepared to pay a hefty fare for cab hire.

“We paid Rs 6,000 for our round trip from Manali to the Atal Tunnel, with a brief stop at Solang,” said Divya Dutta, a tourist from Delhi.

The standard fare for a luxury cab is Rs 2,000, while an ordinary cab costs Rs 1,000. The south portal of the Atal Tunnel is located 25 km from Manali at an elevation of 3,060 meters, and its north portal is situated near Sissu in the Lahaul Valley at 3,071 meters.

Another popular destination is McLeodganj, a charming town that has gained fame for attracting a constant flow of Tibetan enthusiasts, Buddhist scholars, backpackers, and even Hollywood stars like Richard Gere.

A note of caution: The police have been advising the public to avoid the banks of rivers and streams in the mountains, as these areas can be perilous due to the formation of black ice, which is virtually invisible to motorists, making it difficult for tires to grip and brakes to function effectively.

Additionally, government officials have warned travelers to arrange hotel or homestay bookings in advance, as many accommodations in Shimla, Manali, Kasauli, and Dharamsala are at 90 to 98 percent capacity until January 5.

“Our properties have nearly 90 percent occupancy. We anticipate a successful business until the end of this week,” an HPTDC official informed IANS.

Himachal Pradesh lacks high-end hotels and dining options in remote areas. The rural homestay trend that began in 2008 has attracted tourists to the region's interior, offering the best accommodations to enjoy the unspoiled nature and snowy scenery.

The state’s economy heavily relies on tourism, in addition to hydroelectric power and horticulture.

(Vishal Gulati can be contacted at vishal.g@ians.com)