People from across the country will get access to the snow-bound tribal Lahaul valley in the winter season for the first time as the government has decided to keep the valley open for tourists even after snowfall. Tribal development minister Ram Lal Markanda, after holding a meeting with the officials of Lahaul, said there will be no restriction on tourist inflow to Lahaul valley in clear weather. He said outsiders, for the first time, will get to experience the winters of this tribal belt which used to be cut off from the rest parts of the world after the snowfall. He said the road to the valley via Atal tunnel will be kept clear of snow. He said tourism infrastructure in the valley will be developed on a war footing so that tourists get all basic facilities. “Tourist footfall in the valley has increased suddenly after the opening of the Atal tunnel. There will be no restriction on the movement of tourists if the weather is clear. We shall organise skiing, a winter carnival, and other winter events to attract more tourists this season. Meanwhile, we need to develop our infrastructure to meet the demand of the growing tourism,” Markanda said. He said a Yatri Niwas at Sissu, adequate parking at Keylong, a large bus stand, parking, and cafeteria at Trilokinath will be built very soon. He said parking spaces, dustbins, waste management facilities, viewpoints, parks, tourism activities, exploration of new destinations, and organising cultural events for tourists are proposed. Lahaul-Spiti, popularly known as the cold deserts of Himachal, gets very heavy snowfall from November to March. The area is coldest in the state with minimum temperature at some places plunges below minus 25. Visiting Lahaul valley in the winter season was impossible until recently when the Atal tunnel connected
People from across the country will get access to the snow-bound tribal Lahaul valley in the winter season for the first time as the government has decided to keep the valley open for tourists even after snowfall. Tribal development minister Ram Lal Markanda, after holding a meeting with the officials of Lahaul, said there will
MANALI: Cold waves are likely to break records of last many years in Himachal as even rivers and lakes have started to freeze at many parts of the state under intense cold conditions. If you want to experience the winters of Himachal, this is the right time to visit. Chandra and Bhaga rivers of Lahaul, which gives birth to Chenab river, have frozen under extreme cold conditions. A layer of ice has covered most of the surface of the Chandra river and edges of Chenab too have covered with ice. Miyar river, tributary of Chenab too has started to freeze. The waterfalls in Lahaul and upper areas of Manali, Kinnaur and Chamba have turned hanging icicles. High altitude lakes including Chandertal, Surajtal, Deepak Tal, Rani Sui, Dashaur and Bhrigu had frozen in November. Unfortunately, most of these places including Lahaul valley have become inaccessible for tourists in winters. Now that temperature is dipping fast, water sources in lower areas are freezing where tourists can experience the winter season. Keylong, district headquarters of Lahaul-Spiti district, recorded minimum temperature of minus 11.1 degrees C on Wednesday, the lowest in the state. Kalpa in Kinnaur recorded minimum temperature of minus 4 degrees C. Manali too recorded the lowest temperature of the season at minus 3.4 degrees C. Night temperature of Shimla settled at 2.7 degrees C. Both minimum and maximum temperatures in state are 1 to 3 degrees below normal temperature during this time of the season. “Waterfalls in Lahaul have frozen. Edges of Chandra-Bhaga rivers are covered with ice. Waters of Chenab is carrying ice with it. The cold is biting residents. Even the sun has no warmth. January and February will surely bring record cold this season,” a resident Sudarshan said. Temperature in some parts of Spiti valley is expected to
MANALI: Cold waves are likely to break records of last many years in Himachal as even rivers and lakes have started to freeze at many parts of the state under intense cold conditions. If you want to experience the winters of Himachal, this is the right time to visit. Chandra and Bhaga rivers of Lahaul,