Ski and Snowboard India (SSI), the governing body of winter sports in India, has been recognized as “full member” of the International Ski Federation (FIS), the apex body for international winter sports. SSI has also qualified for one vote in the International Ski Congress. The officials of Ski and Snowboard India on Wednesday received a letter from the FIS president Gian Franco Kasper and secretary general Sarah Lewis to confirm that “Ski and Snowboard India is a full member of the FIS and qualifies for one vote at the International Ski Congress.” SSI secretary general Roop Chand Negi said, “This is a proud moment for the country, especially the winter sports athletes of the country. Finally we have been recognized as a permanent member of the FIS. The skiing remains dominated by European, American and some of the Asian countries where winter games infrastructure is very strong. As more and more athletes are taking interest in winter games in India, and our government is taking winter sports seriously, we are also improving our winter sports infrastructure. For some time, we are being treated equally on international platform.” Earlier, Winter Games Federation of India (WGFI), established in 1984, was the governing body for winter sports in India. It was an affiliated member of FIS since 1988. Following many discrepancies, it remained suspended for many years. For not complying with government’s directive to conduct fresh election of the body, WGFI was de-recognized by Sports Ministry in 2018 under provisions of National Sports Development Code of India, 2011. Recognized by Indian Olympic Association, the Ski and Snowboard India (SSI) was formed as new apex body for skiing and snowboarding. “With support from the Indian Olympic Association, sports ministry and all state associations, SSI has made a clean image amongst FIS and other national
Ski and Snowboard India (SSI), the governing body of winter sports in India, has been recognized as “full member” of the International Ski Federation (FIS), the apex body for international winter sports. SSI has also qualified for one vote in the International Ski Congress. The officials of Ski and Snowboard India on Wednesday received a
On this page, we shall keep you updated about all happenings, news, work progress, history, VIP visits and everything happening at Atal Tunnel (Rohtang Tunnel) in Manali. Work on Atal Tunnel, an 8.8km long engineering marvel connecting Manali with Lahaul on Manali-Leh highway, started on June 28, 2010 and it will be dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September 2020. Timeline of sequence of events at Atal Tunnel Atal Tunnel Specifications Project Cost (As on 13 July, 2020): INR 3,500 Crore Length of Atal Tunnel: 8.8 KM Mountain Range: Pir Panjal Distance of tunnel from Manali: 25 KM Distance of tunnel from Keylong: 40 KM Distance of tunnel from Rohtang pass: 26 KM Shape of tunnel: Horseshoe Tunnel method: New Austria Tunneling Method (NATM) which uses drilling, blasting and digging Width of tunnel: 10m Altitude of the tunnel: 9,840ft to 10,170ft Tunnel designed for vehicular speed: 80 km per hour Temperature at south portal of Atal Tunnel at Dhundi: 28 degrees C (summers) to - 20 degrees C (winters) Temperature at north portal of Atal Tunnel near Sissu in Lahaul: 30 degrees C (summers) to - 30 degrees C (winters) Overburden: Maximum overburden (Pir Panjal mountain range) of 1,900m and average of over 600m Emergency escape route: An emergency tunnel (2.25m high and 3.6m wide) is running below the main carriageway/highway Vehicle capacity: 3,000 cars and 1,500 trucks Designed speed: Maximum speed of 80 km per hour and minimum speed of 30 km per hour. Features of Atal Tunnel The approach road to Atal tunnel is being secured by avalanche protection structures at avalanche-prone sites. Besides emergency exit tunnel below main tunnel, high efficiency fire sensing and extinguishing mechanism is being installed. A semi-transverse ventilation system. CCTV cameras being placed at regular distance. Pollution
On this page, we shall keep you updated about all happenings, news, work progress, history, VIP visits and everything happening at Atal Tunnel (Rohtang Tunnel) in Manali. Work on Atal Tunnel, an 8.8km long engineering marvel connecting Manali with Lahaul on Manali-Leh highway, started on June 28, 2010 and it will be dedicated to the
For the first time, three snow leopards -- one adult and two cubs -- have been captured in camera traps installed in the Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) in Kullu district of Himachal. The camera traps have captured a grown-up snow leopard at 19 locations and it is accompanied by cubs at two locations. This is for the first time that snow leopard has been captured in camera at multiple spots along with cubs in the Great Himalayan National Park. However, a snow leopard was captured by a team of research scholars from Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, in 2017 in the mid-hills. This time the department has documented proofs in the shape of many photos which confirm that the endangered big cat is breeding safely not only in Lahaul-Spiti district but also in Kullu. Great Himalayan National Park director Ajit Thakur said the 40 camera traps were installed at different locations inside the sanctuary area last year. “The snow leopard was captured between October and December. We started analysis of the footage after March. We were successful in capturing the elusive big cat at 19 locations. At one location, the grown-up snow leopard is accompanied by two cubs and at one location it is accompanied by one cub,” he said. Wildlife researchers and photographers spend years to take a photo of one snow leopard. The wildlife department capturing three snow leopards together is being considered a big achievement as it will go a long way in various conservation programmes. Thakur added that wildlife wing of Himachal is extremely happy after the clear evidences of the presence of the snow leopards in the sanctuary. “Presence of cubs with adult suggests that snow leopards are possibly breeding in the area. This is just a preliminary survey by wildlife department and nature
For the first time, three snow leopards — one adult and two cubs — have been captured in camera traps installed in the Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) in Kullu district of Himachal. The camera traps have captured a grown-up snow leopard at 19 locations and it is accompanied by cubs at two locations. This
Manali Winter Carnival 2021 Start Date: January 02, 2021 End Date: January 06, 2021 Address: Manali, Himachal Pradesh, India Main attractions: Local culture, local cuisines, winter sports, Winter Queen beauty pageant, Voice of Carnival, folk dances, western dances, street plays, fashion shows, baby shows, magic shows and many more Influence: National Level Event Purpose: To boost winter tourism Organizers: DC Kullu is chairman and SDM Manali is vice-chairman with both government and non-government members Timing: Opening at 7 AM on 2nd January and cultural and other programmes will be held between 11 AM and 10 PM daily The Manali Winter Carnival, the largest tourism event of Himachal showcasing the local culture and winter sports to attract tourists during the lean winter season, will be celebrated between January 2 and 6, 2021, an official said here. Tourists will get to experience local culture, dance, songs, sports, local cuisines, tableaus, winter sports and many more during five days. While the colourful programmes to woo tourists will continue in the town, winter sports like skiing and snowboarding will be organized at Solang valley near the town. Over 4,000 local women will actively participate in the event to give it a local touch. Aimed to boost the winter tourism and promote local culture, the national level winter carnival will begin with the presentation of over a hundred cultural tableaus and processions. Besides the participation of cultural troops from many other states, the tourists will get to see folk performances of all districts of Himachal while over 120 mahila mandals have agreed to participate. The mahila mandals will present folk dances on the Mall Road here for five days. Tourists will get a chance to dance on the Kullu folk tunes. Fashion show during Winter Carnival at Manu Rangshala of Manali Winter Queen pageant, where
Manali Winter Carnival 2021 Start Date: January 02, 2021 End Date: January 06, 2021 Address: Manali, Himachal Pradesh, India Main attractions: Local culture, local cuisines, winter sports, Winter Queen beauty pageant, Voice of Carnival, folk dances, western dances, street plays, fashion shows, baby shows, magic shows and many more Influence: National Level Event Purpose: To
On this page, we shall keep updating the Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19) impacts on the Himachal and Kullu Manali Tourism. Update on July 7, 2020 Manali hotels to remain closed for tourists till September amid Covid-19 crisis Expressing their inability in hosting the tourists from other states during the times of Covid-19 crisis, the hotels, guesthouses and homestay owners in Manali on Tuesday decided to remain shut till September. The hotel owners took this decision unanimously. They said they will demand from the government to conduct special training camps for staff of the hotels, restaurants, travel agencies, taxi drivers and all the tourism units and local stakeholders regarding safe operation during Covid-19 crisis. The hoteliers expressed dissatisfaction over the government's standard operating procedures (SOPs) and said both tourism units and the public of Manali are not ready for the tourism. "We are not ready mentally, physically and practically. The government issued SOP and order to open Himachal in hurriedness without checking if hoteliers are ready enough to resume operations safely. We are thankful to the government that it thought about revival of the tourism industry of the state. But we first need special training on sanitisation, proper disposal of the medial waste, how to treat the tourists etc. The local residents who are opposing opening of tourism activities also need to be taken in confidence to avoid scuffles," the hoteliers said. The hotel owners decided that monsoon season in July and August is the time when the state receives the lowest number of tourists, so they will have two full months for preparations. They will have another meeting in September and decide on future strategy. If required, depending on Covid-19 cases in the state and the country, we can further extend the opening time of the hotels, the hoteliers said.
On this page, we shall keep updating the Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19) impacts on the Himachal and Kullu Manali Tourism. Update on July 7, 2020 Manali hotels to remain closed for tourists till September amid Covid-19 crisis Expressing their inability in hosting the tourists from other states during the times of Covid-19 crisis, the hotels,
In this page, we shall keep you updated about the Manali-Rohtang pass road status. (If this page is not loading properly in your browser, click on the above image) Keep visiting this page to stay updated about Manali-Rohtang highway status. >> Track Manali-Leh highway status in 2020
In this page, we shall keep you updated about the Manali-Rohtang pass road status. (If this page is not loading properly in your browser, click on the above image) Keep visiting this page to stay updated about Manali-Rohtang highway status. >> Track Manali-Leh highway status in 2020
Alliance Air, the subsidiary of Air India Ltd, is resuming its flight operations thrice a week between Delhi and Kullu from July 16, an official said. Alliance Air is the only airline conducting sorties to Kullu for a long time. The airline had suspended operation after a nationwide lockdown. The domestic flights in the country had recommenced operations from May 25 but the airline had cancelled its sortie to Kullu as it could not get slot at Delhi airport. “The flight will operate on Monday, Thursday and Saturday. Airline will be deploying its 70-seater ATR 72 aircraft for the route. Flight 9I 805 will depart Delhi at 6:45am for Kullu and land at 8:05am. The flight 9I 806 will depart Kullu at 8:30am and arrive in Delhi at 9:50am. The booking is available online or through our travel agents,” an official from Alliance Air said. He said that the flight will be adhering to all government guidelines and standard operation procedures (SOPs) issued by Ministry of Civil Aviation. “All required precautionary measures will be taken inside the aircraft as well as at time of check-in, boarding and arrival. The aircrafts are being disinfected rigorously after each flight to eliminate any risk of infection,” he added. Himachal has three airports -- Gaggal in Kangra, Jubbarhatti in Shimla and Bhuntar in Kullu. The runways in Himachal being short in length, only ATR 72 and ATR 42 planes land here and the planes already face load penalty of 30 to 50 passengers which is almost half the capacity. Social distancing will not be a major problem as even in general conditions sometimes only one passenger sits in one row following the load penalty. And check-in counters and arrivals never witness passenger crowd. While three flights a day were already operating to Gaggal airport,
Alliance Air, the subsidiary of Air India Ltd, is resuming its flight operations thrice a week between Delhi and Kullu from July 16, an official said. Alliance Air is the only airline conducting sorties to Kullu for a long time. The airline had suspended operation after a nationwide lockdown. The domestic flights in the country
While hoteliers in Himachal are getting training on resumption of the operations amid Covid-19 pandemic, the state government is also introducing some new extreme water sports in Himachal to woo the tourists. As soon as ban on tourist movement is lifted, tourists will get to experience jetovator, hydrofoil and jet skiing at Tatapani and Larji reservoirs of Himachal. Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports (ABVIMAS), Manali, will train local youths from Tatapani and Larji areas next month. The trained youth will then operate the activities for tourists in their respective areas. The machines and related equipment which are not available in Indian market have been imported from the foreign nations. ABVIMAS director Col Neeraj Rana said, “The courses for jetovator, hydrofoil and jet ski will start from July 7 at Pong Dam. The machines and required equipment have reached Himachal. Once the tourist inflow is allowed, these activities will be available immediately. In an effort to make Himachal an international hub of adventure sports, more and more new activities will be introduced in the future,” he said. White water river rafting is the main adventurous water sport available in Himachal. Lakhs of tourists experience this activity every year. Jetovator, a flying water-powered bike and hydrofoil, a technology that facilitates in sailing like an aircraft, are new introduction to the water sports in Himachal. Made for speed, jet ski is also expected to woo the adventure enthusiasts. Himachal has over a hundred small and large manmade reservoirs. Himachal government is planning to introduce water sports in many of them which will not only boost tourism but provide employment to local residents. ABVIMAS, which runs special courses in mountaineering, climbing, skiing, rafting and many other streams year-round, has stopped the courses due to coronavirus pandemic since March. Government, hoteliers,
While hoteliers in Himachal are getting training on resumption of the operations amid Covid-19 pandemic, the state government is also introducing some new extreme water sports in Himachal to woo the tourists. As soon as ban on tourist movement is lifted, tourists will get to experience jetovator, hydrofoil and jet skiing at Tatapani and Larji
On this page, we shall keep you updated about snow and snowfall status at Rohtang pass, Solang Valley, Manali and other tourist places of Kullu-Manali in 2020. (If this page is not loading properly in your browser, click on the above image) Update on January 09, 2020 Tourists have tough time as snow blocks roads in Manali As heavy snowfall in Manali blocked all the roads here since Tuesday evening, thousands of tourists remained stranded in the roads for hours without meal and water. While heavy snowfall brought joy to some tourists and farmers, it has also bought troubles with it. A large number of tourists got stuck between Kullu and Manali on Tuesday night as the road had become slippery after thick layer of snow deposited on the surface. While many tourists missed their buses, trains and flights, many had to walk on snow for hours to reach destination along with kids and elderly. Snowfall continued for the whole day on Wednesday and tourists got no relief. The road became motorable from Kullu to Aluground, 5km from here, but vehicles could not move beyond it for the whole day. This resulted in long traffic jam and hundreds of tourist vehicles got stranded here. Many tourists parked their cars on the roadsides and searched for shelter to spend the night. Almost all the hotels, guesthouses and homestays between Kullu and Manali were fully occupied by tourists on Tuesday late night. Nearly 40 tourist buses leaves Manali for Delhi and similar number of buses come to Manali from Delhi every day. The tourist buses could not come beyond Patlikuhal, 18km from here, and tourists were dropped in the mid-way. Similarly, thousands of tourists stuck in Manali had to reach Patlikuhal to catch their bus to Delhi. As only four-wheel drive vehicles
On this page, we shall keep you updated about snow and snowfall status at Rohtang pass, Solang Valley, Manali and other tourist places of Kullu-Manali in 2020. (If this page is not loading properly in your browser, click on the above image) Update on January 09, 2020 Tourists have tough time as snow blocks roads
Himachal can now host international skiing and snowboarding championships as Solang slopes near Manali are being developed to meet all the requirements of international standards. The length of the existing slope is being increased by over 130m. The surface of the slope will be leveled and groomed. A team of technical committee led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports (ABVIMAS) director carried out a final survey of the spot on Thursday. Taking advantage of the lockdown when Solang valley is missing the tourist crowd, the work will start in a few days. ABVIMAS director Col Neeraj Rana said the work on slope will begin in 2-3 days. “Slope is being developed keeping in view the international standards. Work will continue day and night and will finish within two weeks. The ground survey was conducted in presence of technical team on Thursday. The existing slope is about 340m long which will now become 470m-long. Come winter season and the snow-laden slope will be in a new look,” he said. At present Himachal has two skiing slopes – one at Solang and other at Narkanda. Both slopes are in dilapidated condition in absence of basic infrastructure. The natural slopes are short in length and not work hosting international races. Local ski clubs with help of government have hosted many state and national level tournaments on the slopes but failed to get approval to host international events. Rana said Solang can now host international tournaments from this year onward. “Solang slopes get very heavy snowfall. Slopes are well connected by road and ABVIMAS has its hostel at Solang. The area has many hotels. All conditions are favourable for world-class skiing. The short slope was the main hurdle. Some other technical issues of the slopes will be improved one by
Himachal can now host international skiing and snowboarding championships as Solang slopes near Manali are being developed to meet all the requirements of international standards. The length of the existing slope is being increased by over 130m. The surface of the slope will be leveled and groomed. A team of technical committee led by Atal
