While the growing tension between India and Pakistan has badly affected tourism in Kashmir, there is no impact on tourism in Himachal where tourists are thronging to see snow and hoteliers are claiming to have observed satisfactory business in winters after many years. Despite lean season and advisory for avalanches and landslides, tourists are visiting Shimla, Manali, Dharamshala and Dalhousie. The state is witnessing frequent spells of snowfall. Tourists don’t want to lose their chance to see fresh snowfall. The major roads in state were reopened shortly after heavy snowfall. There were reports of tourists stranding in Spiti valley but roads to other destinations remained mostly open which encouraged tourists to experience the winters of Himachal. “I have seen such a tourist crowd in January and February after many years. Not only I but all did good business here,” a tourist photographer Lal Chand said. “Bahang, Nehru Kund and Solang, you will see a large number of tourists enjoying with snow. We used to stay home for many days in winters when we had no work. Tourists are making a beeline to Manali even during heavy snowfall.” Manali Hoteliers Association president Anup Ram Thakur said Mother Nature is blessing Manali with good amount of snow which is attracting tourists to this town. “Over 50 per cent tourists visiting Manali got chance to see fresh snowfall January and February. All the hotels are giving special discounts to the tourists. This is lean tourist season and hotels are not fully occupied but still doing good business. If our roads were good and we had good air connectivity, more tourists would have visited the town. We appreciate steps taken by Kashmiri hoteliers to help the stranded tourists,” he said. Shimla hoteliers are also doing well, especially in weekends. A hotelier Rajesh Kumar said,
While the growing tension between India and Pakistan has badly affected tourism in Kashmir, there is no impact on tourism in Himachal where tourists are thronging to see snow and hoteliers are claiming to have observed satisfactory business in winters after many years. Despite lean season and advisory for avalanches and landslides, tourists are visiting
After making record of driving 1923 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost on Manali-Leh-Srinagar highway and 18,380 feet high Khardung-la with help of Himachal Vacation Travels and Adventure (Now Discover Kullu Manali), Rick Brown, 70, has planned to challenge the terrains of Nepal and Bhutan this month. Rich has so far driven his car 3,50,000 kms (since 1996) in 60 countries. Rick Brown, a 70-year-old cheerful American and his 1923 Springfield Silver Ghost Rolls-Royce, after visiting 59 countries and driving 3.5 lakh kilometers, have had a dream long back to drive on some of the highest and challenging mountain passes in Himachal and Ladakh. It was Monday and Tuesday, when Rick made history after successfully driving his 89-year-old vintage car on 18,380 feet high Khardung-la. According to Rick, his car is the most driven Rolls-Royce of the world. Keep driving his car is the passion of Rick who proudly said that India is the 60th country he had visited on his Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost but he was upset as he could not obtain permission from Defense Ministry and Home Ministry to drive on 18,634 feet high Marsimik-la for September 5. “Now I can drive only up to Pangong Tso. Still I’ll be driving on some high altitude mountain passes here till next couple of days,” he said. Most of the people would be terrified only with imagination to drive on terrains along Manali-Leh-Srinagar highway with some of the highest motorable passes of the world like Rohtang, Baralacha, Lachung-la and Khardung-la. But, this elderly American is going to do so with his 1923 make vintage car. And he has s uccessfully cleared all hard phases of the tour. When many modern high efficient jeeps had given up before bad condition of Manali-Rohtang highway, Rick drove his car like he was enjoying a ride on
After making record of driving 1923 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost on Manali-Leh-Srinagar highway and 18,380 feet high Khardung-la with help of Himachal Vacation Travels and Adventure (Now Discover Kullu Manali), Rick Brown, 70, has planned to challenge the terrains of Nepal and Bhutan this month. Rich has so far driven his car 3,50,000 kms (since 1996)
