Several places in Jammu and Kashmir marked the start of Chillai Kalan – a 40-day period of intense winter cold – with the first snowfall of the season on Sunday. This downpour in Kashmir ended the long dry spell and opened the door for a lucrative winter season for the economy, which is primarily driven by the tourism sector.
Let’s find out about the top 4 places to visit in Jammu and Kashmir where fresh snow has fallen. Tourists in Gulmarg, Anantnag, Kishtwar and Sonamarg celebrated the wet season, while capital Srinagar recorded its warmest night this winter on December 21.
The Chillai Kalan season will end on January 31 and will be followed by “Chillai-Khurd” (Little Cold) and “Chillai-Bacha” (Child Cold). Landscapes covered in frost and snow and frozen bodies of water are typical of this period marked by sub-zero temperatures.
Gulmarg, Anantnag, Kishtwar and Sonamarg glistened in shades of white after fresh snow. You can see the picturesque winter atmosphere in the pictures below:
Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of 4 degrees Celsius on Sunday, six degrees above normal, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). While Dal Lake has been shrouded in thick fog, boat rides and sightseeing services continue to operate.
The IMD has issued a yellow alert for both Kashmir and Jammu division, predicting light to moderate snowfall at higher elevations. The minimum and maximum temperatures in Srinagar are expected to settle around 3 and 9 degrees Celsius on December 23.
The Meteorological Agency in its latest press release said, “Heavy rainfall/snowfall accompanied by snowstorm with wind speed reaching 50-60 km/h gusting to 70 km/h along with reduced visibility (<400 m) due to falling snow likely at isolated places over higher reaches of Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh, NE Himachal Pradesh during the next 24 hours.
Snow disrupts travel
Traffic on three key routes of Kashmir – Sonamarg, Mughal and Sinthan Top roads – was suspended on Sunday following accumulation of snow. IndiGo and SpiceJet airlines had to cancel two flights from Srinagar airport on Monday due to low visibility. In a post on X, the airport said: “Passengers are advised to check the status of their flight with the relevant airline for the latest updates and alternative arrangements.
A total of 14 flights were canceled at the Srinagar airport on Sunday. On Sunday, IndiGo and SpiceJet issued a passenger advisory informing about suspension of flight operations to and from Srinagar due to dense fog.
“As conditions evolve, some services may be delayed and a few may have to be canceled depending on clearances and operational feasibility,” IndiGo’s advisory said.
Even the Airports Authority of India (AAI) issued a travel advisory on Sunday due to fog in some parts of North India.
