Srinagar, December 15
Though the tourism department may have cancelled the Christmas carnival this year due to the ongoing Assembly elections, the department is all set to organise the ‘Kashmir Snow Festival’ at Gulmarg from the second week of January with a view to promote the state as an adventure tourism hub. “It would be futile to host any event at Gulmarg on the eve of Christmas as the last phase of elections is scheduled for December 24 thereby making it difficult for people to come to Gulmarg,” said Farooq Ahmad Shah, Director Tourism Department.

Gulmarg the popular tourist resort, also known as the queen of hills, is one of the most affordable places for winter games. “The Kashmir Snow Festival at Gulmarg would be thrown open from the second week of January next year and we expect a fair number of participants making a bee-line to Gulmarg,” said Shah.

Interestingly, the Tourism Department has planned to organise National Snow Rugby Championship, Ice Skating Championship and Skiing Championship in which both locals and tourist can participate. “Snow Rugby and other winter sports were organised during the last few years and we saw a fair number of participants taking active part in them,” said Shah adding that the dates for these events shall be finalised within a week’s time. “We have the best slopes in the world at Gulmarg and skiing has potential to generate huge revenue for the state if explored efficiently,” he said.

Besides, Kashmir also has the distinction of having natural powder snow which is created artificially in other parts of the world so as to attract foreign skiers. “We receive natural powder snow here during winter which most of the foreign tourists prefer for skiing activities whereas in other parts of the world the slopes are artificially created and the absence of powder snow does not give the skiers the thrill which they enjoy here in Kashmir,” said Shah.

To facilitate the skiers, the Tourism Department also rents out ski equipments at normal rates and the department is planning of procuring more lifts and gadgets to cater to the needs of international skiers. “There is ski shop at Gulmarg which provides all the equipments to the skiers on normal rates and ours is the only resort in the world which provides world class services at cheapest rates,” said Shah “We charge Rs 90 to each skier for a pass whose validity ends at the end of the day. However those skiers who stay for more than a week or month can avail facilities of weekly and monthly passes.”
As per reports, an entertainment segment is also being added to the snow festival for which the Tourism Department has already roped in various cultural groups to entertain the visitors. “Local artists will perform during the Snow festival in the evenings and we will make sure that the tourists as well as the locals will remember these evenings for their entire lifetime,” said Shah adding that the department is also planning to hold a food festival where tourists can relish the traditional Kashmiri Wazwan and hot beverages like Saffron Kahwa and Noon Chai.
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