There are a lot of people, both young and old, who still have not experienced snowfall in their lifetime. While places that experience snowfall tend to be very cold, if you have the right protective clothing, those places could be nothing short of paradise, as they are covered by a thick sheet of snow white, especially in the winter months.
India, being home to a part of the Himalayas and numerous hill-stations, makes for one of the best destinations in the world to enjoy the snowfall experience in all its surreal glory. Here are a few places in the country where you are bound to be bowled over by the beauty of snowfall.
Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh
In the winter months, the remote Spiti Valley, tucked away in the upper reaches of Himachal Pradesh, remains almost inaccessible. The standard route, traversed between Manali and Kaza, the headquarters of Spiti, is shut down because of excessive snowfall. However, you can still make it to the valley via the Shimla-Kinnaur-Spiti route, which takes a lot more time. But once you reach Spiti, be prepared to bear witness to an ancient land that is covered in the pristine white of snow from top to bottom; truly a surreal spectacle.
Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir
Like Spiti Valley, Ladakh too, is a cold mountain desert region. However, you would barely be able to notice that in the winters, when it turns into a frozen land with temperatures often dipping beyond -20°C. Ladakh is often more preferred as a winter destination than Spiti because of air accessibility. However, in winters, the locals call off almost all tourism related activities, as they huddle together in unison to keep the collective warm and strong against the snows and winds of winter.
Shimla, Himachal Pradesh
Shimla is the state capital of Himachal Pradesh, and it is probably India’s most well-developed hill-station. From posh eateries to five-star hotels, Shimla has everything that you would find in a modern-day metropolis. However, come December, the cold winds sweep in, and in a short space of time, the city is covered under a thick blanket of snow. Even though some might stay that Shimla has become a crowded tourist hotspot, the modern-day hill station ambience, coupled with the intense snowfall, is truly a thing of beauty.
Notable mentions go out to Nainital in Uttarakhand, Sonmarg in Jammu & Kashmir, and North Sikkim. Remember to carry multiple layers of winter clothing in order to make sure that you enjoy the snow without falling ill. Read more about top Indian destinations on Travelsetu.com.