Winter Is Coming

This year is getting ready to wrap up with its last couple of seasons. Winter is set to roll in, and we are already making a list of places tucked away in the Himalayas where we can see myriad shades of winter, go skiing, skate on picture-postcard lakes, and go for walks on snow-laden paths to clear away the pandemic cobwebs. Here are 5 places in India for the perfect winter escape.

 

Tsomgo Lake, Sikkim 

 

Colonial charm, Raj-era bungalows, excellent cafes and bakeries, and a vibrant Christmas scene, the capital city of Himachal Pradesh has one of the best winter scenes in India.

 

Go for long walks, cisit the beautiful Christ Church on the Ridge, go ice skating, take a ride on the heritage Kalka-Shimla railway, there's so much to do here. Or just cosy up in front of a fire with a book of Shimla's ghost stories and a cup of hot chocolate. 

 

 

Nestled in between the snow-capped slopes of the Pir Panjal and the Dhauladhar ranges, Manali is one of the most popular hill stations in the country. Walks along pine-laden paths are accompanied by the murmur of the Beas river. There are some stunning skiing and paragliding points at Solang valley, if you are into adventure sports. 

Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir

Situated on the banks of the Liddar river, this town in Kashmir is popular for many outdoor adventure options. The trek to Kolhoi Glaciers via the beautiful village Aru is breathtaking. The local people also offer sledging sessions on frozen glaciers. The long stretches of rivers are the perfect site for people who enjoy trout fishing. Walking near the river bank is a rejuvenating experience.

 

An offbeat destination, located about 20 kms from Shimla, Kufri is the starting point of treks to Manali, Rewalsar and Fagu among others. The three towns of Kufri, Shimla and Chail form the Golden Triangle of Himachal Pradesh. During winter, the place hosts a Winter Sports festival (generally in February) with skiing competitions, tobogganing and go karting.