Ski enthusiasts smile as Gulmarg dons thick white mantle

{HEAVY JANUARY SNOWFALL} SKIING LIKELY TO START NEXT WEEK

- Mir Ehsan

SRINAGAR: The ski enthusiasts are delighted as the January snowfall this year has led to Gulmarg resort donning a thick white cloak.

With significant snowfall early in the month, the skiing at Gulmarg is likely to start in the second week of January, much to the delight of hoteliers and others earning their livelihoods from tourism-related businesses.

The ski resort of Gulmarg has snow accumulation more than two feet already, which will go up with more snowfall expected in the next three days.

Over the past three to four years, Gulmarg was hit by low snowfall in January, cutting down on tourism and leading to cancellations of booking.

"Early snowfall helps with tourism. Because of lack of snowfall last year, a lot of cancellations happened and January looked bad. This year looks much better. Tourists will come and experience winter games such as skiing and snowboarding. Some just want to play with the snow," says hotelier Aquib Chaya.

Gulmarg is known across the globe for its powdery snow and most skiers prefer it in winters. Over the past few years, J&K has seen a spike in number of tourists.

"Yes, skiing has already started in Gulmarg. This time, the depth of snow is more than two feet," said Farhat Naik, who is an acclaimed skier and has been sharing beautiful pictures of the resort using his social media accounts.