Bhanu P Lohumi,Tribune News Service,Shimla, December 23

Hundreds of tourists thronging the city for Christmas and New Year went into raptures as the Queen of Hills experienced the season’s first snow.The sky was clear in the morning but icy cold winds swept across the region, bringing down the temperature to minus 0.2 degrees Celsius.The snowfall lasted one-and-a-half hour, covering roads and rooftops. Kufri on the outskirts of Shimla received 5-6 cm snow.“Hotels have been booked and in a day or two, the occupancy will be 100 per cent,” said Additional General Manager, Himachal Pradesh Tourism Corporation Development (HPTDC), Vijay Sharma.The Tourism Department has planned winter carnival with a plethora of activities to entertain the tourists and make their stay enjoyable while most of the posh hotels are organising gala nights on Christmas and New Year’s Eve.Higher reaches in Kinnaur, Lahaul-Spiti and Chamba also witnessed snowfall, aggravating the cold conditions in the adjoining areas.Mercury hovered around the freezing point. Keylong and Kalpa in Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur districts recording a low of minus 9.9 degrees Celsius and minus 4.4 degrees Celsius.Manali recorded minus 2.6 degrees Celsius, Una minus 2.0 degrees Celsius, Solan 0.4 degrees Celsius, Sundernagar 0.6 degrees Celsius, Bhuntar and Palampur 1.0 degrees Celsius. The local Met office has predicted dry weather in the region in the next two days with rain and snow in mid and high hills on December 26 and 27.The hills turn white Manali recorded minus 2.6 degrees Celsius, Una minus 2.0 degrees Celsius, Solan 0.4 degrees Celsius, Sundernagar 0.6 degrees Celsius, Bhuntar and Palampur 1.0 degrees Celsius. The local Met office has predicted dry weather in the region in the next two days with rain and snow in mid and high hills on December 26 and 27

Manali hoteliers eye profit

• Higher reaches of Kullu, Mandi and tourist spot Manali today experienced another spell of snowfall. Nearly 1 cm of snow was recorded in Manali
• Lower reaches were lashed by intermittent rain, intensifying the cold wave
• Christmas is round the corner and snow has cheered the tourism industry
• Shyam, an entrepreneur at Manali, said the number of tourists was up and there were a good number of bookings for Christmas and New Year
• Sunil, a tourist from Delhi, said he was delighted to see the snow and had extended his stay till Christmas. He said they visited the Solang Nullah on Tuesday and it was a fun-filled trip
• Many hotels have started offering packages for Christmas and New Year. Manali Hoteliers’ Association vice-president Budhi Prakash Thakur said various events and parties would be organised at many places. He said huge rush was expected this season
• Higher reaches in Mandi, including the Chauhar valley, Thunag in Janjheli, Shikari Devi, Kamrunag and Rohanda, Chindi, Pandar and Chowki in Karsog, also witnessed fresh snowfall