Hoteliers say business booming over last three years; 7.6 lakh tourists flock scenic destination in ten months
Ganderbal, Nov 25: The tourist destination of Sonamarg has transformed into a mesmerising winter wonderland as it received the season’s after snowfall on Saturday, drawing delight from visitors hailing from Kashmir and beyond.
According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the visitors were spotted engaging in snow play, taking exhilarating sledge rides and enjoying delightful moments together
Awakening to a snowy Saturday morning became an unexpected delight for hundreds of tourists exploring Sonamarg. A family from Hyderabad joyfully expressed, “It feels like a dream come true for us, arriving in Sonamarg today and witnessing the enchanting mountains adorned with a fresh layer of snow.”
Neetu Raina, from Delhi, said, “It is like a dream come true for us that we arrived at Sonamarg today and saw the charming mountains here covered with fresh snowfall.
A couple from Delhi said they had only seen snowfall on television and social media. “This is our first visit to any hill station. Today we could see what we had been praying and dreaming of,” they said.
Another couple from Mumbai said, “We have come here for the first time. Winter in Kashmir is more beautiful than summer. We will try to come here every year in this season.”
The tourists flocked to see the snowfall at adjacent places including Zojila and Zero Point Baltal. They rushed to the famous place in Sonamarg at an altitude of over 9,000 feet above sea level to enjoy the view. While some posed for pictures, others played with the snow.
The flow of tourists is much better than what it was earlier, said a hotelier. “We’re thankful to the tourism department for the promotion,” he said.
Those associated with the tourism sector said their business has been booming over the last three years. They urged the tourism department to focus more on Sonamarg.
According to officials, 7.60 lakh tourists have visited the spot in the last ten months – from January 01 to October 31, 2024—(KNO)
