Keylong in Lahaul shivers at -7.3°C as cold wave grips Himachal, tourists flock to snow-covered destinations
Hoteliers say advance bookings have started pouring in for Christmas, New Year
The Newz Radar
SHIMLA: Over the past 24 hours, Himachal Pradesh has experienced a substantial drop in maximum temperatures, with the average falling below normal levels.
The Meteorological Centre in Shimla has predicted clear weather across the state until December 11, offering some respite from the cold as sunshine breaks through. The capital city Shimla and its surrounding areas witnessed clear skies on Tuesday (December 5, 2023).
Keylong, the district headquarters of tribal Lahaul-Spiti, was the coldest in the state at -7.3°C. Following are the minimum temperatures recorded at 8 am:
Shimla: 4.6°C
Sundernagar: 4.7°C
Bhuntar: 2.1°C
Kalpa: -1.6°C
Dharamshala: 8.2°C
Una: 6.4°C
Nahan: 10.1°C
Keylong: -7.3°C
Palampur: 5.2°C
Solan: 5.5°C
Manali: -0.6°C
Kangra: 7°C
Chamba: 6.1°C
Dalhousie: 6°C
Jubbarhatti: 7.6°C
Kufri: 2.5°C
Narkanda: 0.4°C
Rekong Peo: 0.9°C
Seubag: 1.8°C
Dhaulakuan: 11.6°C
Barthin: 7.7°C
Samdho: -2.8°C
Paonta Sahib: 13°C
Dehragopipur: 10°C
The recent snowfall and the allure of scenic landscapes have driven an increased influx of tourists to picturesque Manali and other hill stations. Damaged roads from recent floods are not deterring tourists, who are making advanced hotel bookings.
Anticipating a surge during Christmas and New Year, tourism businesses are gearing up for the upcoming peak season. While the summer season saw a decline in tourist numbers, the data from the green tax barrier indicates that approximately 600 tourist vehicles now arrive in Manali daily, up from 400 just last week.
Shimla too has witnessed a rise in bookings of hotels. Anil Chandel, the owner of Hotel Rocky Knob at Navbahar near Sanjauli, said advance bookings had started pouring in for Christmas and New Year.
