Early snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir boosts Gulmarg Gondola as 1 million tourists take scenic ride

Operated by J&K Cable Car Corporation, Gulmarg Gondola is India's most sought-after ropeway and Asia's highest operating cable car at 14,000 feet. Recently, Raja Yaqoob, MD of J&K Cable Car Corporation, urged tourists to book Gondola rides from its official website and cautioned them against purchasing tickets from unauthorised sellers as they could become victims of fraud.

"As snowfall continues in the mountains, more tourists are expected to visit the region," Naman Bajaj, a local tour operator told CNBCTV18. "We are receiving enquiries about stays and itineraries from many tourists in north India, who didn’t travel to Shimal to celebrate the New Year. They now want to travel to Kashmir instead.

He explained, "This year Gulmarg received snow early and soon, tourists started visiting us. We have been making bookings for travellers since mid-November and it looks like the trend will continue.

Meanwhile, IMD has predicted that light snowfall is likely in some higher reaches of Kashmir. The minimum temperature across Kashmir rose slightly to provide some respite from the intense cold conditions. However, the night temperature, which settled several degrees below freezing point, was still below normal for this time of the season at most places. The continued sub-zero temperature has led to the freezing of several waterbodies, including Dal Lake, here as a thin layer of ice formed over their surface.

(With inputs from agencies)