Darjeeling, 05 January (H.S.): It looks as though a thick carpet of snow has been spread across the mountains. From Sandakphu and Phalut in Darjeeling to Sikkim’s Zuluk, Changu Valley, Nathu La Pass and Yumthang Valley, the landscape is covered in snow as far as the eye can see. Trees, vegetation and even rooftops are buried under heavy layers of snow. Snow-covered roads have led to growing difficulties, with tourist vehicles skidding, visibility dropping sharply and concerns rising over low oxygen levels. Despite the risks, a large number of tourists continue to arrive to enjoy the breathtaking winter scenery..

The snowfall, which began on the first day of the new year in the Yumthang Valley, shows no signs of stopping. Heavy snowfall is continuously occurring at several major tourist destinations, including Changu Valley, Nathu La Pass, and Baba Mandir. The intensity of the snowfall increased further from Saturday night. The mountain slopes, forests, and high mountain passes are covered in a white blanket of snow. Crowds of tourists with cameras and special winter equipment are being seen in the snow-covered areas. Children are seen playing in the snow, and there's a rush to take selfies. Many tourists consider themselves lucky to witness such scenes.

However, the cold is extremely severe. The daytime temperature in Gangtok has reached around 8 degrees Celsius, while the night temperature is hovering around zero. In high-altitude areas like Nathu La, the temperature has dropped to minus 5 degrees Celsius. The icy winds are making the cold feel even more intense. Despite the bad weather, the number of tourists is continuously increasing. In the hilly areas of Darjeeling, the situation is such that accommodation is becoming scarce. Heavy crowds are also being seen in Sandakphu. Since Christmas, Darjeeling and Sikkim have been witnessing a surge in tourists hoping to experience snowfall.

According to the Sikkim Tourism Department, hotels and homestays in North Sikkim are almost fully booked. S.K. Subba, advisor to the Sikkim government's Tourism and Civil Aviation Department, said that the number of tourists is increasing rapidly, and almost all hotels in North Sikkim are already full due to the snowfall. Last Sunday, more than 6,000 tourists visited the Nathu La Pass and Tsomgo Lake in East Sikkim. Tourism department officials said that since Christmas, tourists have been flocking to North Sikkim hoping to witness snowfall. Continuous snowfall is also being reported in the Zero Point area.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey