SRINAGAR: Early snowfall in Gulmarg and other areas of Kashmir has boosted the tourism industry, with visitors flocking to the valley to take in the scenery. Several tourists who had come to see the magic of the crimson Chinar leaves falling in Autumn here were pleasantly surprised when they were able to catch the white Gulmarg due to early snowfall on Thursday and Friday. “We were in Srinagar when we heard the weather was changing. So we came here to see the valley’s scenic beauty. It’s not wrong to say that if you want to see heaven, go to Kashmir, to Gulmarg…we’re feeling great,” Manzar Khan, a Delhi tourist, said.“We enjoyed ourselves after coming here,” Asim Kumar Raut from Odisha said. We were expecting snow, but not snowfall, which we witnessed for the first time.” Tourists who rushed to Gulmarg after the snowfall were seen building snow structures. They had a great time sliding, skating, and taking pictures of the snow-covered mountains. “I’m visiting Kashmir for the first time. It’s called heaven on Earth, and I saw it for myself today. We visited Pahalgam and Sonmarg before arriving in Gulmarg today. It’s a lovely valley. “I’m seeing snow for the first time here,” Suhail Ahmad of West Bengal said.Pravidha, a Pune resident, praised Kashmir’s hospitality and encouraged everyone to visit the valley to experience its allure. “This is my first visit to Kashmir, and I hope to return soon.” I saw snow for the first time in my life here, and it’s something you can’t get from photos or videos; you have to come here. The locals are also very nice. “The staff, the cab drivers are all very nice and helpful, and I believe the Kashmiri food is also very good,” she said. “Kashmir is a hundred times better than what we had imagined, it’s like we have come to heaven, and the people here are amazing, they are very cooperative also,” said a visitor from Gujarat. Locals in the tourism industry anticipate increased business this winter as early snowfall has generated positive “word of mouth” publicity for Kashmir as a destination. “The festival holidays have become a popular time for tourists to visit.” “The feedback we’ve received from our guests gives us hope for a better winter season,” said Shoaib Ali, a tour operator.
