Tourists flocked to Kashmir Valley in large numbers to ring in the New Year, with popular tourist resorts completely sold out. 

Although the government refrained from observing the New Year celebrations due to a seven-day mourning following the death of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, hundreds of tourists thronged famous destinations like Gulmarg and Pahalgam to celebrate the New Year. 

Hotels and guest houses in Gulmarg, the famous ski resort located at an altitude of 8,694 ft, were fully booked with tourists from across the country making a beeline for the destination to celebrate the New Year. 

Sharif Ahmad Dar, Assistant Manager, Hotel Grand Mumtaz told buisnessline that all hotels in the area were fully booked. 

The recent snowfall, which blanketed the lofty mountain peaks surrounding the destination, drew more tourists to the area. 

Amidist bone-chilling temperatures of minus 8.8 degrees Celsius, droves of  tourists in Gulmarg were seen welcoming the arrival of new year with a dazzling display of fireworks. 

“Seeing everything draped in white evokes a surreal feeling in us,” said a tourist couple from Maharashtra. 

The website of Jammu and Kashmir Cable Car Corporation indicates that the tickets for Gandola ride, one of the world’s highest cable cars, were sold out until January 8, 2025. 

An official said that around 4000 visitors take Gandola ride each day. 

The hotels in Pahalgam, another coveted tourist destination, some 90 km south Kashmir, witnessed  around 80 to 90 per cent occupancy on the eve of New Year. 

The destination clocked a minus temperature of minus 7.6 degrees, 

Raja Yaqoob, Director Tourism, Kashmir said that almost 3 million tourists including Amarnath Yatris visited the Valley in 2024. 

“We also witnessed a 10 to 12 percent increase in foreign tourist,” Yaqoob said. 

A snowy start

The Valley started the new year on a snowy note with meteorologists anticipating more from the evening of January 1. 

Dr Mukhtar Ahmad, Director of Indian Meteorological Department for Jammu and Kashmir told businessline that two back to back western disturbances were hitting Jammu and Kashmir.

“A weak western disturbance will hit the region between  Wednesday evening and Thursday morning bringing a light snowfall,” said the official. 

He said that another western disturbance is set to hit Jammu and Kashmir between January 4 to January 6, bringing moderate to heavy snowfall in the Valley and widespread rains in the plains of Jammu.