Following two days of consistent rainfall the areas located in higher altitudes also received substantial snowfall on the weekend. Higher altitude regions including the famous destination for tourists and snow sports enthusiasts—Auli near Joshimath are covered by a white blanket of snow. The change in weather and snowfall has stirred up hope among those in the hospitality business and other income generation activities linked with tourism.
The tourists who had arrived in this region of Chamoli district earlier before the snowfall on the weekend are making the most of the opportunity provided by snowfall in Auli and other higher altitude areas. The tourists visiting Auli from various parts of India and abroad are enjoying the snow covered slope and the panoramic view of high Himalayan peaks visible from this area.
One such tourist visiting Uttarakhand—Alpana Mandal from Kolkata, West Bengal, said that she was enthralled by the beauty of Auli and the Himalayan region especially after the snowfall. A local businessman, Kuldeep said that Auli is covered by a layer of snow about a couple of feet in thickness. The local traders and others earning from tourism related activities have had their hopes revived as the snow is expected to attract tourists at a time when many in the tourism and agriculture sectors are coping with the detrimental effects of delayed rain and other aspects of climatic change.
Following the snowfall on Saturday, on Sunday too the lower altitude areas experienced rainfall while considerable snowfall in the higher altitudes was being reported till the time of this report being filed. It now remains to be seen whether the snowfall and change in weather result in increased tourist footfalls in the area in the coming days.