Pull out your winter jackets and coats, as the popular hill station of Gulmarg in Kashmir has just experienced its first snowfall of the season, and has even reopened its famous gondola rides for tourists. By Amitha Ameen
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Kashmir’s Gulmarg saw its first snowfall of the season last week bringing the much-needed joy and cheer to tourism in the region, which suffered a major hit due to the pandemic. The hill stations, which is also a popular skiing destination, is a crowd-puller for its famous gondola rides, which are also one of the highest cable cars in the world.
After being closed for six months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Gulmarg–Kongdoori section of the gondola ride can once again be seen flooded with tourists all queued up for their turn. These rides are so popular that even at a ticket price of just INR 740 to INR 950, they had managed to collect INR 30 crores in 2019.
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The gondola ride in Gulmarg reaches an altitude of more than 12,000 feet and takes one through snow-covered valleys, pine forests, and offers panoramic views of the Himalayas. As for the precautions this year, nobody is allowed on board without a mask; proper social distancing is also being ensured and all the gondolas are being sanitised after each round.
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As of now, the gondolas in Gulmarg are only slated to operate over the weekends. Those wishing to visit the town, or any other place in Kashmir will have to take a mandatory COVID-19 test upon arrival. Since the destination is a popular winter haven for travellers, it is all the more important to exercise caution while planning a trip to the region during peak tourist season.
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