Unlike last year, the snowfall failed to keep a date with the ‘Queen of Hills‘ this year, shattering the hopes of many tourists who made a beeline to Shimla, with hopes pinned on ‘White Christmas’.
In 2016, Shimla experienced snowfall on Christmas, almost after a gap of almost 24 years. Prior to it, in 1991, Shimla experienced 49 cms of snow on Christmas Eve.
With tourist thronging Shimla, in large numbers, noticeable on the Ridge and the Mall Road, the more than 150-year-old Christ Church was the most visited place of Shimla city marking the Christmas fervour.
The hotels were almost houseful, as many of the tourist-driven by snow charm and had already got their advance bookings done.
“We were hopeful of snowfall and had planned to visit Shimla around the time of Christmas. Although, it has left us disappointed” but still the weather is pleasant, said Rahul Gupta, a tourist from Delhi, who reached Shimla on Sunday along with his family.
While, snowfall has eluded Christmas, even the hopes of White New Year is a wishful thought for most of the locals and the tourist.
Director of Metrological Department (Shimla) Manmohan Singh said that the weather forecast does not predict any snowfall for almost a week. The notion of white Christmas was becoming a rarity, as it was in 1991 and 2016 that Shimla experienced snow on Christmas, he added.
He further revealed that weather would continue to be dry, with the temperature expected to be higher than the normal.
The Metrological Department, Shimla, is receiving calls, inquiring about the weather conditions, he said, adding that the tourist have been inquiring about chances of snow and those tourists who have already arrived in Shimla are inquiring of the possibility of snowfall so as to prolong their visit so that they can enjoy the snow if there was any possibility.
With bright sunny day, the maximum temperature recorded in Shimla is 15.6 degree Celsius, while the minimum temperature stood at 4.5 degree Celsius.
“In wake of the heavy tourist rush, especially during Christmas and New Year, the Indian Railways had also started holiday special narrow gauge trains for the tourist to reach Shimla. The special service that started on December 22 and will run till January 15, 2018,” said Shimla Station Superintendent Sanjay Ghera.
Shimla Hoteliers and Restaurant Association President, Harnam Singh Kukreja said, “After a lean period this year, the tourist influx has finally picked up, and hotels are houseful. The rush is almost the same that had been last year during the time of Christmas and New Year.”