Many people seem to be surprised that India can also be a prime destination for winter in terms of sports and much else. The Indian subcontinent has often been taken to be of generally tropical climate that it literally cannot have snow. This is true, but only partly. The truth is that India is so vast that the lower part touching the Indian Ocean is largely tropical, but the upper regions bordering the Himalayan Mountain Ranges can have very cold weather and snow in the mountains. Winter is part of their climatic seasons, too, as in temperate countries.
India is framed by China in the east, Pakistan in the west, Nepal in the northern part and the Indian Ocean in the south. The terrain is characterized by wide plateaus and plains, sandy deserts, dense forests and towering mountains, some boring, many spectacular. The southern part is annually visited by monsoon rains and typhoons, while the northern part experiences blizzards also almost yearly. The extreme ends of the country have extreme weathers, so to speak.
However, snow falls only on three states which are near the Himalayas: Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu/Kashmir, especially the last where every so often travel and some activities are restricted by blizzards. Winter in the Himalayan states is from January to March, with the coldest months being December and January when temperatures can drop to 10 degrees Celsius, compared to 25 degrees Celsius for the lower tropical states, higher in places nearer the equator. Thus, winter activities are limited to the three northern states above.
However, Kashmir is one of the restricted states where travel is allowed only through requests to the District Magistrate. While there are conducted tours, no one is allowed to go alone, and group tours are encouraged. Groups of about 20 people, the maximum number permitted, must be accompanied by a liaison officer to ensure hassle-free trips. Details may be obtained from the Ministry of Tourism or Indian embassies.
Himachal Pradesh is another restricted area but permits are easily secured from the offices of the MHA, Police General, Special Commissioner or Resident Commissioner. Solo travel is also not allowed, and trekking is the only activity doable in the state. Other states are not so restricted so you can roam freely as you wish. However, having a tour guide is best to understand the areas you go to and find the most interesting events or places.
What can you do in winter in India? Skating, skiing, snowboarding, sledding and ice climbing are a few. Some go para-gliding from the mountains or explore them by mountaineering, while others prefer spelunking or simply touring the historically significant places to see the ruins of temples, palaces and gardens of the moguls, the majestic and incredibly wealthy rulers of ancient India. You don’t have to have snow to enjoy a winter vacation in India.
So book your winter tour in India. It is a country where you can go from summer to winter in a few days, and enjoy the activities of both seasons. Guaranteed.
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