A reducing snow cover and warmer temperatures over the years are pushing the ski slope regions from middle altitude hills of Himachal Pradesh to the higher reaches, leaving ski enthusiasts dejected and triggering anxiety among winter sport lovers about the changing climate pattern.
It is mid-January, but the erstwhile capital of British India – Shimla is yet to witness the season’s first snowfall, and as the State capital over the past decade has been witnessing an inconsistent, abrupt, and reducing trend of snowfall, the winter sports admirers have been forced to move to higher reaches of mountains to scout for snow-capped slopes to glide smoothly for skiing.
In yesteryears, the Shimla town Kufri, a popular tourist spot, situated at around 8,800 feet, was a paradise for the skiers, but over the years due to a gradual decrease in snowfall and rampant construction on the once pristine ski slopes, the skiers now prefer high altitude slopes in Solang valley in Manali, and at Keylong and Sissu in Lahaul-Spiti district, situated at an altitude ranging 9,000-10,300 feet.
