Talk of skiing, and most people will think of the powder-white slopes of Switzerland; India, tropical country that it is, will invariably not come to mind. Which is sad, because India too offers skiing- limited, but fulfilling. Gulmarg, in Jammu and Kashmir, was a skier's Mecca for some decades before strife in the region put the brakes onl tourism- but, in the meantime, other places have appeared on the ski map of India. Kufri and Narkanda, Auli and Manali are fast gaining a reputation for good slopes- all offer a very satisfying skiing holiday.
The vast open spaces, snow clad mountains and the awesome height of skiing slopes in India are enough to pump up the adrenaline in any ski enthusiast.
India's ski resorts are largely confined to the western half of the Himalayas- in Uttaranchal and Himachal Pradesh, high enough to get a good cover of snow during the winter months, yet low enough to be easily accessible. Kufri and Narkanda in Himachal Pradesh have been frequented by skiers for decades now, while Auli is the new kid on the block- but what a kid!
All across the Himalayas, January to March is the skiing season, when the resorts are at their snowy best. By late December, most slopes are already well covered, but places really start warming up only once the New Year starts. You can go for skiing in Auli between the months of January and March. Gulmarg is good for skiing from mid-December till mid-March. You can go for skiing in Solang Valley from January till February and from March till June you can take up skiing in Gulaba, Marhi or Rohtang which is 51 kms from Manali.
Skiing Tips
Keep in mind that as a beginner you will fall down a lot while practicing and its hard to stand up also. Don't lose hope; given proper training and instruction on this sport it is not that difficult to learn
Choose to wear proper fitting ski boots that will help you keep warm. Don't be tempted to wear very thick socks or more than one pair, as this will hamper your blood circulation and your feet might become cold again
Wear ski pants instead of jeans or sweatpants. Wear waterproof jackets and gloves
Skiing Tour Operators
On reaching various skiing destinations in India you can easily find good operators and trainers. Some known names are Adventure hills, Peak Adventure Tours Pvt Ltd and Prime Travels
