It's a White Christmas in Kashmir Valley

23 Dec 2013 4:01 PM IST

Since the beginning of Winter solstice, the Kashmir valley has wrapped itself in snow blanket. And to tourist’s surprise Santa seems to have sprinkled Christmas cheers across the valley as people in Himachal and Kashmir are enthralled to celebrate a
A car stuck in a snow-clad area after snowfall at Gulmarg in Baramulla district on Monday.
People enjoying on a snow-clad hill after fresh snowfall in Kufri located around 17 kilometres from Shimla on Monday.
A scene after snowfall in Gulmarg, Baramulla district of North Kashmir on Monday.
Paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel patrol along the 300-km long Srinagar-Jammu National highway near Qazigund which remained closed for the second consecutive day on Monday for vehicular traffic due to heavy snowfall.
A train runs on Banihal-Baramulla railway track during snowfall in Qazigund on Monday.
Paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel patrol along the 300-km long Srinagar-Jammu National highway near Qazigund during heavy snowfall on Monday.
Qazigund: Icicles hang from electric wires after heavy snowfall in Qazigund Anantnag district on Sunday.
A man walks on a snow-covered road after the season’s first snowfall in the northern hill town of Shimla, India, Sunday.
Qazigund: A queue of stranded trucks on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, which was closed for vehicular traffic due to heavy snowfall in Qazigund, 69 kms from Srinagar on Sunday.
The revered Mata Vaishno Devi cave shrine in Reasi district got the season's first snowfall as around 12,000 pilgrims were on their way to pay homage. Trikuta hills and nearby areas received season's first snowfall on Saturday night.
CRPF jawans showing their skills on snow during CRPF's attestation cum-passing out parade at Humhama in Srinagar.
CRPF's jawans defies cold during a skill show at the CRPF's attestation cum-passing out parade amidst snow at Humhama in Srinagar on Sunday.
An exile Tibetan walks with his umbrella during the season’s first snow falls in Dharmsala, India, Sunday.
The cold wave tightened its grip on the high-altitude areas of the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh as the snow arrived early this year causing a dip in the mercury considerably. Seen here - People stand near a car covered in snow during
Two young exile Tibetans push a motor bike to help a man drive uphill during the season’s first snow falls in Dharmsala.
Though 'Chillai-Kalan' would end on January 31, the winter continues after that. The 40-day harshest period would be followed by a 20-day long "Chillai Khurd" (small cold) and a 10-day long "Chillai Bachha" (baby cold).
This year, however, the cold wave in the Valley began earlier than the normal period of 'Chillai Kalan', with the high altitude areas including Gulmarg recording the first snowfall at the fag end of October. Seen here - Srinagar: Vehicles are parked
The winter games at the skiing resort of Gulmarg are also held during this period. Seen here- A vehicle moves on snow-covered road after the season's first snowfall in Shimla on Sunday.
Chillai-Kalan, which begins with Winter Solstice on December 21, is the period when the chances of snowfall are maximum and most frequent. seen here - Snow clad park at Pir Gali during snowfall in Poonch on Saturday.
There were also reports of snowfall from other areas of the valley including Shopian, Jawahar Tunnel and Sonamarg.
Exile Tibetan students walk in snow as the season’s first snow falls in Dharmsala.
The town received 2 cms of snow, he said. Kokernag, in south Kashmir, which recorded a low of minus 1.4 degrees Celsius the previous night, registered a minimum of minus 2.7 degrees Celsius on Monday morning. A Kashmiri man cuts a wooden log as he
Qazigund, the gateway town to Kashmir Valley - recorded a low of minus 2.6 degree Celsius, almost three degrees down as compared to the previous night’s 0.2 degrees Celsius. Seen here - A Kashmiri man walks on a snow covered field on the outskirts
Tourists enjoy the first snowfall of the season in Shimla on Sunday.
The cold wave tightened its grip on the Kashmir Valley, where the mercury dropped considerably, while the upper reaches of Gulmarg and Pahalgam resorts received snowfall. Seen here - A view of snow-covered houseboats after first snowfall of the
Pahalgam hill resort, which serves as a base camp during the annual Amarnath yatra, received 20 cms of snow. Seen here - A view of snow-clad trees and houses in Manali on Sunday.
The famous ski-resort of Gulmarg received around 1.25 cms of snow and the night temperature recorded a drop of three degrees to settle at a low of minus 9.6 degrees Celsius during Sunday night as compared to 6.6 degrees Celsius the previous night.
According the the Met department the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, received 0.5 mm of rainfall during Sunday night and the mercury went down to settle at a low of minus 0.4 degrees Celsius, as compared to the previous night's 0.3 degrees
Kashmir received fresh snowfall on Sunday and the minimum temperature across the Valley and Ladakh region further fell to settle below the freezing point. Seen here - People walking in snow after overnight snowfall in Bhaderwah 200 kms from Jammu,
The higher reaches of Kashmir Valley and Himchal Pradesh received season’s first snowfall on 21 dec which is continuing till now. Seen here - A snow-covered train moves on Srinagar- Qazigund railway track in Anantnag district on Sunday.
With North India in the grip of intense cold with 40 days of harshest winter period also known as 'Chillai-Kalan', Jammu and Kashmir reeled under icy winds, rains and snowfall. Seen here - A man plays with a 'snow-man' in Pir Gali during snowfall in
But the snowfall has also claimed two teenagers life in an avalanche in Gurez area of north Kashmir's Bandipora district. A rescue team was rushed to the spot and both the bodies were recovered after a massive search. The area had received heavy

Since the beginning of Winter solstice, the Kashmir valley has wrapped itself in snow blanket. And to tourist’s surprise Santa seems to have sprinkled Christmas cheers across the valley as people in Himachal and Kashmir are enthralled to celebrate a

It's a White Christmas in Kashmir Valley

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It's a White Christmas in Kashmir Valley

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