Darjeeling ready for a 'Swiss' holiday
Deep Gazmer,TNN | Feb 18, 2014,DARJEELING: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee's efforts to turn Darjeeling into Switzerland has just got some divine intervention.
The political turmoil in Darjeeling arguably subsiding with the GJM and the ruling party now on same page, it seems the weather god has once again become kind to the Queen of Hills. The result: The Hills got its first major snowfall since 2008, thereby giving the locals a genuine reason to cheer for. With thousands of enquiries pouring in from all corners of the country, the snowfall has catapulted Darjeeling back to being one of the most-sought tourist destinations in the eastern region.
For hotels in Darjeeling, the peak business season has set in much earlier than expected. "A group from Chhattisgarh has just checked in and will be staying for a couple of days. Chances are high that the group could extend their stay for some more days if it snows again," said Rajesh Rajak, general manager of Hotel Anand Palace, which has already got reservations for 60 rooms next month.
"Normally, the season starts in April and ends in mid-June but our rooms are booked for March and inquiries are still coming in," he added.
On Sunday, snowfall at Tiger Hill near Jorebungalow lasted for about two hours, thereby accumulating two inches of snow.
Temperature has hovered around 3-4 degree for the last couple of days but it rose to 8 degree on Monday. However, a short stint of hailstorm and the temperature dropping to below 2 degree on Monday night gave rise to anticipation of further snowfall in Darjeeling and surrounding areas.
A major snowfall has evaded the Hill town as the last significant one was on January 26, 2008, when the entire town was bathed in white. Since then, stray incidents of snowfall has been recorded only at Tiger Hill and Sandakphu near the India-Nepal border.
The Hills was in turmoil and tourist refused to venture into Darjeeling for nearly four years from 2007 to 2011 due to the statehood agitation. However, tourists have started flocking back to their dream destination with the signing of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) accord in 2011 and the ruling Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) party and state government promising peace.
"I have come with my family and will stay in Darjeeling for three to four days. On my way up I heard about Sunday's snowfall at Tiger Hill. The driver of my hired vehicle told me there are chances of more snowfall because of the weather conditions. I hope I am lucky to witness the first snowfall of my life," said Jitendra Singh Rajput from Agra who checked into Dip Palace on Monday.
The political turmoil in Darjeeling arguably subsiding with the GJM and the ruling party now on same page, it seems the weather god has once again become kind to the Queen of Hills. The result: The Hills got its first major snowfall since 2008, thereby giving the locals a genuine reason to cheer for. With thousands of enquiries pouring in from all corners of the country, the snowfall has catapulted Darjeeling back to being one of the most-sought tourist destinations in the eastern region.
For hotels in Darjeeling, the peak business season has set in much earlier than expected. "A group from Chhattisgarh has just checked in and will be staying for a couple of days. Chances are high that the group could extend their stay for some more days if it snows again," said Rajesh Rajak, general manager of Hotel Anand Palace, which has already got reservations for 60 rooms next month.
"Normally, the season starts in April and ends in mid-June but our rooms are booked for March and inquiries are still coming in," he added.
On Sunday, snowfall at Tiger Hill near Jorebungalow lasted for about two hours, thereby accumulating two inches of snow.
Temperature has hovered around 3-4 degree for the last couple of days but it rose to 8 degree on Monday. However, a short stint of hailstorm and the temperature dropping to below 2 degree on Monday night gave rise to anticipation of further snowfall in Darjeeling and surrounding areas.
A major snowfall has evaded the Hill town as the last significant one was on January 26, 2008, when the entire town was bathed in white. Since then, stray incidents of snowfall has been recorded only at Tiger Hill and Sandakphu near the India-Nepal border.
The Hills was in turmoil and tourist refused to venture into Darjeeling for nearly four years from 2007 to 2011 due to the statehood agitation. However, tourists have started flocking back to their dream destination with the signing of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) accord in 2011 and the ruling Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) party and state government promising peace.
"I have come with my family and will stay in Darjeeling for three to four days. On my way up I heard about Sunday's snowfall at Tiger Hill. The driver of my hired vehicle told me there are chances of more snowfall because of the weather conditions. I hope I am lucky to witness the first snowfall of my life," said Jitendra Singh Rajput from Agra who checked into Dip Palace on Monday.
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