Gulmarg snow festival attracts tourists

Gulmarg , Dec 26 (ANI): Tourists are thronging the snow covered picturesque and pristine Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir to take part in the annual snow festival. he snow festival, involving a number of events like snow cycling, ice hockey and snow rugby, began on Friday.

State tourism department has planned campaigns to promote Gulmarg as a global winter tourism destination.

"We want to showcase the beautiful valleys and slopes of Gulmarg to the world. Through this festival we want to attract the skiers from around the world. This snow festival is a way to give a kick start to Gulmarg," said Nawang Rigzin Jora, Tourism Minister of Jammu and Kashmir.

Tourists from the plains are thrilled to see the snowfall, some of them experiencing it for the first time.

"This is my first time I am here and I feel that I am in paradise. Those who think that there is fear of terrorism, I must say that they are wrong. I have come for the first time and I'm loving it, everyone should visit this place once in their lifetime," said Ajit Sharma, a tourist from Mumbai.

Gulmarg is a favourite destination for tourists to indulge in winter sports. (ANI)