The holy Badrinath, Kedarnath and Hemkund Sahib shrines in Uttarakhand have received a new blanket of snow, and it is an indicator of the onset of winter in the Himalayan Valley. This was a sudden shift in the weather that went down to below zero degrees Celsius in temperature that turned the beautiful Char Dham valleys into a white wonderland.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) says that the snowfall was caused by a western disturbance that passed through the western Himalayas, leading to rain in the lower areas and snow in the higher areas. Moderate to light snowfall was recorded in the higher areas of Chamoli, Rudraprayag, and Uttarkashi on Wednesday, with the Badrinath and Kedarnath undergoing intermittent snowfall all night long.
Reports at Hemkund Sahib, which is at an altitude of more than 15,000 feet, revealed that almost two feet of snow were deposited in the area, making the movement of devotees and trekkers strenuous. The local government has recommended that pilgrims should be cautious and follow the weather forecasts before deciding to visit the high-altitude shrines.
Badrinath and Kedarnath have recorded mercury temperatures below zero. The disaster management department, in its advisory, recommended that people visiting should ensure that they wear proper warm-up clothes and that they do not have to travel unnecessarily at night. There has also been the impact of poor visibility and icy conditions on mountain routes with regard to helicopter services and road connectivity.
This first snow has had both positive and negative reception. When the pilgrims and tourists are being spellbound by the snow-kissing temples and mountains, the locals are gearing up to spend a very long and very severe winter. The early snow is known to interfere with the supply, transport and basic services in the isolated rocky regions. Even the farmers worry about the outcome of late harvests.
The snowfall has, however, made the tourism industry in the state cheerful. This picturesque metamorphosis of the Char Dham shrines is attracting tourists and camera workers who long to see the incumbent phenomenon of snow-capped temples. Tour operators in Rudraprayag and Joshimath have received more requests for winter trips.
The weather is projected to be low in the next few days, and the authorities are closely monitoring the situation and advising tourists to take care of all the safety recommendations. Snow-covered Badrinath, Kedarnath and Hemkund Sahib now serve as peaceful reminders of the onset of winter in the Himalaya, breathtaking and requiring all their might to respect the power of nature.
