Alpine Skiing in India: A Wintertide Affair
The quintessence of a perfect winter day is huddled up in warm clothing, clutching a hot beverage and nestling in a cosy blanket. This can ideally be fulfilled at a cottage or a resort in the Himalayas. Notwithstanding some individuals who prefer the excitement of braving the icy chill of Alpine skiing. This sport, in India, is as niche as it is challenging. It mandates the requisite sub-zero gear, ability that is honed after ample practice and utmost alertness, despite the tranquil ambiance of a snow-cloaked incline transporting one to a higher, Zen-like plane of consciousness. Above everything, it necessitates snowfall. Yet, climatic anomalies this year have left Indian skiing resorts, particularly Gulmarg in Kashmir and Auli in Uttarakhand, bereft of the white vestments of winter. There has been a conspicuous absence of snowfall, leading to travel plans being scrapped and local businesses relying on ski tourism left floundering.
What Went Wrong?
Puzzling as it might seem, the winter rain and snow in India’s northern states are driven majorly by ‘westerly disturbances’ (WD), storm systems originating over the Mediterranean region, acting in west to east transits. Unfortunately, their established patterns of precipitation have been seriously compromised of late. Detailed studies are in progress, but it is evident that this season’s dearth of snowfall in western Himalayas is the result of weak WDs. These have enacted a gradual decrease in intensity and frequency over a period of time. While climate change is oft blamed for global disruptions in atmospheric systems, additional element at play over the past year has been an El Niño effect: a cyclical warm-water merry-go-round in the Pacific potentially playing a part in the paucity of snowfall observed this January. As global barriers shift in response to temperature fluctuations, wind cycles are similarly affected. While El Niño, being cyclical, may reverse imminently, the menace of global warming looms ominously overhead.
Towards an Uncertain Future
The question on everyone’s minds is if February will prove to be a saviour in bringing relief from the fascinated chatter in skiing circles. It might be prudent for businesses reliant on ski tourism to gaze into the not-so-frosty future and devise back-up strategies. As skiing destinations like Gulmarg and Auli grapple with the spectre of less snowfall, they may struggle to acclimatise, yet innovative tourist attractions could provide a safety buffer. Gulmarg, with its bountiful natural allure, and Auli, just a stone’s throw away from the trekkers’ paradise of Valley of Flowers, have always lured hiking enthusiasts. Even without the snowy veil, winter landscapes can be breathtakingly beautiful. After all, there’s much to be said for the unassuming pleasures of a ‘hurkle-durkle’ too.
