Guide to Catch a Snowfall !
Our Guide on How to Catch a Snowfall !
Guide to Catch a Snowfall!
One of the most frequently asked Questions here has to be this one :
Q. I am travelling to XYZ in ABC month. Will I be able to see snow ?
A. First thing you need to do is differentiate between "Snow" and "Snow Fall". Snow is usually available in some form or the other near the Hill Stations through-out the year. But Snow Fall happens during the winters. I assume when most people say "Snow" they refer to the witnessing the falling of Snow and not the dirty muddy pieces of icy snow that they pass off as snow at places like Rohtang in the Summers just to take the tourists for a ride. So you need to get the facts right and plan accordingly.
The best way to plan for seeing a Snow Fall to do is check with the forecasts on various Internet websites and compare the forecasts. If a majority forecast snowfall then there is a good chance of snow. Also check the minimum and maximum temperatures for that period. If the day time temperature is around 4 degrees C or lower and its cloudy, the precipitation would likely be in the form of Snow. It might initially start as rain and then turn into sleet and finally into snow. And if it starts raining in the night it would be good chance that you would wake up to a white morning with a shroud of silence around that only a snowfall could bring.
In the Himalayan context it usually snows at the better known Hill Stations mostly in December, January and February. There could be snowfalls out of this period as well but 80% of the snowfalls take place in this season at Hill Stations with an altitude of upto around 2000 meters. There of course can be freak Snowfalls which might extended into April. At altitudes beyond this level it could snow (as in a snow fall) from October to April. And above 3000 meters it could snow all round the year once the conditions are ripe.
I give you an example of the Snowfalls in Kashmir in 2017 which might give you an idea as I was personally present on these occasions of Snowfalls and hence remember them quite well.
The first Snowfall that I witnessed in Kashmir was on, believe it or not April 6th when we had freak Snowfall in Srinagar itself though it was quite brief but still unusual.
The first heavy Snowfall of the Winter season I witnessed in Gulmarg where it snowed in the first Week of November. The first Snowfall of that season in Srinagar occured on December 12th. And then there was a Snowfall in the second Week on February, 2018.
In between it was Snowing regularly in the higher reaches like Gulmarg. That's no surprise, Gulmarg being in the Pir Panjals gets the heaviest snow as no where in the Himalayas does it snow as much as in the Pir Panjals.
You need to keep an eye out for the Western Disturbance which comes from the Mediterranean side and causes Snowfall especially in the Valley and the Western Himalayas.
Just adding a pic of a snowfall in February 2018. As seen in Badamwari.
PS : We at, Travel The Himalayas are organising "Snowfall" special Tours, which are tailored specifically keeping in mind the Weather patterns historically and combining them with real time Data from the Indian Meteorological department and other Weather forecasting Websites. Its your best chance of catching a Snowfall. Do get in touch if interested.
Himalayan Tales : The Whiteys
The Inglorious Bastards of the Pir Panjals Part II : Whitey and Mamooli
THE WHITEYS : MATA and MAMOOLI
(Hitcans of the Inglorious Bastards of the Pir Panjals)
After the last encounter with Jagga/ Jags in the snows of Gulmarg, I should have known that i would be a marked man.
In hindsight maybe it was a mistake that I let such a Gangsta loose. His innocence had won me over but there was a price I had to pay. That a hit would be taken out on me was the price I had to pay. Plus Basanti had registered on shaaadi.com and I was getting news that she was already meeting prospective grooms. All my Basanti-esque dreams were turning to dust.
The ones sent out for me were a special breed. Particulary in the winters when the snows came down and their white coats camouflaged their presence. Jagga being a pucca Pir Panjalite was always looking at the weather forecasts and chose his teams accordingly. If there was one guy in Kashmir who could foresee the weather almost like the legendary Sonam Lotus it was Jagga. In the Spring it would be the Blossoms gang would hold charge, in the Summers would be the Bakarwali hitmen who came in from the other side of the Pir Panjals in Rajouri, in the Autumn it would be the Atish-e-Chinar gang with their reddish brown coats and in the winters it was the Whitey's called so because of what else but their white coats I assume.
It was the first snowy morning in the Valley and I was headed down to Alikadal to have my favourite Harissa. Harissa is a special winter preparation in Kashmir which is supposed to be consumed in the early morning and the morning Harissa runs in the bone chilling Winters were always worth it. The Harissa and the Kander still brings water to my mouth as I write this. Of course Basanti didnt approve as all the fat in it was reflecting over my not so fit body.
But the moment I stepped out into my backyard I ran into the Whiteys. The female Whitey aka Mata Hari was truly a master of deception and could use her female charm to befool anyone. And her sidekick, Mamooli Babu, called so because his Mother was colored like a Mooli ie White, was there by her side. I caught them right at the nick of time as they were trying to sneak into the house through the back door. I caught them red handed or should I say white pawed.
And then they started the usual game of deception. Mamooli Babu who was watching Mata Hari's back decide to put some distance between me and him. But Mata Hari, the great actress that shewas gave me a very innocent look. She would have won the Oscar if the Academy would have known. I was more focused Mamooli Babu as he was the more mischevious one. And then suddenly Mata Hari's acting got more intense. For some strange reason I though of Basanti again.
"Very Good" I said. "Tumhe kisne bheja hai (Who has sent you ?)". No reply. Mata Hari just looked away and started to pretend to search for something in the snow. "Aaj tum mere ghar bhi pahunch gaye Thakur (Today you have reached my house also)". Looking at Mamooli Babu I said " Safedi, bahut gadbad hai (Oh white one, its hanky panky). But again they feigned ignorance.
"Arey barfon mein to chain kiya karo (At least take a break when its snowing)". I blurted again. And the suddenly Mamooli Babu also got into the act. Satrted sniffing the snow and putting his nose into it. And then Mamooli approached me and I asked him where the Inglorious Bastard of the Pir Panjals, Jagga was. No answer again. "Usko bolna mein aa rahaa hun (Tell him that I will come for him)". I growled at Mamooli. It was starting to get intense.
Mata and Mamooli had to do something unMamooli and do it quick. To diffuse the tension they came up with something they had pre-planned all through. They started playing this innocent games that reminded me of child hood. But whoever thought that only humans enjoy the snows and poor animals especially the one facing the elements should have a look at these two. It was just perfect innocence at play.
Words cant describe so I guess you just watch it in the Video.
And of course the heart of the Sub-Inspector of the Canine Crime Squad melted.
If Basanti got shaadi.com, I got me a Tinder and which lady would not like a slightly over
weight Pahadi Punjabi who had a soft corner for these criminal canines. :)
Another round I lost but the game is still on.
PS You can ignore the whole story and still enjoy the Video.
Himalayas + Snowfall + Dogs = WIN
Video from Dec 12, 2017. Srinagar, Kashmir
The previous encounter with Jagga in the snows of Gulmarg
https://www.facebook.com/kiki.mathawan/videos/10212059780623490/
Kiki’s Blog
Stories from the Himalayas
Five years ago the Galwan Valley was in the News for the wrong reasons after a deadly clash between the Indian and Chinese Armies in the Valley located in Ladakh lead to many deaths on the contentious Border between the two countries in wake of continued Chinese intrusions into Indian territory.
This area along the Shyok River, of which the Galwan Nallah or the Galwan River which forms the Galwan Valley has been off limits to Civilians since long but now the Indian Government has decided to open up the area for Civilians and we were amongst the First Civilians to venture into this beautifully desolate part of the Eastern Karakorams in Ladakh. Earlier Civilians could only venture upto the Village of Shyok from where the Shyok River takes a U turn and flows in a Northerly direction.