DARJEELING: Tiger Hill on Wednesday received around 3 inches of snow, delighting locals and tourists alike. The temperature at Tiger Hill and Sandakphu hovered around 1°C, dipping below freezing point at night.
"It is an amazing feeling. We had never experienced snowfall before. We are on our honeymoon and this has made it all the more special," said Jaguriti Bhatia, who was in Darjeeling with her husband Umesh. The couple is from Saharanpur.
Jalpaiguri resident Joydeep Roy said he was fortunate that he had changed his mind at the last minute to stay back at Tiger Hill.
"It was really chilly when we arrived to see the sunrise. But we missed it because of the fog and I asked our taxi driver to take us back into town. However, we were persuaded to stay back for a while and then, suddenly, it started snowing," he said.
The last time it snowed heavily in Tiger Hill was on January 27, 2016.
On Wednesday, locals and tourists came together for snowball fights and snowman-building contest.
Local Deven Chhetri could not make it to Tiger Hill, but enjoyed the snowfall in Ghoom for a brief spell. "I had to leave for work and could not go up to Tiger Hill, but I did enjoy the snow in Ghoom for a few minutes," he said.
Sandakphu and Tumling were covered in two to three feet of snow. Officials of the Singalila Rand Rovers Association (SLRA) in Manebhnajyang said at least five tourist vehicles were stranded at Tumling and Tonglu, and efforts were on to bring them down. "It has been snowing in Sandakphu and the surrounding areas over the past couple of days," said Anil Tamang, coordinator of SLRA.
"Vehicles are not going above Tumling. Most tourists are walking down to the vehicles near the SSB camp and our drivers are helping carry the luggage," Tamang said.
The SSB and employees of the PWD have been helping clear the snow from the road, but the incessant snowfall is covering the roads again within minutes.
"We are using bags of salt, but with very little effect," Tamang added.
"It is an amazing feeling. We had never experienced snowfall before. We are on our honeymoon and this has made it all the more special," said Jaguriti Bhatia, who was in Darjeeling with her husband Umesh. The couple is from Saharanpur.
Jalpaiguri resident Joydeep Roy said he was fortunate that he had changed his mind at the last minute to stay back at Tiger Hill.
"It was really chilly when we arrived to see the sunrise. But we missed it because of the fog and I asked our taxi driver to take us back into town. However, we were persuaded to stay back for a while and then, suddenly, it started snowing," he said.
The last time it snowed heavily in Tiger Hill was on January 27, 2016.
On Wednesday, locals and tourists came together for snowball fights and snowman-building contest.
Local Deven Chhetri could not make it to Tiger Hill, but enjoyed the snowfall in Ghoom for a brief spell. "I had to leave for work and could not go up to Tiger Hill, but I did enjoy the snow in Ghoom for a few minutes," he said.
Sandakphu and Tumling were covered in two to three feet of snow. Officials of the Singalila Rand Rovers Association (SLRA) in Manebhnajyang said at least five tourist vehicles were stranded at Tumling and Tonglu, and efforts were on to bring them down. "It has been snowing in Sandakphu and the surrounding areas over the past couple of days," said Anil Tamang, coordinator of SLRA.
"Vehicles are not going above Tumling. Most tourists are walking down to the vehicles near the SSB camp and our drivers are helping carry the luggage," Tamang said.
The SSB and employees of the PWD have been helping clear the snow from the road, but the incessant snowfall is covering the roads again within minutes.
"We are using bags of salt, but with very little effect," Tamang added.
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