Monday, January 20, 2025 Uttarakhand has been enveloped in a winter wonderland, as heavy snowfall over the past 36 hours has transformed the region into a snow-clad marvel. The snowfall, which began late Wednesday and persisted through Thursday, has coated the revered Char Dham shrines and the region’s towering peaks with a thick layer of snow, while incessant rainfall has lashed the lower altitudes. This severe weather has brought travel in the area to a standstill, with key routes like the Badri-Kedar highway rendered impassable.
On the Kailash Mansarovar route, the bitter cold has posed significant challenges, particularly in the Kali River vicinity near Gunji in Pithoragarh district, where temperatures have plummeted to an extreme -30°C, making conditions nearly unbearable. The snowfall has severely impacted several iconic tourist destinations, including Badrinath Dham, Hemkund Sahib, and the Valley of Flowers. Thick layers of snow have disrupted travel, halting vehicles beyond the TV tower on the road to Auli.
Meanwhile, the Gangotri highway faced an eight-hour closure due to snow buildup between Sukki and Gangotri in the Harsil Valley. Access to Gangotri Dham has been restricted to Harsil, and power outages have affected the stretch from Gangnani to Gangotri. Kedarnath Dham has not been spared, with snow accumulation reaching two feet, adding to the harsh winter conditions already prevalent in the region.
Despite these challenges, Uttarakhand continues to draw visito.
