Sonamarg, Dec 31: Kashmir’s winter tourism has got a new destination with Sonamarg in Ganderbal district hosting the New Year’s Eve festival.
Every year during winters, the Sonamarg health resort remained closed due to no road connectivity, heavy snowfall and avalanches at several places along the road from Gagangeer upto Sonamarg, and a lack of basic facilities.
However, in the last couple of years, since the inauguration of the vital Sonamarg tunnel by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the authorities have made all efforts to keep this tourist destination open for the maximum period during winter by working on improving infrastructure like regular electricity supply and water supply.
A series of meetings with the district administration, Sonamarg Development Authority, and all the stakeholders, including hoteliers and traders, have been held in the recent past, during which the authorities reviewed the preparations for hosting activities on the New Year and during winters.
On Wednesday, the Tourism Department, Sonamarg Development Authority, and district administration Ganderbal, with the support of local hoteliers and other stakeholders, organised the event to celebrate the New Year.
A large number of tourists and locals thronged Sonamarg to witness the event, which included music and other cultural activities.
Sonamarg tourist destination, adorned in the splendour of snow-capped peaks with sub-zero temperatures, bid farewell to 2025 and welcomed 2026 with unprecedented fervour during the New Year festival.
Both locals and tourists applauded the district administration for their effective promotion and publicity efforts, contributing to Sonamarg’s rising stature as a winter retreat.
On New Year’s eve, a massive tourist influx was witnessed on the way to Sonamarg.
On the directions of SSP Ganderbal, Khalil Ahmad Poswal, Police in Gund, along with CRPF and Traffic Police, led by SHO Police Station, Gund, Rayees Ahmad, conducted comprehensive vehicle checking at Sonamarg tunnel entrance point and effectively streamlined the heavy traffic flow to ensure smooth and safe movement.
Locals as well as the stakeholders, including hoteliers and people associated with tourism, said that they were happy and thankful to the administration for keeping Sonamarg open during winters and organising the New Year festival that would promote Sonamarg on a winter tourist destination.
Meanwhile, fresh snowfall in Sonamarg has proved to be a game-changer in the revival of Kashmir’s tourism.
Hotels in Sonamarg have reported almost full occupancy.
Fresh snowfall has transformed Sonamarg into a winter wonderland, triggering a massive influx of tourists for the New Year celebrations.
Hotels have reached full capacity, with visitors flocking to the region to enjoy the snowfall.
The revival comes after earlier setbacks and signals a strong winter tourism season ahead.
Officials said that fresh snowfall has attracted large numbers of tourists, boosting Kashmir’s winter tourism.
Hotels in Sonamarg are almost booked for the New Year period.
Long queues of tourist vehicles stretch for kilometres, while tea stalls and food outlets remain packed.
Huge crowds are seen enjoying the scenic beauty and snow activities.
Tourists who arrived hoping to witness snowfall are now experiencing live snowfall.
Anjali, a tourist from Gujarat, said, “I am here, and it’s snowing. My dream has come true. I had planned to spend New Year here only to see snowfall, and it finally happened.”