Bhaderwah, Jan 03: The season’s first snowfall on Thursday, which transformed the famous tourist destination of Guldanda in J&K’s Bhaderwah into a breathtaking winter wonderland, has acted as a catalyst in reviving the tourism industry in the Bhaderwah valley.
Snowfall on the eve of the first day of the year, followed by bright sunshine, attracted a large number of tourists from different parts of the country to the snow-filled alps along the Bhaderwah–Pathankot highway, bringing cheer to both visitors and tourism stakeholders.
Locals in general and stakeholders in particular said that the much-needed snowfall—the season’s first after a prolonged dry spell of nearly two and a half months—attracted more than 200 tourist vehicles to the famous winter destination of Jammu province, Guldanda, located at an altitude of 9,555 feet above sea level along the Bhaderwah–Pathankot highway.
The sudden rush of visitors brought smiles back to tour operators and hoteliers, as all hotels and homestays were packed with tourists—something they described as a good omen for the winter tourism season ahead.
“The tourism industry here was literally on a ventilator, as after the Pahalgam terror attack followed by hostilities on the border, very few tourists visited here. But snowfall on the first day of 2026 acted as a catalyst to break the ice, and for the last two days all the hotels and guest houses are packed with tourists, as pan-India tourists are converging here in large numbers. I hope this trend will continue,” said Manish Kotwal, a hotelier from Nalthi, Bhaderwah.
Not only the hoteliers but also the small vendors who have installed their makeshift shops at Guldanda are smiling from ear to ear to host the sudden rush of visitors.
“After the snowfall, tourists are enjoying themselves and are very happy, and so are we, as the arrival of visitors means a mode of livelihood for local youth working here. I hope this phase will continue for a longer period,” said a vendor at Guldanda, Yasir Wani.
Tourists from Kanpur and Rajasthan who seen enjoying the snow filled peaks of Guldanda and Chattargalla said it’s like a fairy tale to see the beauty of Guldanda and adjoining alps.
“We are regular visitors of Vaishno Devi Shrine, but this is our first visit to Bhaderwah and it’s unbelievable here, the beauty of this valley is unbelievable and the vibe here is so good that we want to stay here forever,” said Aadiya Vajpayee (21) tourist from Kanpur (UP).
“We are si excited to see the snow for the first time in our life, this is like like a fairytale for us and not me and my husband, but our toddler seems to be enjoying this,” said another tourist Monica Senior from Chooru Rajasthan.