While the cold in the national capital may be relenting, up north in Jammu and Kashmir, a chilly atmosphere persisted on Friday morning. Tourists were spotted cruising on the pristine Dal Lake in Srinagar aboard picturesque Shikaras.
Embracing the prevailing cold, Akshay, a visitor from Hyderabad, shared his recent journey to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine and a stopover in Jammu. Despite the biting chill, Akshay expressed his enjoyment of the uphill journey to the cave, the sacred abode of Mata Vaishno Devi. He felt privileged to have received the darshan (sighting) of the deity. Comparing the cold in Jammu and Kashmir to Hyderabad’s milder climate, Akshay acknowledged the bone-chilling temperatures but found solace in the delightful experience of a Shikara ride on Dal Lake. He described Kashmir as safe, with welcoming and helpful locals.
Similarly, Smitha, another tourist from Hyderabad, relished the biting chill of Kashmir, lamenting only the absence of snowfall. She highlighted the unforgettable experience of cruising on Dal Lake and recommended a one-night stay there for anyone visiting Kashmir.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasted heavy rain and snowfall over Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh on February 18, 20, and 19, respectively. Isolated hailstorms were also predicted over the region on February 18, 2024, according to the IMD’s official announcement.