Jammu and Kashmir: Temperature drops, cold wave continues in Kashmir Valley

Srinagar: As a cold wave swept over the Kashmir Valley and temperatures in Srinagar dropped to below-freezing levels on Monday, people gathered and sat around burning fires.

In Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, the winter months are renowned for their breathtaking scenery and bitter cold.

“Chillai-Kalan,” a 40-day period of extreme cold from December 21 to January 31—when temperatures are at their lowest and the area receives the most snowfall—is another indicator of Srinagar’s chilly weather.

The renowned Wazwan feast is consumed in comfortable indoor settings, and locals often gather around traditional “kangris” (firepots) to stay warm.

Locals dress in heavy clothing, traditional woolen hats, and Pashmina shawls to combat the intense cold. Anyone traveling or residing in Srinagar during the winter months has to have boots, gloves, and heavy winter coats.

With its combination of cultural customs, picturesque scenery, and the difficulties presented by the cold, Srinagar provides both a magnificent experience for visitors and a terrible but lovely season for residents.

Meanwhile, Shimla, the state capital of Himachal Pradesh, was blanketed in snow as the season’s winter cold kicked in.

Images from Shimla depict snowflakes accumulating on tree leaves and branches, giving the trees a delicate, icy aspect and a lovely “snow-covered” appearance.

The cars parked outside had a covering of snow on their surfaces.

Snowfall in the area earlier Sunday covered the picturesque Himachal Pradesh highlands of Lahaul and Spiti in white.

Sunday saw another round of snowfall in JK’s Kupwara district, namely in the Machil region.

In addition to its aesthetic value, a snow-covered area’s allure is found in the peaceful ambiance it fosters, which conveys a feeling of isolation, awe, and the enduring beauty of the natural world.