Snow skiing debuts at Bhadarwah's Guldanda, tourists & locals thrilled

Bhadarwah, Jan 14: In a major push to adventure tourism, the tourism department, in collaboration with the Bhaderwah Development Authority (BDA), has introduced snow skiing at Guldanda in Bhadarwah, Jammu and Kashmir.

The initiative, as per the officials, aims to transform the snowclad destination into a hub for winter sports, attracting both tourists and locals to its breathtaking slopes. The snow skiing training programme organised jointly by Jammu Tourism is attracting both tourists and local youth in large numbers, as they find it extremely adventurous to ski on snow-covered slopes of Guldanda meadows located on the Bhadarwah-Pathankot highway at a height of 10,000 ft above sea level.

"As part of adventure tourism promotion by adopting a holistic approach, the tourism department introduced snow skiing here at Guldanada, and it's heartwarming to see the response of local youth and visitors,” said Aniza Mushtaq, coordinator of the training programme.

Mushtaq said the skiing attraction in Guldanda will surely act as a unique selling point to attract adventure lovers, boosting tourism prospects in the region.

Meanwhile, experts and skiing instructors also welcomed the start of the game, terming the beauty of the snow-covered Guldanda slopes as best for skiing.

"Guldanada has got all the ingredients to be introduced as a ski resort, as it has both types of slopes for beginners and professionals as well," said Manzoor Ahmed Lone, skiing instructor from Gulmarg.

Mir echoed that with its snow-clad landscapes and breathtaking vistas, Guldanda offers immense potential to become a hub for winter sports and a favourite place for adventure enthusiasts.

“I have been training both locals and tourists since the last five days and am surprised to receive the response, if projected properly, Guldanda can emerge as the next big thing in snow sports in Jammu and Kashmir," Mir added.

Notably, a significant portion of the participants were local youth, especially girls, underscoring the growing interest and participation of women in winter sports.

"We have been introduced to this sport for the first time here, and for this we are thankful to the authorities. For me, it's like a dream come true, as I used to get fascinated whenever I watched snow skiing on TV or mobile. I hope authorities will continue this activity," said Danish Ayaz (21), a trainee from Bhaderwah.