Srinagar, May 1: With Kashmir valley facing untimely cold and intermittent rains lashing different areas for last some days, the weather conditions have forced most tourists to stay inside their hotels.
“We were not aware that here weather will be so inclement. We had plans to visit different places. But due to cold, my wife and my friends changed their plans and decided to stay at guesthouse. We will move only when weather improves,” Simon Jasper, a tourist said. The continuous rainfall has also affected the rush in Mughal Gardens and Tulip Garden which are the centre of attraction in spring for tourists.
“Today only few tourists have visited the Nishat Garden and there are less chances that number will improve due to overcast conditions and rains,” Muhammad Ashraf, a driver outside Nishat Garden said.
Change in weather conditions have not only dampened spirits of tourists but vendors who sell different items on the Boulevard are also complaining about the loss in business opportunities due to rains.
“Our business has been badly affected due to bad weather. In these days we have hardly received any customers as most of them prefer to sit inside hotels. This time of the year, we were hopeful that the weather conditions will be sunny and tourists will move from one place to another, as a result providing us ample business opportunities but due to dip in mercury and rains, our hopes are dashed. Now we are praying that weather should improve,” Nazir Ahmad, a vendor at Boulevard said.
Travel and tour operators are also informing tourists intending to visit Kashmir to gear up for cold weather and bring along woolen clothes.
President, Travel Agents Association of Kashmir (TAAK), Rauf Tramboo said that we have asked all our travel operators to inform visitors that weather here is very cold and they need to bring warm clothes along with themselves.
“Cold weather conditions have somehow restricted the movement of tourists and they prefer to stay indoors and it has resulted in itinerary of tourists changing, some have even cancelled their plans to visit other places in the valley and are staying inside,” Tramboo said.
He further said that for some tourists who had not witnessed snowfall they are enjoying this weather. “Yesterday tourists at Sonamarg were happy to see snowfall and play with the snowballs.”
Tramboo said that no bookings have been cancelled, although they are receiving number of enquiries from the visitors about weather.
According to Meteorological Department, "Light rainfall and thundering may occur at few places for the next 24 hours. The weather conditions are likely to improve from tomorrow onwards. There would be decrease in rainfall during the subsequent two days. However, the sky will remain cloudy for two more days."

Lastupdate on : Tue, 1 May 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 1 May 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 2 May 2012 00:00:00 IST