Tourists flock to Kufri in Himachal to beat the heat

As the mercury rises across northern India, Kufri in Shimla is attracting lots of tourists.

The climate of Kufri is providing much-needed relief to many tourists who leave behind temperatures in mid to high 40s.

"I am from Ahmedabad, the temperature is 47 degree Celsius and here the temperature is very low and here we are enjoying the low temperature and the beauty of hills. The weather is very nice here," said Prateek, a tourist.

Locals involved in the tourism business say that this tourist rush indicates a good season for them this summer.

"As the summer is going up, tourists are rushing to Kufri. We are having a good business these days. As the mercury will rise in May and June, this rush will increase more. This is good for the hundreds of local youth involved in horse-riding business here," said Shiv Singh, who arranges horse-riding trips for tourists.

From Shimla and Kufri, tourists also move to other tourist destinations in Himachal Pradesh like Manali and Dalhousie.

The maximum temperature in most hill stations of Himachal Pradesh varies from 24 to 27 degree Celsius. (ANI)

Himachal Tourism Packages for Newly Weds

The Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) has announced a special discount of 30 per cent in hotels for honeymooning couples visiting the state during the next fortnight.

The honeymoon package has been offered in Hotel Holiday Home (HHH) in Shimla, Palace Hotel in Chail, Manimahesh, Dalhousie, Hotel Macleodganj and Hotel Dhauladhar in Dharamsala, Hotel Sarvari in Kullu and Hotel Renuka in Sirmaur.

In addition to the special discount, the facility of deluxe buses for local sight seeing, including meals for three days will also be provided by HPTDC.

The honeymoon holiday package will be available till April 5 this year.

SOURCE: Business Standard
By Baldev S Chauhan
Date - March 24, 2010
Location - New Delhi/ Shimla

Christmas Rush in Himachal Resorts

Most of the top hotels in the popular resort towns of Himachal Pradesh are already fully booked by holiday makers for Christmas this year due to extended holidays this weekend.

"The high-end hotels are offering Christmas and New Year packages and many of them are already sold out," said a leading travel agent Nitin Chauhan.

While five-star hotels are offering Rs 50,000 packages for three nights, the budget hotels are offering Rs 6,000 packages for couples.

"There will always be scope for walk-in customers as some hotels do not accept advance bookings, particularly the budget hotels," Chauhan told Business Standard.

"More holiday makers might visit the state for Christmas instead of New year as the latter falls on a Thursday this time," he said.

Bulk of the tourists will visit Shimla and Manali as they have most of the hotels in the state.

The Shimla police is opening up parking lots in the prohibited and restricted roads due to the heavy traffic volume for Christmas and New Years. Those looking for quieter environs are headed for Kasauli, Barog, Chail, Kufri, Kullu, Dharamsala and Dalhousie.

SOURCE:
Business Standard
Date - 22 December 2009
Edition - New Delhi and Shimla