Tourism cheer as mercury dips

GANGTOK, Dec. 26. - Tour operators in Gangtok are smiling. Freezing temperatures nearing zero used to deter the bravest of hearts from visiting places with such extreme climatic conditions.

Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, was no exception. Traditionally, winters have always been referred to as the `off-season` or the lean period with reference to tourism in the hill town. But all this has changed. With every passing year, the state registers a steady rise in the number of tourists in winter, thus rendering `off-season` a jargon of yesteryears.

In Sikkim, where 2.5 lakh domestic and 12,000 foreign tourists visit every year, which equals almost half the state's total population, the phenomenon of "winter tourism" is being attributed to the changing psyche of the average tourist, who now wants his trip to the hills as a much needed respite from the daily grind of the cities, a fact echoed in the opinions of the majority of tour operators and tourism department of the state.

`In the peak season, the rush of tourists creates a city-like ambience even in sparsely populated hill stations like Gangtok, however, in winters one can feel the tranquility much more,`said a tour operator, who operates from MG Road in Gangtok.
Moreover, for the past few years, the town has also witnessed a large number of Bada Din revelers.

`Hill stations like Gangtok and Darjeeling provide quick getaways for merrymakers looking for something out of the ordinary. One can visit any of these two towns taking a short leave of just two days from Kolkata,`a visitor from the city said.

His opinion is corroborated by the records of tour operators which indicate that although the state gets visitors from all over the country throughout the year, during winters the number of tourists from Kolkata and other parts of the state increases manifold.

The fact that tourists can view snow, snow capped peaks and frozen lakes in places like Tsomgo and Nathu La only by taking a short drive of two hours has made Gangtok an attractive proposition for tourists in winter.

`Gangtok is the only hill station in the east where you can experience real snow without any arduous trek,`a tourism department official said.

Courtesy
The Statesman

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