Who it suits
Snow trips
January and February are the reliable snow months in Himachal and Kashmir. Kufri and Solang get snow before Shimla and Manali towns do, and Gulmarg is the most dependable of all because the gondola climbs to about 3,980 metres. December is possible but not guaranteed anywhere.
- Most reliable
- January and February
- Best single destination
- Gulmarg
- Himachal snow points
- Kufri, Solang, Rohtang area
- December
- Possible, not guaranteed
Why Gulmarg is the safe answer
Height. The gondola’s second stage reaches nearly 4,000 m, so there is snow there when there is none in the valley. Himachal’s snow points sit between 2,500 and 3,000 m, which makes them more dependent on a good year.
Build in a spare day
Heavy snowfall closes the roads it creates. A trip with a same-day flight out after a snow excursion is a trip that can be cut short. One buffer day removes almost all of that risk.
Questions people ask
Where is snow guaranteed in India in December?
Nowhere is guaranteed in December. Gulmarg and the higher Himachal points are the most likely, and January and February are considerably more reliable than December in all of them.
Read next
- Gulmarg travel guideGulmarg is a meadow at about 2,650 metres, two hours from Srinagar, best known for the gondola that climbs towards Apharwat at roughly 3,980 metres. It is India’s main ski destination in winter and a green alpine meadow in summer. One night is usually enough.
- Kufri travel guideKufri is a small resort settlement 16 km from Shimla at about 2,600 metres, visited mainly for snow between January and February and for the views towards the greater Himalaya. It is a half-day trip, and the horse rides to Mahasu Peak are the part visitors most often regret.
- Solang Valley travel guideSolang Valley is 13 km from Manali at about 2,560 metres and is where the paragliding, ropeway, zorbing and winter snow activities are concentrated. It is a half-day trip from Manali, and in peak season the road in is the slowest part of it.
- Best time to visit KashmirApril to October covers Kashmir’s green season, with tulips in April, gardens through summer and clear valleys into autumn. December to February brings snow to Gulmarg and the ski season. Each is a genuinely different trip rather than a better or worse one.
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