Gulmarg woke up to its coldest night of the winter so far, with temperatures plunging to a biting minus 8.8°C after fresh snowfall blanketed the iconic ski slopes. The winter chill has tightened across the Valley, reminding residents and visitors of the raw beauty and intensity of Kashmir’s deep winter.
For the past two nights, Gulmarg had already been shivering at –6.5°C, but the latest drop marks a sharp slide further below freezing. Srinagar too is firmly in winter’s hold, recording –3.6°C overnight, slightly colder than the previous night.
Across south Kashmir, Pahalgam touched –4.8°C, while Qazigund settled at –2.0°C, Kokernag at –1.2°C, and Kupwara at –1.8°C — confirming the Valley’s widespread cold spell.
Kashmir is currently in the heart of ‘Chilla-e-Kalan’, the traditional 40-day stretch of the harshest winter. This period is known for intense cold, frequent snowfall in the higher reaches, and frozen landscapes. While the mountains have received their snowy embrace, the plains continue to wait for the season’s first snowfall.
According to the India Meteorological Department, the higher reaches of north and central Kashmir may receive light snow or rain around January 5 and 6, signalling more winter weather ahead.
And yet, beneath the statistics and forecasts, life continues — shopkeepers warming their hands over kangris, children tracing footsteps on frozen paths, and travellers pausing quietly to watch Gulmarg glow beneath its white winter crown. Kashmir in winter is not just cold — it is a reminder of resilience, beauty, and the stories people continue to live every single day.
