A Nostalgic Journey In Shimla's Naldehra: Experiencing The First Snowfall
24 Jan 2026 6:25 PM IST24 Jan 2026 6:25 PM IST
Shimla recorded 50 cm of snow in just 24 hours, the city’s highest in the last 30 years.
Images by Arrangement
Being a Hyderabadi, traveling to North India was always a tourism adventure. This time, five of us from Hyderabad planned to visit Naldehra near Shimla, having heard that it would snow there after four years.
We flew to Chandigarh on the 22nd of January, and then drove up to Naldehra on a bright sunny day. We were doubtful about snowfall happening as the weather was sunny, cool, but not rainy. A farmer had told us that it hadn’t rained in 110 days, and they were losing their second crop. Normally, November rains end with hail, snow, or even blizzards.
However, we took a chance, and even if it didn’t snow, we thought we would enjoy the cool weather, at least. We went to bed with little expectation, and at 5 am on the 23rd of January, the rustling sound of wind woke us, followed by loud shouts of joy. We rushed outside in our thermals and were greeted by a breathtaking valley covered in snow.
We were overjoyed to realize that we were among the lucky ones to witness the first snowfall in Naldehra since February 8, 2021.
Back then, Himachal Pradesh had received heavy snowfall on February 4 and 5, resulting in whiteout conditions across several areas. Shimla recorded 50 cm of snow in just 24 hours, the city’s highest in the last 30 years.
Naldehra Valley, Shimla (Photos By Arrangement)
Naldehra, a high-altitude hill station in the Himalayas, sits at about 2,044 to 2,200 metres (6,700 to 7,200 feet) above sea level. Located 22–25 km from Shimla, it is famous for its scenic beauty, 18-hole golf course, pleasant climate, and dense cedar forests.
We enjoyed the snowfall as if there were no tomorrow. But reality soon struck, the valley was blanketed in snow, and we couldn’t leave our hotel until the district magistrate gave clearance to move onto the main road toward Chandigarh and eventually back to Hyderabad.
Until then, we enjoyed the serenity of the hills and the warm hospitality of the locals, making our short holiday truly unforgettable.
This article is written by Kasinath Bh.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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