PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Nainital
The lake city Nainital remains vibrant with a steady influx of tourists from across the country. Those associated with the tourism trade in the famed hill station said that the tourist footfalls had been high last weekend while it peaked on Sunday. They further said that the tourists staying at nearby tourist destinations during the weekend had arrived in their hordes on Sunday. Over 20,000 tourists arrived during the three days, as per a rough estimate provided by the hoteliers and others. They crowded several places, particularly Snow-view, Himalaya Darshan, Waterfalls and Cave Garden. While the Mall Road was chock- a- block with tourists and their vehicles the boaters also did brisk business. Besides, they thronged Naina Devi Temple, Pashan Devi Temple and Hanumangarhi Temple in large numbers. They indulged in shopping too in Bhotia Bazaar, Tibetan Bazaar and Bada Bazaar on Mall Road.
Speaking of the sudden spurt in tourist influx, the president of the Nainital Hotels and Restaurants Association, Digvijay Singh Bisht said that the tourist arrivals were below expectation on December 31. “But it surged significantly over the weekend. Now, as the long weekend, which will culminate on the Republic Day, is approaching, we hope for a further surge in tourist footfalls,” he said.
Meanwhile, the weather in Nainital was extremely cold on Sunday. With light fog enveloping the city and its surroundings, the people were forced to stay indoors and seek warmth from heaters and blowers. The recent snowfall in the higher Himalayan regions had triggered a cold wave, significantly intensifying the chill, said a local Met officer. Temperatures in higher elevations of the city are now reaching sub-zero temperatures, causing severe cold. According to the Meteorological department, the cold wave will continue for the next few days with further dip in the mercury. Besides, a western disturbance is expected to become active on Wednesday which might usher in the prolonged snowy, rainy winter in the Himalayas as forecast by meteorologists.
