Sachin Sharma
Manali, March 1
Even as April begins with rising temperatures across the plains, the weather in Himachal Pradesh’s hill regions remains noticeably cooler, with Manali continuing to experience a wintry chill.
In and around Manali, the onset of summer has yet to make a strong impact. Light snowfall on the higher reaches of the valley and intermittent rain in the lower areas have kept temperatures subdued, offering a sharp contrast to the heat building in neighbouring lowland regions.
Over the past few days, the region has also been witnessing light evening showers, adding to the cool conditions and extending the pleasant weather spell in the popular tourist destination.
The combination of fresh snow on the surrounding peaks and regular rain in the valley has helped maintain a crisp atmosphere, even as the calendar moves into April.
For residents and tourists alike, Manali is continuing to offer a reminder that while summer may have arrived in the plains, the hills are still holding on to spring-like, and at times almost winter-like, weather.
Despite the onset of April, people have not yet been able to put away their warm clothes. Locals say that during March, there was a brief period when temperatures rose significantly and it felt quite warm. However, the weather soon changed, and fresh spells of light snowfall on the higher reaches, along with rainfall, have brought back the chill.
They added that even now, light evening showers in Manali and nearby areas are making the weather feel cold across the valley. At the same time, locals described the current weather as pleasant and said that the ongoing snowfall in the mountains will benefit the upcoming summer tourism season.
They also noted that such weather conditions are likely to be beneficial for crops. According to them, this kind of weather is typical for this time of the year.
