There is no doubt that India is one of the best tourist destinations in the world. Other than its diversity, India boasts of the rugged Himalayas which has been and is still is an arena for numerous activities like trekking, skiing, cycling, motor biking among others. While the coastal regions are well known for water sports, the deserts are home to certain activities like sand dune bashing and polo games.

In the league of adventures, one of the emerging sports that seem to dominate the scenes is skiing. The Indian Himalayas is known to host a number of skiers who love the experience that comes with the sport. And it is not only Manali or Gulmarg that comprise some of the best skiing destinations; there are plenty of others as well. In fact, there are 11 to be exact. Below is a list of best skiing destinations to be thoroughly explored;

 Manali, Himachal Pradesh

Solang Valley is an exhilarating skiing destination only 12km away from Manali. Also known as Solang Nala, the place has fine ski slopes. Each winter skiing festival is organized with participants coming from many world destinations. Any amateur ski enthusiast who wishes to be skilled at the sport should take the first few lessons in Solang Valley since it offers the best experience. At the same time, there is the Mountaineering and Allied Sports Institute which has skiing lessons for beginners. The best time for a visit is between December and February because then, the snow thickness is ideal for the best thrilling skiing experiences.

Narkanda, Himachal Pradesh

Narkanda, Himachal Pradesh

Located about 65km from Shimla, Narkanda cuts itself as a great tourist destination emerging from the lap of Himachal Pradesh. The place is a brilliant place to enjoy skiing owing to the varying slopes for different levels of skiers. Advanced skiers can try the steeper slopes while beginners may start from the gentle slopes. There are ski instructors conducting courses in January to promote the winter sports.

Kufri, Himachal Pradesh

Kufri, Himachal Pradesh

There is an excellent venue for skiing in Himachal Pradesh not far away from Shimla. During winter seasons, this destination attracts a number of visitors from all over the world. Most skiers are seasoned, though a number of beginners are found at the spot too. The slopes are gentle and covered by layers upon layers of snow to make skiing an incredible experience. Very fit people can try Tobogganing at Kufri. This is an activity involving sliding down a hill on a sledge. A large number of tourists throng Kufri for an annual winter sport festival organized by the travel and tourism department of Himachal Pradesh.

Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir

Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir

Gulmarg is one of the perfect skiing destinations in India. The place is endowed with scenic geographical locations and versatile skiing slopes. To ski in Gulmarg, there are two points to begin the exercise namely; Kongdori and Aparwahat peaks. The Kongdori Peak is a natural 450m slope offering an exhilarating skiing experience. On the other hand, Aparwahat ridge has a 800m descent that can be a lifetime experience. This steep snowy terrain is purely for advanced or skilled skiers while beginners may well start from the Kongdori slope.

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Still on Gulmarg, there is a Gondola or cable car that boasts of being the largest car project with two main stops at Kongdori and Aparwahat peaks. This means that other than the skiing, one can enjoy the Gulmarg Gondola ride too.

Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir

Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir

There is something special about skiing in Kashmir. And Pahalgam is known to offer one of the most enjoyable skiing experiences in Jammu and Kashmir. Aru is one of those places with breathtaking views of surreal landscape as well as ample serenity that lead to the great skiing experience at Pahalgam. Amateurs have something to be happy about too as there is Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering and Winter Sports that offers skiing courses. The most ideal time to take a visit is between December and March.

Dayara Bugyal, Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand boasts of having some very great skiing destinations in India. Dayara Bugyal also referred to as Dyara Bugyal is known to offer excellent skiing opportunity, attracting both local and international skiers. During winter, snow falls at a high intensity, setting the stage for an exhilarating sporting experience. Varying slopes offer both beginners and advanced skiers a chance of a lifetime. Some ideal places for skiing in Uttarakhand include Kedar Kantha, Bdeni Bugyal, Chiplakot, Natya and Kush Kalyani.

Auli, Uttarakhand

Auli cuts itself as one preferred skiing destination in India. Situated in the lap of the beautiful Uttarakhand, Auli has been attracting plenty of skiing enthusiasts from many destinations of the world. It has obtained its reputation from the fact that it has been well maintained and is an ideal pristine away from the noisy city life.

It got its greatest honor when it was able to host its first ever SAF Winter Games in 2011. From then, it has thrived as a sporting destination with slopes ranging from 2000m to 3000m with the right amount of snow for sporting activities. To get to the mountain tops, there is a 500m long ski-lift and 800m chair lift for skiers to savor. The best part about Auli is that it offers Skiing classes just like Solang Valley. The winter months run from December to February.

Munsiyari, Uttarakhand

Munsiyari has cut itself as a must see winter destination in India for a number of reasons. It offers resplendent natural beauty and has varying slopes for all types of skiers. There are gentle slopes as well as steep descents that offer an ideal over the edge skiing experience. The place is also famous for trekking as well as other extraordinary fun for individuals and family. There is adventure for fun lovers to explore here.

Phuni Valley in Lachung, Sikkim

Located about 18km from Lachung Valley, Phuni Valley is a hub for seasoned skiers from all over the world. Standing at a height of over 11,000ft, the white snow offers a great opportunity for ski lovers who mostly enjoy the smooth rides down the snow-capped mountains. The place has cut itself as a perfect holiday destination for skiers and fun lovers. It offers the best opportunity to witness a picturesque valley that looks absolutely gorgeous when snow covers all plants.

Yumthang Valley, Sikkim

Yumthang Valley in India is a well known destination for plenty of activities including trekking, mountain climbing, hiking and mountain biking. Winter months between November and March are the perfect times to see snow blanket the valley. Situated 25km from Lachung, Yumthang is ideal for all levels of skiers. Since it is not thronged by many skiers, it can be a perfect destination for a learner as there is less interruption, noise and crowds.

India has some of the best travel destinations for the winter. It is imperative to make early bookings after thorough researches. Alternatively, one can contact the concerned to help make bookings in advance. All the necessary arrangements can be made on someone’s behalf to make work easier. From the above list, an individual only has to choose and let the authorities do the rest.