Winter sports lovers throng Kufri

By Staff

Friday, January 9, 2009, 1:46

Kufri: Thousands of winter sports lovers throng Kufri for its ice-skating and for sports in the skiing rink, which begins in the first week of December. Nearly three-month long winter sports activities are attracting a large number of tourists to the Queen of Hills.

"This sport gives us a lot of employment opportunities during winters," said Nagesh Sharma, Vice-President Kufri Youth Skiing Association. Visitors are enthusiastic to enjoy skating and skiing on natural ice.

"Skiing is one sport that any one can learn in just one to two months. Many tourists come here and enjoy and it also helps us in boosting tourism,"

said Sanat Kalet, Adventure Sports Expert Department of Youth Services and Sports. Although Gulmarg and Leh in Kashmir also boast of being venues for winter sports, the natural rink, Shimla provides an extraordinary opportunity for winter sports lovers to hone their skills on ice skates.

Though the first week of December heralds the 'curtain-raiser' for the winter sports in Shimla, which last till February, the maximum inflow of tourists is witnessed during the last four days of December as it coincides with the New Year celebrations and Ice-Skating Carnival. It 2006, around 22,000 tourists had visited Shimla between December 28 and 31.