Most exotic snow point holiday destinations nearest to Delhi/NCR (INDIA)

1. Parashar Lake
Parashar lake near Mandi, is another place with overnight journey from Delhi where you can
find snowfall or snow in the winter months from December to March. You need to follow the
Delhi – Chandigarh – Manali highway to reach Mandi from where it is about 1.5‐2 Hrs drive to
Parashar Lake via Kuatalya – Baghi villages. Car can almost reach at the top normally but in
winters when there is a lot of snow then you might need to consider parking your vehicle to the
most practical point you find below near Baghi village and then start the hike to the lake. The
Hike/Trek can last almost about 4 Hrs in case there is too much of snow …
Parashar Lake itself is really amazing to visit and with snow all around it, a heavenly sight
indeed. As you need to hit Mandi, again you can take the overnight Volvo to Manali from Delhi
or Chandigarh and then get down at Mandi from where taxis are easily available for about Rs
1500‐1800 to Parashar Lake. You can spend a day there at the forest rest house and walk to
lake anytime you want, preferably next morning. So, considering you start Thursday night, by
Friday late noon you shall be at the top. You can spend Saturday at the rest house exploring
lake or rest amidst nature and Sunday early morning can come down and start the journey back
home. For booking of FRHs, you can refer the article

2. Jalori Pass – Shoja
Jalori Pass or Shoja are other options near Delhi where you can find snow or snowfall easily in
winter months of December, January & February. They are pretty close to each other and are
easily connected with Delhi from Mandi side all round the year. In fact, by taking some local
along, you can even snow trek to Serloskar Lake to see it all frozen in winters after getting the
advice from locals on its feasibility. As they are on the way to Aut – Mandi, again one can take
the overnight Volvo to Manali from Delhi or Chandigarh and then get down at Bhunter, Kullu
from where taxis are easily available for about Rs 1000‐1200. You can rest at Shoja for a day or
two and follow the same path to reach back home on the last day. In summers, one can actually
go down to the other side of Jalori Pass to come back to Delhi from Narkanda – Shimla route
but you will not find snow at that time at Jalori Pass.
If interested in more details on Jalori Pass – Shoja including how to reach, accommodation
options, etc.. you can go through the Tirthan Valley Travel Guide available at the link here,
which falls almost on the way to Shoja or Jalori Pass while going from Mandi side

3. Patnitop
About 112 km from Jammu (680 kilometres from New Delhi), this is a popular tourist
destination, with surreal views of green valleys and snow‐capped mountains. The fresh
snowfall, with the snow as soft as cotton all around is sure to mesmerize you. Kick back, unwind
and let nature allow you to rejuvenate your soul. For trekking enthusiasts, the long, winding
roads provide a great opportunity to wander around and explore. From Jammu, it would take
you around 3 hours to reach Patnitop. –

4. Kufri
This beautiful hill station in Shimla, around 390 km from Delhi, becomes surreal during the
winter months. If you’re looking for a white Christmas or a New year, Kufri will certainly not
disappoint you. Strap on your snow boots and head to explore the hilly terrain. Or you can
unleash your creativity and make snow sculptures or graffiti or go sledding down a hill! That’s
got to be truckloads of fun! –

5. Dhanaulti
With the winter coming on full blast, Dhanaulti can be a great choice to experience snow this
year. Being just 220 km from Delhi, it’ll be at the max a nine hour journey by road, but totally
worth it, all the same. The gently falling snow gradually covers the whole landscape with a
carpet of white which makes for a very pretty sight indeed. Wrap yourself in snug layers of
woolens and head out for some fun snow activities like freeze tag, or tic‐tac‐snow!

6. Kausani
Bring in the festivities amidst the snowy breezes that seldom fail to strike a chord with your
holiday spirits. This small town is located at a distance of approximately 380 km and therefore it
wouldn’t be tedious to reach it. Behold the snow‐clad Himalayan peaks, a true visual delight for
any tourist. Even though winter sports are a rare indulgence here, you would definitely not tire
of the stunning scenic marvels that promise of a hopeful time ahead. –

7. Khajjiar – Dalhousie
Khajjiar, commonly called as Indian version of Switzerland, is another place near Delhi that
receives good amount of snowfall in the winter months of January and February. Khajjiar
meadows looks so beautiful as if a white carpet has been laid by nature midst long pine trees
kissed with snow over hills in the backdrop, a dream probably… It becomes almost hard to
believe your eyes … However, seeing snow at Khajjiar is a luck affair too sometimes.
Khajjiar is an overnight drive from Delhi and easily connected via Pathankot – Chakki Dam
railway station. So, you can also take the overnight train to Pathankot – Chakki dam and from
there take a taxi to reach Khajjiar via Dalhousie. Next day you can rest at Khajjiar and then start
the journey back on Sunday to reach back Delhi in the same order. In case you have 4 days, you
can even enjoy more by exploring more places around Khajjiar as Kalatop, Chamba, Jotte, etc..
(Rachit Mehrotra)