Tourists flock Himachal Pradesh amid heavy snowfall

Sparkling snow flakes on Tuesday draped the landscape of Narkanda in Himachal Pradesh, rendering tourists mesmerized and boosting local business.

Boost in tourism and hospitality industries has opened new doors for the youth in Himachal, providing them with many business opportunities and livelihood.

"A lot of tourists are coming here and enjoying themselves and all the locals here be it hoteliers or taxi drivers, skiing instructors are having a good business here," a resident Ram Pardeshi said.

Tourists from warm areas of the country come to witness snowfall and be part of thrilling adventure games like skiing at an altitude of 9,000 feet above the sea level.

"Narkanda rocks guys. If you want happiness, if you want peace, some adventure come down with your friends, relatives, your better half, enjoy to the fullest and I don't think you can get bored here, you can ski for two three hours straight," Ankita, a tourist from Jaipur said.

This small hill station is easily accessible to the tourists as it is situated close to the national highway, which is nearly 65 kilometers away from Shimla.

As per the data available from the tourism department, over 17 million tourists, both Indians as well as foreigners, come to Himachal Pradesh annually.