Want to get the feel of living in snow land, without having to travel thousands of miles away to Europe? Does the thought of living in an igloo excite you? Your dreams may well be a reality now.
Head to Manali in Himachal Pradesh to make your dream come true. Built entirely with snow, the igloos of Hamta valley near Manali are now attracting tourists, for a one of its kind snow village experience.
Built on an experimental basis four years back, the igloos are at an altitude of 9,000ft near Sethan village in Hamta. They are the first of their kind in India. Igloo stay is otherwise only available in European countries like Switzerland, Iceland, Finland, Norway and Sweden.
Started by two local youth, they have built igloos for four years in the valley now.
People from all over the country are now booking their stay in advance. Tourists can stay in it for a night and those who are not getting bookings can also visit it in the day time.
The igloos are decorated with lights and warm bedding.
This season there are five igloos. The promoters are expecting snow to remain till March, so grab your chance before you miss it.
So, how does an igloo remain warm? While temperature at Hamta or anywhere with snow remains below freezing point, the temperature inside igloos are much higher because of the structure.
Inside the igloos at Hamta, there are enough lights to keep people comfortable and warm. Along with food, tourists have the option of bonfire in the evening and can indulge in activities like skiing and snowboarding.
Hamta may soon carve the way forward for a different kind of tourism in Manali. Igloos may soon be the prime attraction for people wishing to stay in a snow village and an igloo in India.
How to get there? Manali is about 10 hours from Delhi by road. It is well connected from Chandigarh too. You an also fly to Kullu and then drive ahead.