Tourists ski on snow covered hills on a sunny day at Kufri. PIC/ Getty Image Break s the ice Ditch the mall roads and main town tourist traffic to enjoy the ski holiday of your dreams at these five destinations SCRATCHPAD Kufri This one receives the maximum footfall from all over the country due to its proximity to Shimla, making it one of the oldest skiing slopes in Himachal Pradesh. The region is covered with snow during this season with tall pines and deodars, making it look like an enchanted forest under snow. The great Himalayan National Park sees visitors too. Do take time to catch a glimpse of the Himalayan aviary with its many mountain birds.
. . . Price: R 300 onwards Skiing season: November to February.
Perfect for: Amateur and seasoned skiers Book at: www.
holidify. com Nasrin Modak Siddiqi Solang Nala, Himachal Pradesh This small, side- valley at the top of Kullu offers scenic views of mountains, beautiful glaciers and the gently flowing Beas. Solang Nala doubles up as a snowy resort in the winters and with its perfect combination of serenity, adventure and beauty, you can indulge in intense ski lifts or even smaller lifts and jumps.
. . . Price: Starting from R 650 Skiing season: February to mid- April Perfect for: Amateur skiing Book with: www.
thrillophilia. com Before you head u00a3 Most skiing packages include skiing instructors and gear ( skis and ski boots). The snow dress comes at an additional cost.
Check with the operator beforehand.
u00a3 Undergoing certain tests before you embark on the trip is suggested as altitude sickness could cause serious trouble.
In winters, a thick blanket of snow covers the valley that is surrounded by lofty mountains.
This makes it the perfect space to practice your snow plough positions before you can finally put them to test at difficult destinations. Thanks to the conscious efforts of the Sikkim Mountaineering Association ( SMA), Phuni Valley, about 10 km from Yumthang, is slowly evolving as a popular skiing destination.
An instructor skiing at Auli, Uttarakhand.
PIC/ Getty Images . . . Price: Sevenday skiing courses begin at R 15,000 Skiing season: November to February.
Perfect for: Expert/ Seasoned skiers Book at: www.
gmvnonline.
com Auli, Uttaranchal The international skiing community declared it as one of the best skiing grounds in the world. Certainly so, as the valley recedes underneath an alluring thick blanket of snow for one to enjoy the feeling of gliding on ice.
Skiing in Auli means experiencing views of eight peaks and snowcovered evergreen conifers and oak forests.
If you go skiing in the Gorson Reserve forest, youu2019ll spot rare Himalayan wildlife including the snow leopard.
. . . Price: Starting from R 1,200 per adult/ session Skiing season: November to March Perfect for: Amateur skiing Book with: www. tourism- ofindia.
com Munsiyari, Uttarakhand The location has picked up in popularity, attracting skiing enthusiasts with its breathtaking beauty.
Fondly called Little Kashmir, Munsyari offers incredible panoramic viewsu2014 itu2019s the closest you can get to experiencing the marvellous Greater Himalayas. The two most popular slopes for skiing are Betulidhar and the Khaliya top where you must ski at sunriseu2014 when the clear blue sky presents a stunning display of rich, deep reds. In fact, Khaliya offers mystical views of Nanda Devi and Panchachuli Range that add to the experience.
. . . Price: R 7,000 onwards including accommodation Skiing season: December to Feburary Perfect for: Skilled skiing Book with: www. thrillophilia. com Yumthang and Phuni, North Sikkim A child sliding at Zero point, in North Sikkim in Yumthang Curated by P Vatsalya and Amruta Khandekar Meet a person with a skill you can use Rashi Bunny was born into a family proficient in theatre.
Following a stint in America where she trained in theatre direction, she returned to India to establish Banjara Theatre in 2001, with the aim of putting up socially conscious plays. Over the last two decades, she has directed and performed plays across India and her solo performances are especially popular. She conducts workshops for children, adults and corporates, where she uses art, music, theatre, film and meditation to help participants unlock their innate creativity and potential.
. . . AVAILABLE FOR: Experiential workshops on leadership, communication, creativity, self- expression and parenting.
DIRECTORY Rashi Bunny, 45 Internationallyawarded solo performer, theatre director and clairvoyant healer RECOMMENDED BY: Nitin Desai, general manager, Agastya International Foundation ( Western Region), says, u201c Rashi has the skill to connect people with their inner selves. Her activities start out as fun, but gradually, take you through a journey of self inquiry.u201d Listen to Sufi music Attend a sufi music festival, Samau2019a, where artiste Parvathy Baul will present Baul music, combining elements of singing and storytelling. Bands like Neeraj Aryau2019s Kabir Cafu00e9 will sing the philosophy of great poets.
Catch a film on a dancer Watch a screening of Kaarthikeyan Kirubhakaranu2019s His Fatheru2019s Voice. The film tells the story of a gifted male dancer.
. . . WHEN: February 6, 7 PM WHERE: The Royal Opera House FREE CA LL: 23668888 LOL with Kanan Gill Unwind at a trial show, Grin Revolution: The End, by Kanan Gill. He will be trying untested material. The venue only has floor seating, so stay away if thatu2019s not comfortable for you.
. . . WHEN: February 3, 8.30 PM WHERE: Leaping Windows, Andheri PRICE: R 300 CA LL: 9769998972 Go clicking at sea Attend Umeed Mistryu2019s marine photography workshop, conducted as part of the Coastwise Festival 2020, organised by WWF India held in association with mid- day. The session will help you understand techniques to shoot in marine spaces.
. . . WHEN: February 7- 9, 5 PM onwards WHERE: NCPA, Nariman Point PRICE: R 300 onwards CA LL: 66223737 Tuck into roast lamb Join chef Ragini Kashyap for lunch, which includes crispy roast potatoes and lamb.
. . . WHEN: February 2, 12.30 PM WHERE: The Classroom by La Folie, PRICE: R 1,700; CA LL: 9167762379 . . . WHEN: February 8, 12 PM a WHERE: Juhu Gymkhana Club, Juhu PRICE: R 500 onwards CA LL: 7710000033 Donu2019t Miss today u00bb Dance to English retro music u00bb AT: 10.30 PM; L i g h t H o u s e C a f e , W o r l i; ENT R Y : ' 1 ,1 64 ; C A L L : 99 6 7 4 1 414 8
