If sizzling plains of north India are getting you down, think about holidaying in Himachal Pradesh. The weatherman Friday forecast more thundershowers and even fresh spells of snow in the hills this weekend.
"A fresh likely to be active again in the western Himalayas till May 12, bringing more rain and thundershowers and even chances of mild snow in higher reaches," an official of the meteorological office here told IANS.
Western disturbance is an extra-tropical storm originating in the Mediterranean region that brings sudden rains and snow to the northwestern parts of the Indian subcontinent.
Members of the hospitality industry say as the summer heat conditions intensified in the plains, most of the tourist destinations in the state saw an influx of tourists.
"This weekend, we are expecting a good rush of tourists as the weather in the hills continues to be pleasant," said a tour operator based in Shimla.
Weather officials said most of the hill destinations like Kufri, Chail, Narkanda, Dharamsala, Kasauli, Palampur and Manali have been witnessing pleasant weather with regular mild spells of rain, after one or two days of break.
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The 13,051-foot high Rohtang Pass, 52 km from Manali, saw mild spell of snow earlier this week, the Met office said. Last week the pass was reopened for motorists after the winter snow was cleared.
Tourist Payal Sodhi said: "It's really pleasant to be in Shimla these days."
Shimla, located at a height of 7,000 feet above sea level, Friday recorded a high of 27.9 degrees Celsius, while the night temperature was 18.1 degrees.
Picturesque tourist resort Manali recorded a high of 26.9 degrees Celsius while the maximum temperature in Dharamsala was 32.2 degrees Celsius and Kalpa was pleasant at 22.4 degrees Celsius.
These towns saw a minimum temperature of 8.4 degrees, 21.6 degrees and 8.2 degrees Celsius, respectively.