Harsh winters push tourism

SHIMLA: Apparently, turning adversity into opportunity is not just a phrase for the tribals in the hilly state. Forced by extreme cold to leave their homes for a few months every year, residents of Lahaul-Spiti and upper parts of Kinnaur are now making a beeline to travel agents to go on pilgrimages and pursue their travel interests. Lately, around a dozen travel agencies have come up in Kaza, Chango and Reckong Peo which organize group visits to religious places.
Much like exotic birds forced by the cold conditions to migrate from Siberia and Central Asia to Pong Dam in Himachal Pradesh, these tribals too move to warmer areas in Rewalsar, Dharamshala and Bodh Gaya. With number of such tourists increasing every winter, it has now become a big business for people organizing special tours to Buddist religious places, including Bodh Gaya and Kathmandu.
Before the first snowfall of the season, majority of elderly tribals migrate to lower areas. Heavy snowfall during winter not only cuts off the areas from the rest of the world, but missing health facilities and freezing temperature make the survival a challenge. During emergencies, helicopter service remains only transportation available, thus lots of people leave and return only with the onset of the summer.
“People want to stay outside Spiti during the winter. They do not mind paying extra if they also get a chance to pay obeisance at religious places. We have added Buddhist circuits in our tour programmes and we always have overbooking,” said Giachho, a tour operator from Kaza.
While tribals from Lahaul valley spend their winters in Kullu-Manali, those from Spiti and upper Kinnaur prefer to stay at Buddhist religious places. Till few years back, very few people used to migrate during the winters but with increased income, the number of people staying outside the cold desert have increased manifold.
“Trend of winter migration has picked up over the years due to which now travel agencies have started making special arrangements. Tour period ranges from 35 to 60 days,” said Shanta Kumar Negi, a tour operator from Reckong Peo in Kinnaur. He said that as during winters it was a compulsion for elderly people to live out of snowbound valley they do not mind shelling out Rs 20,000 to 30,000 for month-long tours. “To make the visits enjoyable, own cooking arrangements, folk songs and dances are mandatory part of programme,” he added.
Chhering, a Kaza resident, said, “Not only elderly people but also those having health complications and pregnant women also leave for lower areas. Missing health facilities, shortage of fuel wood and spine-chilling cold forces people to migrate,” said.
“We too are like migratory birds as harsh winter forces us to leave our home. After spending the winters in religious places we return only in the beginning of March. Till then our children look after the home,” said Sonam (53) from Kaza town of Spiti valley, who along with his wife Gatuk Lamo, spends the winters at Rewalsar and Bodh Gaya. For resident of Nako village in upper Kinnaur, Dhani Ram (65) winters bring time for prayers.