Has it snowed in Darjeeling this season? No, not yet – wait gets longer. It would have witnessed people stepping out of their warm houses to witness the spectacular event. It is a feat eagerly awaited by natives of West Bengal and neighbouring states. Had it snowed in Darjeeling, it would have meant a trail of footprints on the white carpet of snow. Had it snowed, it would have been the white magic in the downtown Darjeeling like it happened on 11th January 2012 and 30th January 2019.
Unlike tourist destinations in North India, Darjeeling, nicknamed as ‘The Queen of Hills’ is still awaiting season’s first snow. It does snow in proper Darjeeling town every year. The beautiful city situated at an elevation of 6800 feet (2042mtr), skips this annual event quite often and rest with few spells of rain and thundershowers only. This season it has rained twice on 06 December 2020 (5mm) and 16th January 2021 (0.6mm).
Darjeeling is one of the most loved hill stations in Northeast India. Popular resorts in the neighbourhood like Tigerhills, Ghoom, Tonglu, Sandakfu and Phalut which are elevated above 8000 feet receive snow almost without fail every winter season. Rimbick and Dhotray in the proximity of the town had received snowfall on 28th December 2018 and 05th January 2020.
An active western disturbance reaching sub-Himalayan West Bengal is a precondition to usher snowfall over this mountainous town with Kanchenjunga, among the world’s highest peak in its backdrop. January last week and first 10 days of February are the preferred time slots for this spectacular milestone of each season for Darjeeling. Light rain is expected over the next 2 days with the minimum temperature down to about 4°C. Any sub-zero temperature raise hope for tourists to hold snowflakes in their palm. Fingers crossed at this moment and wait with hope for the white shower.
