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Shimla gets season's first snowfall, brings cheers to tourists

Shimla: After much delay, the Himachal Pradesh capital on Saturday received the season's first snowfall, cheering the tourists who enjoyed the icy landscape. "Shimla and its nearby areas have been experiencing snowfall and this was the season's first snowfall in Shimla town," an official of the Meteorological Department said. Places near Shimla like Kufri and Narkanda have also been experiencing snowfall, turning the tourist destinations more picturesque. As news of the snowfall spread, hordes of tourists will flock this weekend to Shimla, known for the imperial grandeur of its buildings that were once institutions of power when the town served as the summer capital of British India. "We have been experiencing the snowfall for the first time," said Muskan Gill, a tourist from Chandigarh, who was in Shimla along with her friends. Shimla, which saw a low of 0.2 degree Celsius, recorded 14.6 cm snowfall. Kufri and Mashobra also recorded snowfall. The snowy landscape in Shimla would remain for one-two days, the Met Department official said. Reports said most of the areas in the apple belt of Jubbal and Kharapathar in Shimla district also experienced plentiful snow. "High-altitude areas of Lahaul-Spiti, Chamba, Kullu, Kinnaur and Shimla districts have been experiencing moderate to heavy snow," the official said. Manali, which experienced rain, experienced a low of 2.4 degrees Celsius, while it was 6.4 degrees in Dharamsala and 0.2 degree in Dalhousie. The majestic Dhauladhar ranges in the Kangra valley was covered in a fresh blanket of snow. Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti district also experienced snow with the night temperature fell to minus 5.1 degrees, the coldest in the state. Lower areas of the state like Dharamsala, Palampur, Solan, Nahan, Bilaspur, Una, Hamirpur and Mandi towns received rain, bringing down the mercury considerably. The Met Office has forecast that widespread rain and snow are likely at some places in the state till Sunday. After the opening of the skies likely from Monday, the minimum temperature across the state could plummet by three to four notches, a weatherman said.

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Goa Covid restrictions: Casinos, river cruises and entertainment parks to function at 50% capacity

Announcing a new set of rules to curb the spread of the Omicron virus in the state, the Goa government has released new guidelines which restrict tourism-related services to functioning at half the total capacity. According to an official order, Casinos, river cruises, water parks, and entertainment parks among others including auditoriums are instructed to function at 50 per cent capacity until further orders. “Casinos may operate only up to 50 per cent of its capacity, subject to adherence to all covid safety protocols, including use of masks, sanitisers, thermal screening, etc. However, the entry shall be permitted to asymptomatic guests who are fully vaccinated or possessing a vaccination certificate of both doses of Covid-19 vaccine issued through the COWIN platform, provided 15 days have elapsed since administration of the second dose of the vaccine,” the government notification mentioned. Other places of public gathering including amusement parks, spas, massage parlour, restaurants, pubs, bars, gyms, cinema halls should also function at limited capacity and adhere to the Covid-19 norms prescribed for operations of casinos. Unvaccinated travellers are also allowed entry if they present a negative Covid-19 test report not older than 24 hours at the time of giving the sample. Goa is allowing entry of fully vaccinated travellers, who have completed 15 days post taking the last dose of the vaccine. Unvaccinated travellers are required to show a negative RT-PCR test report on arrival for the test taken within 72 hours of departure.

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Srinagar - Leh highway closed due to snowfall and bad weather conditions

Srinagar-Leh highway has been closed until further notice. The Ladakh administration has passed the orders of closing the Srinagar-Leh highway for vehicular movement until further orders to , owing to safety of people. This move comes in the wake of continuous spell of snowfall and extreme weather conditions in the region. Referring to this, the Ladakh administration added that due to a continuous spell of snowfall and extreme weather conditions at Zoji-la axis, there is heavy accumulation of snow. The administration also added that the highway is not fit for vehicular movement at this moment. Therefore, in the interest of the general public, the Srinagar-Leh highway will remain closed for all kinds of civilian vehicular movement till further orders. They further advised tourists and the general public to suspend any travel on the Srinagar - Leh highway through Zoji-La (Pass) axis with immediate effect. If reports of the Indian Meteorological Department are to go by, places like Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Uttarakhand, will be experiencing heavy rainfall and snow for some days, as the western disturbance is very active in that region. Also, as per the latest news reports, eight flights have been cancelled from Srinagar airport after poor visibility was reported due to light snow recently.

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Guidelines for international travellers revised: Stringent isolation if tested positive on arrival

The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) has revised the guidelines for international arrivals into India effective from January 11, 2022. As per the revised guidelines, passengers originating/transiting from “atrisk” countries shall have to undergo “stringent isolation” if tested positive on arrival. The guidelines have been revised on the basis of a “risk-based” approach as the country has started reporting a new Omicron variant of Covid-19 virus. As per the revised guidelines passengers originating or transiting through countries which are classified as “at risk” shall have to be informed by the airline companies that they will undergo post-arrival testing in Indian airports and have to undergo quarantine if tested negative and stringent isolation if tested positive on testing. The international passengers will not be allowed to step out of the airport before the test results. Moreover, all international travellers planning to travel to India need to register on Air Suvidha portal and have to give a self-declaration on their travel details of the last fortnight; upload a Covid19 negative test report obtained within 72 hours; declaration about its authenticity; an undertaking that they would abide by the decision of appropriate authority to undergo home/institutional quarantine/self-health monitoring as warranted. They should also pre-book the testing on arrival at Indian airports in advance. Guidelines for travellers from specified countries at risk: Submission of sample for post-arrival Covid-19 test at the point of arrival (self-paid). Such travellers will be required to wait for their test results at the arrival airport before leaving or taking a connecting flight. If tested negative they will follow, home quarantine for 7 days and shall undertake RTPCR test on the 8th day of arrival in India. Travellers shall also be required to upload results of repeat RT-PCR test for Covid-19 done on 8th day on Air Suvidha portal (to be monitored by the respective States/UTs). If negative, they will further self-monitor their health for next 7 days. However, if such travellers are tested positive, their samples should be further sent for genomic testing at INSACOG laboratory network. They shall be managed at isolation facility and treated as per laid down standard protocol including contact tracing mentioned in para (xvii). The contacts of such positive case should be kept under home quarantine monitored strictly by the concerned State Government as per laid down protocol. Guidelines for travellers from countries, excluding those in the list of at-risk countries: A sub-section (2 per cent of the total flight passengers) shall undergo postarrival testing at random at the airport on arrival. These 2 per cent of such travellers in each flight shall be identified by the concerned airlines (preferably from different countries). Laboratories shall prioritise testing of samples from such travellers. All travellers (including those 2 per cent who were selected for random testing on arrival and were found negative) will undergo home quarantine for 7 days and shall undertake RT-PCR test on the 8th day of arrival in India. Travellers shall also be required to upload results of repeat RT-PCR test for Covid-19 done on 8th day on Air Suvidha portal (to be monitored by the respective States/UTs). If negative, they will further self-monitor their health for next 7 days. However, if such travellers are tested positive, their samples should be further sent for genomic testing at INSACOG laboratory network. They shall be managed at isolation facility and treated as per laid down standard protocol including contact tracing mentioned in para (xvii).

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Thailand announces reopening of 3 more Sandbox destinations from January 11

Thailand’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has approved a new round of relaxed entry measures for international arrivals to Thailand with an announcement to reopen three more Sandbox destinations – Krabi, Phang-Nga, and Surat Thani (only Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, and Ko Tao) from January 11, 2022 – in addition to Phuket. With this move, the Sandbox entry programme will now be available at four Thai destinations and from next week, international travellers will be able to travel to Thailand under the Sandbox programme and can choose to undergo their mandatory seven days' stay in either Krabi, Phang-Na, Phuket, or Surat Thani. Also, from January 11, the CCSA approved the lifting of travel restrictions on arrivals from African countries and now travellers from Africa will be allowed to apply for the Thailand Pass under either the Sandbox programme or the Alternative Quarantine system. Requirements to enter a Sandbox destination All travellers must make sure that they arrange everything in order before applying for the Sandbox Thailand Pass. This can include but is not limited to, a vaccination certificate, a pre-arrival negative RT-PCR test result, prepaid seven nights' accommodation in an approved hotel, prepaid RT-PCR tests for when in Thailand, and an insurance policy with coverage no less than USD 50,000. Travellers must stay at least the first seven nights within a Sandbox destination if planning to continue the journey to other destinations in Thailand. If staying less than 7 nights, the traveller must leave Thailand to another country immediately. New TEST & GO Thailand Pass applications remain suspended until further notice, announced Thai authorities. Entry measures for travellers who have obtained their Thailand Pass QR code before December 22, 2021, with scheduled arrival dates in Thailand from December 24, 2021, onwards, are currently under review by the CCSA. Alternatively, travellers who are currently planning to enter Thailand can apply for the Thailand Pass under either the Sandbox programme or the Alternative Quarantine system.

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Tourists flock to Marayur and Kanthalloor; Munnar too welcomes travellers

Travellers are visiting Munnar, a picturesque hill station in Kerala, in droves to get a feel of the mist and cool climate. During the Christmas and New Year celebrations, the resorts and homestays spread across Marayur and Kanthalloor regions, including Munnar, in Idukki district saw a surge in tourist arrivals and majority of the resorts are overbooked till January 10. Travellers are visiting the tourism hotspots of Marayur and Kanthalloor to enjoy the vista of rolling hills enveloped in mist and take a quiet saunter down the road in the nippy weather. Presently, most of the tourists are from Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Marayur and Kanthalloor are nature lover’s treasure troves as these places besides being blessed with abundant natural beauty are dotted with orchards with apples, oranges and strawberries. The sight of rows of cabbages nestled in green cavities is soothing to the eyes. Marayur is near Munnar and is a sought-after tourist spot for pleasant climate and fog-filled nights. This exotic destination is also synonymous with locally-made sweet jaggery and aromatic sandalwoods. The huts where the ingredients are laboriously stirred to the right consistency to make lip-smacking jaggery and the government-protected sandalwood jungles are a feast for any backpacker. Kanthalloor is nearly 32km away from Marayur. It is a treat to watch orchards laden with ripe oranges, apples and passion fruits and farming land replete with cabbages and garlic in Kanthalloor.

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