Your Comprehensive Guide To Skiing In India

India is one of the world's largest countries and it contains about one seventh of the world's population. This vast land stretches from the snowcapped Himalayas in the north to the beach resorts and fishing villages of the south, while the country's elaborate palaces rub shoulders with the dirtiest of slums. You would be forgiven for thinking India is not one of the primary ski destinations in the world, but there are several excellent resorts here in the north, with the ski season generally running from January to March.

The ski resorts in India are modern and reasonably priced and are mostly concentrated in the Kumaon and Himachal Pradesh hills and the northeastern states. Gulmarg is ideal for beginner skiers and snowboarders, with gentle, well-groomed slopes and a long run at over a mile.

Auli ski resort is surrounded by deodar forest and offers amazing views of the Nanda Devi, Mana Parvat and Dunagiri Himalayan peaks, while the slopes are also great for cross-country skiers. Munsiyari is another top ski centre in India and also the base for trekking to the Namik and Ralam glaciers.

However, India's top ski resorts are those of Manali, Kufri and Narkanda in the Himachal region, which also offer summer skiing and numerous natural slopes to slide down.

Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport is the gateway to India and it has two terminals that receive flights from all over the world and throughout India. India also has other international airports, such as Chennai International Airport for arrivals to the south, Mumbai's Netaji Subhash Airport and Calcutta International Airport. Travelling any other way than flying in India is time consuming, be it by road or rail. The road network is fairly substantial, but overcrowding and dangerous conditions are a problem, while bus and train travel can be uncomfortable.

Apart from the obvious dangers of driving in India, where dangerous conditions and overcrowding lead to high road death tolls, skiing is also a risky activity often leading to accidents and injuries. When skiing in India, it is essential that you take out travel insurance for you and your family.