Shimla, December 31
Notwithstanding the freezing cold, more than 1 lakh tourists have thronged the town to celebrate the New Year eve, with all hotels booked to capacity.
According to the police, more than 80,000 tourists have descended on the town to celebrate the New Year eve. Even the bone-chilling cold with the day temperature being recorded at 8° C did not dampen their spirit. A majority of the tourists, however, said that they were a little disappointed as there had been no snowfall.
According to the police, about 200 tourist vehicles have been entering the town every hour since morning. They said 30,000 tourists had visited Kufri since morning to enjoy the snow. A large number of visitors, who arrived here in the evening without hotel bookings, could be seen returning disappointed while some said they would still sing and dance throughout the night on the road even if they did not get a room.
The town bore a festive look as all hotels have made special arrangements to usher in the New Year in style. A famous rock band, Aryans, is performing at Hotel Woodville Palace, along with a fashion show as big names from the glamour world, including Mehar Bhasin and Nikita Anand, will walk down the ramp. Other big hotels, too, have artistes from Mumbai, Delhi and Chandigarh performing at the New Year special evening.
Musical bands and folk artistes have been performing at the Ridge Maidan and Rani Jhansi Park since morning. More than 350 big and small hotels are booked to capacity.
“With the New Year falling on a week-end, the number of tourists this year is far more than earlier time,”said Mr Surinder Justa, District Tourism Officer. The police has divided the town into various sectors to maintain law and order. With inadequate parking space in the town, vehicles can be seen parked haphazardly along the roads, leading to traffic jam.
