It’s chilly and cold out here in Delhi. A few days of January were declared to be the coldest in the last 20 years and we can’t say we couldn’t feel it. The dropping temperatures were an indication that it was snowing in the hilly terrains of the Indian sub-continent. Now the commonplace understanding would suggest that we keep ourselves all cozied up in our blankets and not let an iota of air enter the quilt. Sip on hot soup from a bowl and binge-watch our favourite series all night long.
Surprisingly, the people of Kashmir think otherwise. The beautiful valley and the picturesque landscapes are a sight to behold when one enters the region. Often times, you would have heard people referring to it as heaven on earth and if you have been to Kashmir, you know it is true. In the chilly winter season which a few months to stay, Kashmir has inaugurated its latest igloo restaurant in snowcapped Gulmarg. Doesn’t it send chills down your spine at the mere thought of it? Here is a glimpse of last year’s café.
Source: Kolahoi Green Hotel Resorts/Instagram
After a successful turnover of tourists and locals alike in 2021, this year, Syed Wasim Shah led the project of creating what is believed to be the world’s largest igloo restaurant. Under the guidance of Kolahoi Green Group of Hotels and Resorts, the awe-striking restaurant was completed within a period of 64 days of tiresome work, day in and day out. While this concept of igloo restaurants and snow cafes is quite common in foreign countries like Switzerland and Finland, this is relatively novel for Indians.
With the toil of 1700 workers, the restaurant was opened up to the public last week and will remain operational till end of this month. For the unversed, an igloo is a house made of snow, used as a shelter to protect from the harsh conditions. Bearing a seating capacity of about 40 people at a time, the restaurant is divided into two parts, wherein one section is dedicated to selfies for the customers to click pictures and make memories and the second section is the dining area with approximately 10 tables and chairs.
Technically speaking, the 33.8 feet height of the igloo café as well as the 42.4 feet diameter is believed to make it one of the largest igloo restaurants around the world. For this reason, the hotel group has also applied for the Guinness Book of World Records.