Whomever I tell about Hartola and even guests who had come to our village invariably ask whether it snows in Hartola. So I thought I should have a post on our experience with snowfall in Hartola.
Reflecting back, 2018 was a memorable year, as we witnessed an unusually late snowfall in Hartola on March 11. We were staying in Nathuakhan at the time, and it was a day etched in memory, because it was the day after Deepa’s birthday and just a few months before we began construction on our cottage here in July.
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- A scene of Hartola near Katie’s Abode after a day of heavy snowfall
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- The surroundings of Katie’s Abode, Hartola homestay covered with snow
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- The roof of Padam, the family room of Katie’s Abode, Hartola homestay covered with snow.
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- Snowfall in Hartola
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- Snowfall in Hartola
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- The lawns of Katie’s Abode, Hartola homestay covered in snow
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- Scene of snowfall near Katie’s Abode, Hartola homestay
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- Scene of snowfall near Katie’s Abode, Hartola homestay
A friend told us that it was snowing in Mukteshwar, so we thought that it would definitely be snowing in Hartola because Hartola was on a higher altitude (8345 feet) compared to Mukteshwar (7500 feet). So we thought for taking a drive to Hartola just after breakfast. Even in Nathuakhan it was cloudy as if it would be raining any time.
As we turned a bend near Bhallad, the surrounding became magical! It was snowing.
So this time too as December approaches, we are hoping that Hartola transforms into a serene winter paradise, with trees draped in blankets of white. This time of year brings a magical hush over the village, as snowfall enhances the tranquil beauty of the landscape. Snowfall in Hartola brings a sense of renewal, blanketing the Banjh oak and occasional buransh trees in soft layers that contrast beautifully with the dense foliage.
And if you ask me where can one see snow in Hartola from, I would say the sitout of Katie’s Abode would be the perfect place.
However, the effects of climate change have begun to impact this winter wonderland. Sadly, last year, Hartola saw only a light dusting of snow due to rising temperatures. This shift was a sobering reminder of global warming’s reach, even in these remote mountains, where snowfall has traditionally been consistent and abundant. Without the usual snow cover, the landscape definitely fells incomplete, as the forests and peaks miss their familiar winter coat.
But then we are hopeful that this time it will be different as we wait with crossed fingers for a good snowfall this winter. Beyond its beauty, snowfall is crucial for apple cultivation, a key livelihood for locals, and for recharging the groundwater, a primary water source for us all here.
Leaving you with a video of snowfall in Hartola a couple of years back:
