From Manali to Spiti, 5 places in India that are seeing minus temperatures right now

It seems winter has once again tightened its grip across the Himalayas, with several popular destinations in North India recording sub-zero temperatures. Chill nights, frost mornings and snow-covered roads - these are some of the issues that a few regions are grappling with as cold waves intensify. There are places from hill towns to isolated high-altitude cold deserts that are under blankets of snow and biting winds. Water pipes freeze, travel is hindered, and residents try to grapple with the way of life that challenges both the infrastructure and one's endurance. The brutal cold, while inconvenient for travel and daily life, also turns the region breathtakingly beautiful. Here are five locations where temperatures have fallen far below freezing, where most of the roads are closed, and are likely facing the last touches of winter, but are at their best form in snowy white.

Manali has been experiencing biting cold with temperature plummeting to around −4 degrees Celsius. New snow in the town and surrounding area has led to icy roads and freezing nights, as higher reaches nearby are still covered in snow. The chilly weather, and snowfall, has also affected the traffic flow, and disrupted travel.

Kalpa is one of the coldest inhabited places in Himachal Pradesh this winter. Temperatures have dropped to minus, complemented with freezing water pipes and apple orchards and rooftops covered in heavy frost. Situated in the Kinnaur region of Himachal Pradesh, this destination faces extreme winters because of its height and proximity to the higher Himalayas.

Leh continues to shiver as biting cold accompanies the winter season. With minimum temperatures dropping to −4 degrees Celsius, mornings are indeed icy, and cold. During winters, the region usually experiences prolonged cold waves, which affect normal life and road connectivity to surrounding areas. Most of the roads are closed as they are undergoing active snow clearing, which disrupts travel.

Spiti Valley is still in the thick of winter and is freezing at around −8 degree Celsius. The cold desert region experiences severe winter automatically every year when heavy snow traps the villages and ice-bound rivers and streams. Large areas of Spiti remain inaccessible for weeks during peak winter times.

It has also been recording sub-zero temperatures. The mercury plunged, with snow falling incessantly and blanketing the renowned ski runs and pastures in a thick coat of white. Both tourism and day to day life in the area have been impacted by the cold.
These destinations highlight the severity of winter across the Himalayan belt, where freezing temperatures are a routine part of life during the coldest months of the year.