Skiing in India
Skiing in India is centered in the northern states of India, where the Himalayas are situated. Skiing is administered by the Indian Mountaineering Foundation in India. The Himalayas provide an excellent skiing experience owing to their great height which allows long descents. Heliskiing is also gaining popularity in places like Manali Gulmarg and Drass. However, skiing in India suffers from lack of infrastructure. The security concerns near the Line of Control have reduced since 2002, which has led to an increase in skiing activity in the region. Some of the most popular skiing locations in India are Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir,Drass in Ladakh Union Territory and Solang in Himachal Pradesh and Auli in Uttarakhand. The skiing season in India is from January to March.
List of skiing destinations
Skiing destinations in India are mostly in the Himalayas and are listed here by state :;Jammu and Kashmir:
;Himachal Pradesh:
- Manali, heli-skiing offered in Hanuman Tibba, Rohtang Pass, Deo Tibba and Chanderkhani Pass.
- Kufri
- Narkanda
- Solang Valley
- Chamba
- Shoja
- Triund
- Fagu
- Auli, ropeway from Joshimath
- Munsiyari
- Dayara Bugyal, near Uttarkashi
- Mundali, in Garhwal district
- Ski India, DLF Mall of India
;Arunachal Pradesh:
Skiing in Manali
Though Europeans were skiing on slopes of Manali for years, it was Darjeeling's Wangdi Sherpa's small skiing school at Vashisht village which started giving lessons on skiing to local residents. Simultaneously Western Himalayan Mountaineering Institute started its courses in skiing and mountaineering in 1961. Winter Sports Club of Manali was founded by some local skiing enthusiasts in 1978 which instilled spirit of skiing in other youths of the region. In 1984, Winter Games Federation of India was formed by a group of visionaries and adventure loving individuals. When Solang ski slopes were not developed, competitions were organized at Rohtang pass in summer months.Indian skiers
- Jeremy Bujakowski was the first Indian at the Winter Olympics, and represented India in skiing in the 1964 and 1968 Winter Olympics.
- Aanchal Thakur won bronze in the Alpine Ejder 3200 Cup organised by the Federation Internationale de Ski. This was India's first international medal in skiing.
- Arif Khan represented the country in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and has qualified for the 2026 Olympics as well. He is the first Indian to secure qualification in two events of the same edition of the Games.