People throng Murree to enjoy snowfall

Islamabad: Murree attracted large crowds of people on Tuesday as it received the winter season's first snowfall.

However, high hotel rates left a bad taste in the visitors' mouth. The people, mostly the residents of Islamabad, Rawalpindi and adjoining areas, had gone to the Malka-i-Kohsar (Queen of Mountains) as Murree is popularly known, to enjoy the snowfall.

The Met Office recorded two inches snowfall in the hill station and forecast more snowfall and rains. There is a likelihood of the weekend seeing a huge influx of tourists there. Pindi Point, Kashmir Point, the Mall and Ayubia were the main attractions for visitors, while some went to the adjoining areas like Galiyat, Bhurban, Ayubia and Nathiagali.

Some thrill-loving youths used motorcycles to reach Murree, which is at an hour’s drive from the federal capital. Muhammad Zaman of Islamabad said he had taken their family to Murree to see snowfall. “With snow everywhere, it’s no less than a paradise,” he said.

While enjoying the pleasant, chilly weather, some tourists regretted traffic jams and higher hotel rents. “Hotels, especially those located on The Mall, are overcharging visitors but no one from the administration is stopping them. I feel really bad about it,” tourist Salman Mehmood of Gujar Khan complained. Tourists also regretted the unavailability of parking spaces and wrong parking of vehicles on the roads causing traffic mess.