India’s first glass igloo which was set up earlier this month at ski resort Gulmarg in north Kashmir,has grabbedattention of the tourists visiting the snow-wonderland from various parts of world.
Parveen Veranai, a tourist from Mumbai who visited Gulmarg on Saturday was surprised as she saw such a glass igloo for the first time in her life.
“It is very awesome. When my sister saw the igloo glass she was like oh my God, this is unique. She enjoyed a lot and this is the most unique thing we have seen so far in Gulmarg. She was so impressed and we went inside. It was so beautiful and it is very organized inside. People are having kehwa there,” said Parveen.
Yasmeen Kaba, a tourist from the U.S said, “We visited the igloo, it was very nice and beautiful. This is for the first time I have experienced such a beautiful igloo in my life.”
“Ambience is nice and people who come to Gulmarg should definitely visit the igloo glass,” she said, adding that she also had a Gondola ride and seeing snow-capped mountains from the Gondola cabins was the most enjoyable.
This glass-wall restaurant has been built earlier this month in middle of snow by Kolahoi Green Heights hotel of Gulmarg. In 2021, the same hotel built a snow igloo in Gulmarg which was the biggest snow igloo of Asia that also attracted tourists.
This is the only hotel that started glass igloo café at Gulmarg. The hotel management said they took the concept from Finland and built three igloos in the courtyard of their hotel. This was not seen anywhere before. They have also built three more igloos at phase one of Gulmarg Gandola cable car project at their hotel.
“In 2021 we made snow igloo restaurant that attracted the attention of both local and non-local tourists. And this year were made glass igloo which is the first of its kind in India,” said Hamid Masoodi, Manager of the hotel.
“In the inhouse restaurants, a tourist gets the same feeling and experiences like other hotels or restaurants in Srinagar or Gulmarg. But at the glass igloo restaurant, tourists can have a look at the scenery and live snowfall experience and they get a thrilling experience,” he said.
Masoodi said tourists who come from Mumbai, Delhi should have something different that can give them a unique experience and that is the motive behind the initiative.
“We serve dinner, tea and every other food as per the order. Tourists get a chance to have a different feel and have food inside glass igloo with a warm environment inside. This is a different experience. Every tourist comes here to enjoy snow and beauty. But here they can enjoy both beauty and food in a natural way,” he said.
These glass igloos have proper heating arrangement and tourists want to sit there to spent and enjoy the moment while having food at the same time.
“The spot has become an attraction for igloo café lovers and these days tourists in huge number take selfies at the spot which is also inviting the attention of others,” he said.
The fabricated glass used to cover the glass comes from Austria. “The material is brought from the Austria,” he said.
The manager said the previous snow igloo café got a very good response from the tourists and that become a reason to explore and start the glass igloos.
“The glass igloo is also getting a good response from people. Now we are doing prior bookings for the visitors for glass igloo,” he said, adding that each of these glass igloos can accommodate eight people at once.
Masoodi said both glass igloo and snow igloo have promoted and boosted tourism in the winter ski resort. “Igloos are eco-friendly structures and the major advantage is that it would not cause environmental hazard. We do not need cement for making it,” he said.
The manager said igloos can also generate employment if these are started at local level in and around Tangmarg or other tourist spots. “These can play a vital role in eco-tourism and can create job opportunities as well,” he said.
The hotel is planning to build similar igloo glass next year with a large space where tourist can also sleep.
Shabir Ahmad, a tourist guide said such glass igloos should be built in other places in Gulmarg and Drung which will help to improve tourist arrival and push tourism and economy.
“We have been working here for the past ten years. But tourists enjoy unique experiences and glass igloo or the snow igloo is one of such interesting thing,” he said.