Jammu and Kashmir’s Gulmarg just got ‘cooler’ as it is now home to India’s first igloo cafe. Scroll down below for more details on this chill new hangout spot. By Bayar Jain
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According to a report by ANI, Gulmarg is now home to India’s first igloo cafe. Reportedly, this new cafe is also Asia’s biggest.
Started by Kolahoi Green Group of Hotels and Resorts, this igloo cafe—inspired by Arctic countries—can seat up to 16 guests at a time. It reportedly measures 22-feet in diameter and 12.5-feet in height, complete with patterned walls, arched doorways, sheepskin rugs, accent lighting, Kashmiri artworks, and four tables and benches made entirely out of ice. “I hired 20 workers, and they worked for 15 days to complete the work,” says hotelier Syed Waseem Shah, owner of Kolahoi Green Heights in Gulmarg to New Indian Express.
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Speaking to ANI, Hamid Masoodi, general manager of Kolahoi Green Heights—the chain’s property in Gulmarg—says, “We’re [already] receiving advance bookings. We provide guests with lunch and dinner.” He further adds that this new cafe not only invites foodies but is also increasingly becoming a popular selfie point for tourists.
Despite being made entirely of ice, Financial Express notes that the cafe has an inherent ability to keep guests warm and snug. This is because the cafe’s thick ice walls double as a barrier from the harsh chilly winter winds outside. Moreover, the staff of the cafe reportedly provides guests with hot water bottles and blankets to combat low temperatures.
While Gulmarg’s igloo cafe is the first-of-its-kind in the country, the concept is not entirely new. Places such as Rooftop Igloo Bar in Hungary’s Budapest, Sweden’s IceHotel, or Hotel de Glace in Canada’s Quebec City have long lured guests on similar notes. Moreover, Himachal Pradesh’s Manali also houses the Keylinga’s Manali Igloo Stay, which is designed on an equivalent concept.
Related: We Stayed In An Igloo In Manali And This Is What Happened!
Bayar Jain
Senior Content Manager
Equipped with a degree in Sociology (Honours) from the University of Delhi, and a post graduate diploma in English Journalism and Mass Communication from Xavier Institute of Communications, Mumbai, Bayar enjoys sharing stories of people, places, and different cultures. When not typing her travel tales, you can catch the hobbyist photographer capturing the next frame, dabbling in arts and crafts, or gushing over puppers and kittens.
