Shimla, Dec 13 (IANS): Popular tourist destination Shimla and its nearby areas Saturday received the season's first snowfall, while the lower hills across Himachal Pradesh were lashed by rain, bringing the temperature down by several notches.
Hoteliers cheered up with the timely snowfall in the hope that tourists will come in large numbers this weekend.
Tourist spots near Shimla, such as honeymooners' paradise Kufri, Fagu and Narkanda also experienced mild snowfall, turning the hill stations even more picturesque.
Hills near Manali and Kinnaur also witnessed snowfall, Met Office director Manmohan Singh told IANS.
The minimum temperature in Shimla was recorded at 3.2 degrees Celsius.
Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti district was the coldest place in the state at minus 3 degrees Celsius below freezing.
It was 7.4 degrees Celsius in Dharamsala, minus 0.2 degrees Celsius in Kalpa and 1.6 degrees Celsius in Manali.