An igloo-shaped cafe in the ski resort of Gulmarg in Kashmir is wowing skiers and making waves on the internet.
The Igloo Café is also providing some light relief from the effects of the coronavirus, which has decimated the travel and hospitality industry in India of late.
The unique spot is the brain-child of hotelier Syed Waseem Shah, who built it in just 15 days.
Indian daily Outlook quoted him as saying that he was inspired to create the eatery after seeing a similar thing in Switzerland. Gulmarg's Igloo Café will be open until 28 February.
Are u aware of #Kashmir’s first Igloo Cafe?
— Rabyanoor (@rabyanoor1) January 29, 2021
Do u know the man behind the first-of-its-kind initiative?
Syed Waseem Shah, a young professional hotelier, came up with this unique idea of creating a ovr 20 feet by 13 feet igloo in Gulmarg.
And this hs left Kashmiris enchanted! pic.twitter.com/yCUYAmlnsr
A peek into Indias first Igloo Cafe set up in Gulmarg #Kashmir.@AartiTikoo @KashmirView @kashmirobserver @kashmirtourism_ pic.twitter.com/sa1ZmFmnyz
— Faizaan Gani (@faizaan_gani) January 28, 2021
This café enables tourists to enjoy the experience of using snow chairs and ice tables and can serve 16 people lunch and dinner meals at a time.
Inside #Kashmir's first Igloo cafe a 'Samavar' and 16 guests sipping 'kehwa'#KashmirVelly #Kashmiriyouth #Srinagar #Kashmiri #Pulwama #quacktwtselfieday #Prabhas #BoycottBJP #Kabadadaari pic.twitter.com/xmHOcqbZAn
— Mariya Ashraf (@MariyaAshraf4) January 28, 2021
Some netizens are finding the concept "cool" and others are appreciating it as "amazing".
Wow amazing! #Kashmir #igloo #cafe #coffee #Gulmarg #snow https://t.co/RaMfb1XNL8
— Shuaib Kamili (@Shuaibkamili) January 28, 2021
Kashmir's first Igloo Cafe in Gulmarg, made up of snow and ice. Amazing!@JandKTourism @DrGnitoo pic.twitter.com/bVgVwieuAI
— Mudasir Maqbool (@MudasirJourno) January 25, 2021
😲❄First Igloo cafe in Kashmir! Have a look at this amazing idea!#weather #india #kashmir #kashmirvalley #kahwa #samavar https://t.co/wahBY0HakB
— Weather & Radar India (@WeatherRadarIN) January 29, 2021
Indian hotels and restaurants have struggled due to the pandemic. Media reports suggest that business is currently down by up to 80 percent as the country hopes its vaccine rollout soon improves the situation.
