Fresh Snowfall Blankets Uttarakhand, Himachal, Kashmir, Rain Washes Parts Of Delhi — IN PICS

Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Kashmir received fresh snowfall on December 24, turning the Himalayan region into a winter paradise.

A view of the snow-covered valley after a fresh spell of snowfall, at Kufri near Shimla, Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday, December 24.

Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Kashmir turned into a winter paradise after several districts in these Himalayan region received fresh snowfall on December 24. (Source: PTI)

Several districts in Himachal Pradesh including Kinnaur, Lahaul, and Spiti and the higher reaches of Shimla, Kullu, Mandi, Chamba and Sirmaur were covered in a white snow blanket. (Source: PTI)

The snowfall led to a 30-percentage point increase in room bookings, with the hotel occupancy in Shimla reaching at more than 70 per cent. (Source: PTI)

However, at least 223 roads, including three national highways, were closed in Himachal after heavy snowfall. The highways that were shut were between Attari and Leh, Sanj to Aut in Kullu district, and Khab Sangam in Kinnaur district and Gramphoo in Lahaul and Spiti district. (Source: PTI)

A long queue of vehicles stuck in a traffic jam in Manali amid tourist rush to celebrate Christmas after recent snowfall was witnessed. Tourists in about 500 vehicles stranded near the Atal Tunnel were safely rescued till late on Monday. (Source: PTI)

Uttarakhand's Chamoli district received heavy snowfall on Tuesday, following which the cows wandering in the snow-covered streets of Badrinath were brought to the lower valleys. (Source: PTI)

Uttarakhand has been swept by icy cold winds since Monday when high altitude locations, like Uttarkashi and Chamoli, as well as tourist spots and famous Himalayan temples received fresh snowfall. The lower areas were lashed by light showers as well. (Source: PTI)

Apart from Badrinath, Valley of Flowers National Park, Nanda Devi National Park, Gangotri, Yamunotri and Hemkund Sahib in Garhwal Himalaya, and Kedarnath Musk Deer Sanctuary, along with the villages above Mana and Malari in Niti Valley, received snow. (Source: PTI)

The higher reaches of Kashmir received fresh snowfall on Tuesday as the temperature dipped several degrees below the freezing point. (Source: PTI)

Kashmir is currently under the grip of 'Chillai-Kalan', which is considered the harshest period of winter. It started on December 21 and lasts for 40 days. (Source: PTI)

Parts of Delhi also received rainfall on Tuesday evening. The air quality showed marginal improvement as the temperature remained slightly higher than normal for this time of the winter season. (Source: PTI)