Apart from the having highest cable car, ski resort Gulmarg in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district is now home to world’s biggest Igloo café. The café has become the attraction point for tourists and locals.
The height of the igloo café is 37.5 feet and has a diameter of 44.5 feet. Around 40 persons can be accommodated in 10 snow-carved tables at a given time.
Managing director, Kolahoi Green Heights Hotel Gulmarg, Syed Waseem Shah told Rising Kashmir that the concept of Igloo Café came to his mind in Switzerland, where igloo villages are being carved to attract tourists.
“If Igloos can be made in Switzerland, I thought why not to try this concept in Gulmarg! Last year when I came back I created Asia’s biggest snow café which gained the attention of tourists and locals. That was recorded by the Limca book of records,” he said.
Shah said they have now applied for Guinness World Records, whose team will be visiting Gulmarg next week.
Shah said he started the work on the project last year on 3rd December 2021 aiming to break a world record.
“It took 64 days, 1700 man-days to complete this mega snow project. Each day 25-30 people used to work in twin shifts to carve the world’s biggest igloo café,” he said.
The cafe has become a center of attraction for local people as well as tourists thronging the resort.
The 42-year-old, hotelier hails from Nishat area of Srinagar says Kashmir has the potential of world tourism and such things will attract more travelers to Valley.
“Biggest igloo cafe, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, is in Switzerland, and its height is 33.8 feet and diameter 42.4 feet. Ours is bigger 4-5 feet than it,” he said.
Shah said last year, the igloo café was closed on March 15, and even after its closing dozens of tourists would inquire about it. This year due to its thickness it can survive till March last week, he said.
He said last year’s cafe had four tables, and 16 people could eat at a time. This time we have increased its size and 40 people can sit together and they can be served at one time.
Following its large size, Shah says they have created it in two steps with a staircase. There is also a snow sculpture where people take selfies,” he said.
“We usually serve fast food in the Igloo café including coffee, tea, hot chocolates, Kashmir Kababs,” he said.
