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Tourists' frolic in Himachal snowmobiles

     Manali (Himachal Pradesh): It costs eleven US dollars for a two-minute ride. Thousands have descended on the snow covered landscape in Manali. for a ride. Snowmobiles are the latest craze here, so far popular for a variety of adventure sports like river rafting, paragliding and mountaineering. "We have never thought that we will be able to do this. It's great fun. We have only seen these snowmobiles in movies, in exciting fight scenes. Now, we felt the same excitement. If you don't do this here, then you haven't done anything," said Ram Sarin, a tourist from Delhi.

     Tour operators said that the mobiles that are imported from the US and Canada at nearly 8700 US dollars a piece, have opened up new avenues of employment to local youth. "These scooters have given youth employment opportunities. Tourists also get a unique experience in operating them," said Batuk Nath, an operator. Heavy snowfall in Manali and its adjoining regions have attracted a large number of tourists this season. Himachal Pradesh boasts of some of India's best ski slopes. There are 2.5 kilometer runs, with black, red and blue routes for beginners.
-Dec 21,  2006

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