As Kashmir’s harshest winter phase, Chillai Kalan, nears its end, Sonamarg, once synonymous with towering snow walls and months of isolation, is witnessing a markedly different winter. Residents of Shutkadi and Sonamarg say the severe winters of two to three decades ago have faded into memory, replaced by comparatively mild snowfall and near year-round movement, particularly after the opening of the Sonamarg tunnel. Elderly locals recall a time when Sonamarg would receive seven to eight feet of snow, cutting off the region for three to four months. The onset of October itself signalled retreat, with families relocating to safer areas like Gagangir, knowing the valley would soon be buried under snow. “Earlier, we used to return by October because Sonamarg would remain closed for months,” said Abdul Rashid, a resident of Shutkadi. “There was no water supply, no electricity and no facilities. Sonamarg would receive eight to nine feet of snow. Now, it is completely different.” This winter, locals say snowfall has been limited to around 1.5 to two feet, even during peak winter. an unprecedented change that has left many both surprised and concerned. For residents, past winters were not merely about snow but about survival. Rashid Ahmad Mir recalled how people travelled in groups, walking through dangerous, avalanche-prone stretches to move between Shutkadi and Sonamarg after roads disappeared beneath snow. “We used to walk through the Hung stretch, one of the most dangerous avalanche routes,” he said. “We travelled in groups and stayed for five to ten days because roads would close near Gagangir and there were no facilities.” Winters were so severe, he said, that people navigated narrow trails carved through snow, often climbing over rooftops while remaining completely cut off from the outside world. Another resident, Shabir Ahmad, recalled that winters once involved community-led roof-clearing drives to prevent houses from collapsing under heavy snow. “When February would come, people would go to Sonamarg to throw snow off rooftops,” he said. “In those days, Chillai Kalan was extremely harsh. Today, it often remains dry.” Standing amid a thin snow cover in January, he added, “Earlier we saw nine feet of snow in Sonamarg. Now it is barely one and a half to two feet, even during Chillai Kalan.” While the decline in snowfall is being observed with concern, residents also acknowledge the profound change brought by improved connectivity. The opening of the Sonamarg tunnel has ensured access for most of the year, transforming livelihoods and daily life. “Two decades ago, no one visited Sonamarg in winter,” Shabir said. “Now it remains open year-round, and that has improved our livelihood.” With tourists arriving in all seasons, thousands associated with tourism, hoteliers, pony owners, drivers, guides and shopkeepers, are benefiting from steady footfall. “Tourists now come throughout the year,” he added. “Thousands of people here depend on tourism. While welcoming the change, residents stressed the need for stronger basic infrastructure to support year-round habitation and tourism. “We want better facilities so that people don’t face inconvenience in the future,” locals said, calling for improved water supply, electricity, winter preparedness and emergency services. As Sonamarg transitions from a seasonal outpost to an all-weather destination, elders say memories of snowbound winters remain vivid, a reminder of a time when nature dictated life and survival came before tourism. “Earlier, Sonamarg would shut down completely,” a local said. “Now it stays open. Times have changed, and so has the winter.”