Can snowy, slippery slopes make you a better driver?

• Snow can improve your driving skills

- VIKRAM CHAUDHARY

DRIVING IN SNOW is a strict no-no, but it can teach you how to have ultimate control over your car. With plenty of snowfall in the Himalayas this year, snow drive experiences are open through April in Kashmir, Ladakh, and Spiti.

We drove a Mahindra Thar in virgin snow in Gulmarg, near Srinagar, as part of the Snow Survivor guided course by Mahindra Adventure. But if you're going on your own, this is what you must keep in mind.

How to prepare?

You just cannot take a Hyundai Venue, a Tata Nexon or a Thar 2WD in snow. The vehicle needs to be 4x4 and light. Even a Scorpio 4WD—almost 2 tonnes, with passengers—is usually ruled out, and driving the Thar Rox in snow can be tricky.