GULMARG, Feb. 14 -- Amidst the crystalline air of Gulmarg, where the Himalayas jut into the heavens, an unlikely assembly is taking shape.

The 2025 Khelo India Winter Games, to be held from February 22 to 25, has drawn an interesting cross-section of international players and fans, turning this premier skiing destination into a melting pot of cultures bound together by their passion for winter sports.

"The beauty here is overwhelming," says Melania Anderson, a yoga instructor from the United Kingdom based in Hong Kong.

Anderson, who works with Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) through her charity 'Yama', is enchanted by the double appeal of Kashmir as both a sporting challenge and cultural treasure.

"The Kashmiri cuisine alone would ha...