After days of pleasant weather, the cold may return to Himachal Pradesh with the local weather bureau predicting widespread snow in higher reaches and rain in other parts from Monday.

The temperature may remain below the freezing point in many places after rain and snow, a meteorological department official here told IANS.

The state capital, which saw a low of 6.6 degrees Celsius on Sunday, may see rain, while Kalpa, some 250 km from here, may again experience snow till Tuesday, the official said.

Picturesque tourist resort Manali, which saw a low of 0.4 degrees Celsius, may see season's first snowfall.

Keylong, headquarters of Lahaul and Spiti district, recorded a low of minus two degrees Celsius. This remote town may also see more snow.

The prediction of snowfall ahead of Christmas has cheered up hoteliers in the hope that tourists will come in large numbers in the coming days.

Lower areas of the state including Dharamsala, Palampur, Solan, Nahan, Bilaspur, Una, Hamirpur and Mandi towns may receive moderate rain that could bring down the temperature considerably.

The minimum temperature in Dharamsala was 6.8 degrees Celsius, while it was 8.2 degrees in Dalhousie.

"The high hills in Lahaul and Spiti, Kinnaur, Kullu, Shimla and Chamba districts are likely to experience moderate to heavy snowfall," said a weather department official.

He said a western disturbance would remain active in the western Himalayan region till December 13.

IANS