A giant igloo cafe is proving a hit with tourists in the Himalayan ski resort of Gulmarg in Kashmir.

Its owner, who told local media he got the idea from seeing a similar thing in Europe, claims it is the world’s largest igloo cafe, with a diameter of 12.8m (42 feet) and a height of 12m (40 feet).

Benches and tables are made of frozen blocks. Seating surfaces are covered with Kashmiri rugs.

Visitors are served hot kahwa, a Kashmiri tea flavoured with cinnamon, cardamom, and saffron.

Unused to such a venue, tourists often touch the ice-block chairs to ensure they are safe to sit on before doing so.

The igloo café is named 'Snowglu'. Its owner also claims it is the highest-altitude such cafe in the world.

Gulmarg is situated in the Pir Panjal Range in the Lesser Himalayan region, at an altitude of 2,650m (8,694 feet), about 56km (35 miles) from Srinagar. It is currently covered with heavy snow

A new attraction at Gulmarg one of the Asia's premier ski resorts situated in the Pir panjal Range of the Himalayas at an altitude of 2,650 M (8,694 ft) and about 56 kilometres from Srinagar, which is currently covered with heavy snow, is the world's largest igloo, with chairs and tables carved out of frozen blocks, covered with Kashmir carpet rugs, and visitors served with hot kehwa.

Out of curiosity, tourists touch these chairs to ensure they are “safe and real” before sitting on them. The vapours emanating from the hot beverages and food served inside the igloo looks unreal to many tourists.

The igloo café is named 'Snowglu'. The igloo has is going to be the biggest and the highest igloo in the world has a diameter of 42. ft and a height of 40.ft.