Gulmarg

Gulmarg is the most popular tourist destination in Kashmir.   It is located at a distance of 50 kms from Srinagar.

Nestled in the Pir Panjal Range in a cup-shaped valley, Gulmarg has been specially touched by nature’s splendid hand, and is a place which the gods would also love to visit. This magnificent tourist destination in the valley of Kashmir is great for both a family, honeymoon and snow adventure sports lovers.

Known as one the best skiing destinations in India, Gulmarg is decorated with high snow-capped mountains, lush greenery, small lakes, and a large variety of flowers.

A holiday in Gulmarg promises to be a memorable one, with several sightseeing opportunities in tourism places like Khilanmarg, Tangmarg & Ferozepur Nallah. Another interesting activity that one should try is visiting the 18 hole Golf Course, counted among the highest golf courses in India.

Gulmarg also offers its fair share of thrill & adventure to the tourists. The most popular adventure activity in Gulmarg is skiing, which can be enjoyed by both amateur & experienced skiiers. Other than that, tourists can also enjoy a Gondola cable car ride and enjoy trekking.

Gulmarg is a compound word of two Persian words Gul and Marg. Gul means flowers and Marg means meadow. So, Gulmarg is a meadow of flowers. The credit for discovering the charms of Gulmarg first time in history has been given to Yousuf Shah Chak, the last Chak ruler who reigned from 1579 to 1586 AD.

 In the 19th century, British civil servants started using Gulmarg as a summer retreat. Hunting and golfing were their favorite pastime and three golf courses were established in Gulmarg including one exclusively for women. One of the golf courses survives at an altitude of 8,690 ft which is the world's highest golf course. 

In 1948, Indian Army established a skiing school in Gulmarg which later became the High Altitude Warfare School of the Indian army specializing in snow–craft and winter warfare.

 After Indian Independence, Indian planners sought to develop a destination for Winter sports in India. The Department of Tourism of the Government of India invited Rudolph Matt, in 1960 to select a suitable location for such purpose. Matt zeroed in on Gulmarg as a suitable location for the development of a winter sports destination in India.

About Gulmarg Gondola

Asia's largest and highest and world’s second-largest and second highest cable car project, Gulmarg Gondola is the top attraction in Gulmarg. In fact, a Gulmarg tour without a ride on the popular cable car is considered incomplete. This must-do activity in Gulmarg is perfect for family vacationers, romantic couples as well as adventurers seeking to get to the top of the mountain for the best skiing experience in winter. The scenic views of mountains and valley during the cable car ride are also unforgettable and unmatched. The gondola can ferry 6 people at a time and 600 people per hour. You may do the booking in advance through on-line facility (Online Booking Website - www.jammukashmircablecar.com)

• Best Season Gulmarg Gondola: The winter season is the best time to enjoy the ride on Gulmarg Gondola due to the most amazing skiing opportunity. However, the cable car ride is available all through the year.
• Time Required: The Gulmarg Gondola ride can take up to 1-2 hours depending on the rush and the season.

The cable car ride takes place in two levels/stages.

·         Phase I: from the Gulmarg resort to Kongdori Station (2600 m) in the bowl-shaped Kongdori Valley which takes 9 minutes to reach.

·         Phase II: from Kongdori Station to Kongdori Mountain (3747 m), the shoulder of Apharwat Peak which takes 12 minutes

In the third phase of Gulmarg Gondola project, 90 chairlifts were installed in 2011. The chairlift connects Kongdori to Mary Shoulder where many skiing events take place. It takes 11 minutes for the chairlift to go from one point to the other.

Skiing:

If skiing, snowboarding or heli-skiing is on your mind, the best time to visit Apharwat will be winter season. In case, you just want to enjoy the Gulmarg Gondola ride to Apharwat, the ideal time would be between March and October.