................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Gulmarg, Jammu & Kashmir
Copyright © visitindia.org.in 2011-12. All Rights Reserved.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Get online driving directions, route guides, weekend planners, and customised itineries. Check out a few of our favorite user road trips, then start an adventure of your own.
Explore India by Road......
Kashmir has a number of attractions. Gulmarg is very special more in winter. Located 57 kms from Shrinagar in the Baramulla district this saucer shaped place overlooks the Kashmir valley. Jammu is the nearest railhead here. By bus it takes 2 hours from Srinagar. Gulmarg stretches over 3.5 sq kms and is a very adventerous place. During summer the wild flowers in the meadows are a beautiful sight whereas in winters the same space getstransformed into a wonderland of ice and skiers. Located at an altitude of 2,730 meters the journey to Gulmarg itself is enchanting.
Most people come here to ski. Usually covered with 22-25 ft of soft snow the place provides some of the best and highest ski slopes in the world - for beginers as well as experienced skiers. There are a number of slopes of 200-300 metre runs for beginers but the more adventerous opt for the Afarwat hills slopes offering a 5km run. The peak at an altitude of 4,124 metres can be assessed by a gondola. From the peak it is possible to glide for over a couple of kilometers in either direction before descending the mountain.
Gulmarg's 18-hole golf course is the popular attraction during the summers. It is the main venue for cross country ski training. If you dont skii then just relax the watch the skiers. Apart from skiing there is also sledging, you can sit on the sledge and let gravity take you down slopes. There is also tobaggoning, snow scooters and snow bobbing which requires no skills. The nearby sights to see are Khilanmarg, Kongdori, Seven Springs and Alpanther lake and the picturesque Alphine lake. Slightly lower than Gulmarg is the shrine of Baba Reshi a mystic saint.
Gulmarg has around 40 hotels of all grades. The peak season starts with the snow fall in December and lasts until April. Gulmarg has Asia's highest and longest cable car project called the Gulmarg Gondola. This is a two-stage ropeway that ferries about 600 people per hour to and from Kongdoori Mountain, a shoulder of nearby Afarwat Peak.
How to reach
By Air - Nearest airport to Gulmarg is Srinagar which is 56 km away from Gulmarg.
By Rail - Closest Railhead from Gulmarg is Srinagar (350 kms away)
By Road - Gulmarg is well linked by bus services from most of the cities in Jammu and Kashmir.
Places to see
Places to Visit during Summer
- Apharwat: The final destination of the Gulmarg Gondola.
- Alapathar Lake: The Lake is a single day trek from Gulmarg via Khilanmarg you can also hire ponies to ride up to the lake.
- Benji’s Bar at the Highlands Park: A beautiful location to enjoy a meal/snack adorned with personal memorabilia of the erstwhile owner.
- Drung: 14 Kilometers from Gulmarg. The stream side destination is ideal for a lunch by the Ferozepur Nallah Stream ideal for a day trip.
- Fishing Pond: A small Pond by the Club where you can go fishing and be sure of a catch! The trout better be sizable because you have to pay a fixed sum for each fish you catch.
- Kongdori: The first phase of the Gulmarg Gondola
- Maharaja Palace: The Private address of the Erstwhile Maharaja located near the circular road.
- Rani Temple: The symbol of secular character of Kashmir located right by the Main Market.
- St. Mary’s Church: Located in the heart of Gulmarg atop a meadow built in the year 1902.
- Ziarat of Baba Rishi: Holy Shrine of renowned Muslim Saint Baba Payam-ud-din RH , 3 Kilometers trek from Gulmarg and 8 Kilometers by a motor able road.
Activities in Gulmarg
- Skiing
- Trekking
- Mountain Climbing
- Golf
- Gondola Ride
- Angling
- Sledging
- Tobaggoning
- Snow scooters
- Snow bobbing
- Horse Riding
- Mountaineering
- Mountain Biking
- Snooker
Excursions
Anantnag
Soanmarg
Acchabal
Verinag
Mattan
Amarnath cave
Jammu - Gulamarg Road drive
Highway - NH 1A
Time - 6.5 hrs
Distance - 347 kms
Jammu and Kashmir The Paradise on Earth
..................................................................................................................................................................................
Capital - Srinagar
Ideal time to Visit - March - October
Road trip summary, time, kms and tolls and other information required to plan your road trip.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Planning a visit to J&K read through travelogues to plan your trip
This period covers three seasons in Kashmir i.e., spring (March-early May), summers (early May-late August) and autumn (September-November).
The blossoms of spring, the cool weather of summer and the gold and red hues of autumn all provide the peak season for Kashmir travel. From December to early March is the winter season for Kashmir, when the entire valley wears a white blanket of snow.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Places to see in Jammu & Kashmir