In the heavenly land of Kashmir is a town called Gulmarg. With its snow-wrapped mountains, lush greenery, a huge variety of flowers and small lakes, Gulmarg is itself a slice of paradise. There are many amazing places here to visit and things to do. Also, the 18 hole Golf Course, being one of the highest in India, pulls many crowds. However, that’s not it! When we are talking about Gulmarg, all these things do come to mind, but the first thing that Gulamarg reminds of is skiing! Gliding through the snow, the cool breeze brushing off against your skin, oh, how thrilling the experience is! Gulmarg, without any shade of doubt, is the best among the top places in India for ski trips.
Why only India! The name Gulmarg has become a globally known name too as it is the third-highest ski resort in the world! So, you know the craze for Gulmarg ski trips is not exaggerated even a bit! We insist you on adding a Gulmarg ski trip to your travel diaries. In case you already have that on your bucket list, here goes a complete Gulmarg India skiing guide for you!
Before you go zooping on the snow, you need to sort your travel plans and reach the town. But don’t need to pause the excitement thinking about how to reach Gulmarg. Here we have listed all the details on how you can reach the town!
The nearest airport to Gulmarg is in Srinagar. The Srinagar Airport receives regular flights from major Indian cities. From your respective city, board a flight to Srinagar. From the airport, Gulmarg is 55 km and you can take a taxi.
If you reach Gulmarg via railway, take a train to the Jammu Railway Station. From the station, get on a local bus or book a cab to Gulmarg. It will take you some time since the distance is about 300 km. But you will be rewarded with charming views!
Gulmarg’s road connections to many cities of Jammu, Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh are very good. So, a road trip before your Gulmarg skiing trip can be a good option. Coming to the vehicle, there are Government-run as well as privately-owned bus services that you can avail.
The summer, from March to June, is generally considered the best time to visit Gulmarg. The weather remains pleasant and people can make the most out of sightseeing. But, you are not just planning a trip to Gulmarg, you are planning a ski trip. And for that snow is mandatory, right? Well, in the winter, especially from December to March, Gulmarg receives heavy snowfall, making sightseeing difficult but creating the best skiing opportunities. So, for your snow skiing Gulmarg trip, winter is the ideal time!
How to reach the skiing spots located on mountain-high elevations, how the slopes will be and what to expect, here are all the details!
You probably have heard of the famous Gondola ride of Gulmarg. To reach the skiing spots, you will have to take the Gondola. Here, Gondola operates all seven days a week throughout the year, from 10 am to 5 pm. Although, the timing may vary depending on the weather. So, confirm the time the day before and then reach the spot as early as you can
The mountain here is divided into two phrases, both reachable by the Gondola! The first one is from Gulmarg which stands at a height of 2600 m to Kungdori mountain standing at a height of 3747 m. You can get down at this phase. And ski back to the base.
Phase l is perfect for Gulmarg skiing for beginners. The slopes here are wide and easy. They remain open for skiing all through the day and even at night. All in all, the difficulty level of this phase is easy.
The second phase is from Kungdori mountain to the Apharwat peak, at a height of 4200 m. For skiing in phase two, the Gondola will drop you at the said peak. You will get to ski down from there!
Well, the difficulty level of phase ll is higher than phase l. Let’s just say that this phase is more for the experts since the slopes here are quite hard!
Yes, we know, you can’t wait to start skiing in Kashmir Gulmarg. But a few questions must be asked and answered for a smooth trip!
Whether you are a beginner or a pro, we will always suggest getting a ski guide or instructor while you go skiing in India Gulmarg. For beginners, the reason is quite obvious! The instructors will give them the required training coupled with some useful tricks and tips! For the pros, although you already have experienced hands at skiing, a guide will make the trip more enjoyable. You will get to know the best spots and make the most out of the trip! While you book an instructor, remember this! Many instructors and guides are available and most of them are locals. But not all of them are certified. Make sure that you are booking a certified instructor!
Skis, ski boots and bindings, poles, helmets, gloves and ski suits are the ones that you will need. But don’t worry about the equipment much. You can rent them from the spot. Also, the guide or instructor you book, he or she will help you get them. Just carry some goggles if you can!
Obviously, it is a skiing trip. But there are a few more fun things to do in Gulmarg. The first one is snowboarding. And another one is sledging!
There are many wonderful resorts and hotels in Gulmarg. All these provide great comfort and hospitality. Our recommendations include Hotel Heevan Retreat, The Marigold Resort & Mirch Masala Restaurant, Gulmarg Zahgeer Continental, Hotel Pine Spring, Nedou’s Hotel, Hotel Alpine Ridge and Royal Park Hotel!
With everything sorted, just fix the dates, keep this Gulmarg skiing travel guide with you and get ready for all the fun!
