Skiing in Gulmarg - Himalaya

SUN, SNOW & "KAHWA"!

O! for the wind in the pine-wood trees
O! for the flowery scented breeze In far Gulmarg! In far Gulmarg!
O! for the bubbling brook’s clear flow, Dancing from Killan’s heights below,
O! for the cold and gleaming snow Which Apharwat doth proudly show.
[From “Memories of Gulmarg” in Mrs. Percy Brown’s CHENAR LEAVES]

It has one of the highest SKI SLOPES on our planet, and the highest GONDOLAS in the northern hemisphere! The 50km drive from Srinagar (capital of Jammu and Kashmir) runs through the historic Lal Chowk, and then through verdant rice fields to Tangmarg; from here, winding through a dense pine forest in our 4x4s, with fabulous views of the Vale of Kashmir and the distant view of the Karakorams to give us company, we arrive at our destination. WELCOME TO GULMARG, where lofty white Himalayas surround us! To enhance the pleasure of our surroundings, we stay in a cosy hotel in harmony with Gulmarg’s rustic atmosphere!

A MAGICAL PARADISE FOR SKI LOVERS: where else on earth can we get snowfall for two weeks in a row! Gulmarg offers vast variety of challenging routes: we can ski down from the highest slopes of Aparwath (4100m), which offers views of Mt K2 on a clear day; or from Kongdori (3100m) – mid station for Gondolas. Nature expeditions – pioneers of adventure travel in Kashmir – invites you to explore this hidden paradise!

THE TERRAIN : Gulmarg’s 35 gondolas feature six-seater cabins to lift riders to 1320 vertical metres to the top station at 3980 metres above sea level. From the top station an optional 30 minute walk will take you to Mt. Apharwat’s 4100 metre peak.

BEST TIME for Skiing in Gulmarg:
We recommend mid January to mid February as the best time to visit Gulmarg, especially for snow-riders seeking a balance between a reliable snow base, combined with cold-powder snow conditions down to the lower reaches of Gulmarg in Tangmarg valley.

Temperature in Centigrade
December: Minimum -8.5 degrees/ Maximum +3 degrees
January: Minimum -10 to 11/ Maximum –6.5 degrees
February: Minimum-8.5 to -7.5./ Maxumum-4 degrees.

FACTS: British army officers together with their families were the first people to holiday in Gulmarg way back in 1920’s!

EQUIPMENT: The equipment hire in Gulmarg covers snowboarding, ice skating, alpine and cross-country skiing. The local J&K Tourism (government) shop has a good supply of equipment. For international visitors we recommend to bring your own equipment, you might wish to take advantage of the government hire shop’s at inexpensive rates and quality equipment to try another winter sports discipline while in Gulmarg rates vary from Rs. 350 to Rs. 500 ( USD 9 to 13) Per day.

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