Travel information on Gulmarg, Kashmir
Gulmarg’s legendary beauty, prime location and proximity to Srinagar ( only 1 hour 15 minutes ) naturally make it one of the premier hill resorts in the country,.Situated at 2650 mts ,this all-weather hill resort with refreshing summer meadows and pastoral scenes will keep your cameras busy, the main reason to come here, at least in winter, is the off-piste, deep-powder, long-run skiing and snowboarding. The Himalayan resort of Gulmarg is one of the newest and increasingly popular ski destinations. Head here for one of the world’s highest gondola ski lift and spectacular views.
Originally called ‘Gaurimarg’ by shepherds, its present name was given in the 16th century by Sultan Yusuf Shah, who was inspired by the sight of its grassy slopes emblazoned with wild flowers. Gulmarg was a favourite haunt of Emperor Jehangir.
The journey to Gulmarg is half the enchantment of reaching there- roads bordered by rigid avenues of poplar give over to flat expanses of rice fields interspersed with picturesque villages. Depending on the season, nature’s colours could be the translucent green of spring, summer’s rich emerald, or autumn’s golden hues, when scarlet chillies festoon windows of village homes. After Tangmarg, the climb to Gulmarg begins through fir-covered hillsides.
Today Gulmarg is not merely a mountain resort of exceptional beauty- it also has the highest green golf course in the world, at an altitude of 2,650 m, and is the country’s premier ski resort in the winter.
Gulmarg boasts one of the world’s highest and longest cable car project, the Gulmarg Gondola. The two-stage ropeway operates on hourly basis to and from Kongdoori Mountain, a shoulder of nearby Afarwat Peak (4,200 m (13,780 ft)).. The first stage transfers from the Gulmarg resort at 2,600 m (8,530 ft) to Kongdoori Station in the bowl-shaped Kongdori valley. The second stage of the ropeway, , takes skiers to a height of 3,747 m (12,293 ft) on Kongdoori Mountain, a shoulder of nearby Afarwat Peak (4,200 m (13,780 ft)). The timing of the gondola is 10 AM (IST) to 5 PM (It’s highly dependent upon the weather at both stages). A gondola can carry six people at a time. The price is approximately 400 Indian Rupeesfor the first stage and 600 Indian Rupees for the second stage.. It takes approximately 9 minutes to reach the first stage and 12 minutes for second stage.
The Khyber Himalayan Resort & Spa, Gulmarg – The only luxury resort in gulmarg is a 85-room resort ,Khyber .Clad in locally sourced pine and slate, the resort is built in a style true to the architectural heritage of Kashmir.. Speciality restaurants, a cigar lounge, a well-appointed spa and a heated swimming pool are amongst the luxuries offered by the resort , if the choice of the hotel in terms of prices is slightly lower then Pine Spring is a great option!
