Gulmarg Travel Guide
Gulmarg is city in the union terretory of Jammu and Kashmir. It is located 52 km away from Srinagar on the north side of Pir Panjal. It is one of the most famous hill station where tourists from all over the world visit for vacation and it is the perfect destination for holiday. It has an average elevation of 8,690 feet.
Gulmarg means Meadow of Flowers. It lies close to the Line of Control between Pakistan and India. Highest and longest cable car of Asia is located here. Gulmarg was originally named as Gaurimarg which was favorite of Jahangir and stands in a broad upland bowl-shaped meadow which means flower filled meadow.
From the vantage points one can see the entire Vale of Kashmir and admire the surrounding mountains. It is also the base point for the trekkers into the Pir Panjal ranges. Mountain biking is a famous sport loved by the locals and tourists here. Golf is the common sport played here. The trip in the cable car through the mountain ranges is breath taking.
It is very popular for Skiing and Ice skating during winter months. It is called the capital of winter sports in India. The beauty of Gulmarg can also be witnessed from sledges which are driven by the local people here.
How to Reach Gulmarg
- Air – Srinangar airport is 56 kms from Gulmarg. Taxis and jeeps can be availed to reach Gulmarg from Srinagar.
- Rail – Jammu is the nearest railhead. All Northern Cities of India have direct connectivity to this town by means of trains. Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Trivandrum have regular trains plying to Jammu.
- Road – Located at a distance of 56 Km from Srinagar. Buses ply regularly to Gulmarg from Srinagar and Sonmarg. It is well-linked to most of the cities in Northern India through buses.
Distance of Gulmarg from Below Places:
| Place | Distance (KM) |
|---|---|
|
Jammu |
345 |
|
Srinagar |
56 |
|
Pahalgaon |
139 |
|
Sonamarg |
126 |
Weather
Gulmarg Temperature
- Summer (Mar to Jun) – Temperatures are mild and range between (9°C) to (27°C). During this time, the valleys become green after the long winter and different types of flowers are in full blossom.
- Monsoon – (Jul to Aug) – This part of Kashmir receives regular rainfall during monsoon and thus, not a good season for tourists
- Winter – (Oct to Feb) – Temperatures are low and range between (-4°C) to (18°C). During Oct-Nov, the winter starts to set in. The apple orchards are full of fruits. The sky remains crystal clear.
- Best Time to Visit – April to May and Oct to Nov are the best season for tourism
What to See In Gulmarg
Gulmarg Gandola or the cable car is one of the latest attractions here. It is one of the highest cable cars of the world reaching up to a height of 3979 meters and longest in Asia. The Gondola ride constitutes two phases. The first stage reaches up to Kongdoori station at 3080 meters. In the second stage of the gondola ride it reaches up to Kongdoori mountain lying at 3950 meters. From here, the tourists will get a wonderful aerial view of the Himalayan ranges.
Alpathar Lake is located 13 km away from Gulmarg. The average altitude of the lake is 3843 mts above the sea level.This is a natural lake and is in a shape of a triangle. The surroundings of this place is one of the best in Kashmir valley. The color of the water is emerald green. In some places chunks of ice is seen floating around and the beauty of this place is mesmerizing.
Khilanmarg is known as the country of snow. It is a small valley and located some 4 km from Gulmarg. The valley is carpeted with flowers in the season of spring. It has an exhilarating steep walk with beautiful scenery. It has the snow clad mountain peaks of Gauri Shankar, Trishul, Harimukh and Nanga Parvat. From here Dal lake, Jhelum River and Shankracharya temple is clearly visible. Khilanmarg can be reached by foot or on back of a pony from Gulmarg but the best and adventurous way is to reach there by cable car.
Other Details
What to Do
- Gondola ride is an exciting activity for adventure lovers. Reaching the 1st stage takes 9 minutes and 2nd stage takes 12 minutes. For the 2nd phase, one can opt for chair cars too. In the second phase, nature lovers will be thrilled to get a panoramic view of the adjoining Himalayas.
- Play golf at the Gulmarg Golf Club
- In the winter season, there are many winter sport options to choose from. The most popular of them are skiing and Snow Boarding. While newcomers must select the Beginner’s area, the experienced skaters can select the off-piste or high mountain areas for some excitement.
Where to Eat
- Bakshi’s green Punjabi Dhaba – good quality Indian food
- Global Restaurant—200 meters form the bus station towards the Gondola. This place is known for a variety of western foods items.
What to Buy
Dry fruits, Apples, Saffron and local wooden handicrafts can be bought from here
Get Around
This is a small place and can be covered by foot. Local taxis are also available.
Top Destinations - Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh
– Gulmarg
– Jammu
– Kargil
– Leh
– Nubra Valley
– Pangong Lake
– Patnitop
– Pahalgam
– Sonamarg
– Srinagar
– Tso Moriri Lake
– Vaishno Devi
Popular Tour Plans - Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh
4-6 Days
1. Srinagar-Pahalgam (5N/6D)
7-10 Days
1. Jammu-Srinagar-Gulmarg-Pahalgam (8N/9D)
2. Jammu-Srinagar-Gulmarg-Sonamarg-Pahalgam (9N/10D)
> 10 Days
1. Jammu-Vaishno Devi-Patnitop-Srinagar-Gulmarg-Sonamarg-Pahalgam (11N/12D)
2. Srinagar-Kargil-Leh-Pangong Lake-Nubra Valley-Tso Moriri Lake-Sarchu-Manali (13N/14D)