Gulmarg Tourism

Gulmarg literally means “Meadow of flowers”. Gulmarg is located 60 KMs away from Srinagar which is an hour and half journey by car. Gulmarg has attracted millions of tourists throughout its existence with the scenic beauty of the Himalayan Mountains in the back drop. One of the main attractions in Gulmarg is the Gulmarg Gondola, the Highest Cable Car in the world. The 1st phase of the Gondola takes tourists to the height of 8530 ft to Kongdori Station and the second stage of the Gondola goes up to the height of 12293 ft. Tourists can enjoy horse Riding and can go riding to the magnificent “Strawberry Valley” , Leopards Valley and ride up to “Kongdori” to see the frozen lake of “Al- Pathar”. Gulmarg in winter is a magnificent experience, fully covered in a white blanket of Snow which turns it into a skiers paradise. The natural slopes here are untouched and prove to be a challenge to ace skiers! Besides the scenic side to Gulmarg, winter time in Gulmarg is a season of festivities with celebrations of “White Christmas” and New Year parties.

Gulmarg has been a resort for the kings like Yousuf Shah Chak and Jahangir who used to visit frequently. The old name of Gulmarg was “Gaurimarg”, the name of Lord Shiva’s wife. Yousuf Shah Chak changed its name to Gulmarg, meaning the place of roses. During the early part of the 20th century the famous Central Asian explorer Sir Marc Aurel Stein (1862–1943), made his home here in a tent between his expeditions. It was a favourite summer holiday destination for the British stationed in India

History Of Gulmarg
Gulmarg was called Gaurimarg by the local shepherds, in honour of the fair and beautiful goddess Parvati. However, it was renamed as Gulmarg by Sultan Yusuf Shah of Chak Dynasty, who frequented the place with his dearest queen Habba Khatoon in the sixteenth century. 21 varieties of wild flowers were collected by the Mughal emperor Jahangir for his own garden in Gulmarg. Later, during the time of the colonial rule, Gulmarg became the summer retreat of the British officials to escape the heat of summers in North India. Post-independence, Gulmarg became a proud part of the Indian princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. Since then, many developments in the fields of tourism and sports have been initiated by the Indian Government here. Presently, Gulmarg is referred as one of the most beautiful parts of India.

Major Attractions
Gulmarg is wonderland for adventure sports lovers. The northern Pir Panjal Range is considered a perfect location for trekking. During your trip to Gulmarg, you have the privilege to visit the highest golf course in the world. The golf club was started by the British in 1904. Apart from this, it is also counted among the best skiing resorts in India.

Khilanmarg is a wonderful valley that provides a panoramic view of the majestic Himalayas. The air is aromatic because of countless colourful flowers. You will feel refreshed in the atmosphere of Khilanmarg valley. Near the Apharwat peaks, flows the Alpather Lake. This alpine lake remains frozen till mid-June. Alpather Lake makes an exciting day's excursion for horse riding fans. Several tourists visit the shrine of Baba Reshi to pay a holy tribute. This Muslim shrine, built over the slopes below Gulmarg, witnesses thousands of devotees every year.

1. Apharwat Peak
Situated at a height of 4,390 meters above the sea level in Gulmarg, this place receives a very heavy amount of snowfall. Moreover, an interesting fact about this place is that the line of control is situated at a distance of just a few kilometres from this place. Apharwat peak offers the tourists an amazing sense of awe along with the scenic and majestic views of the valley. This is definitely a must-visit tourist attraction in Gulmarg.

2. Gulmarg Gondola
The Gulmarg Gondola is one of the world's highest operating cable cars. The highest lines are inclusive of the Dagu glacier in Sichuan, China. This lift ferries about 600 people on an hourly basis to and from the Kongdoori Mountain.

3. Alpather Lake
This lake is quite popular among tourists owing to its very nature of being frozen from the month of November to mid-June. The charming and spell-binding aura of this place is all and all a very soothing travel experience.

4. Ningle Nallah
The Ningle Nallah is quite a charming tourist destination to visit in Gulmarg. This alluring mountain stream flows through the phenomenally green valleys. The snow-capped mountains which are there in the backdrop of the blooming wildflowers successfully make a dreamlike setting for the overall place. And it is after passing through the mountains along with the valleys that this stream mixes into the Jhelum which is situated near Sopore.

5. Khilanmarg
If you want to know how a paradise may look like, then Khilanmarg is the kind of place which you should visit. The place is carpeted with flowers of varied colours and a divine ambience. And it is in the spring season that the beauty of this place is at its peak.

6. Maharani Temple
What is quite surprisingly interesting about this place is that in this particular temple all the rituals are specifically performed by a Muslim priest. Now, that is a great and unique reason to visit this tourist destination all the more.

How To Reach Gulmarg
By Air : The nearest airport to Gulmarg is the Srinagar Airport, located at a distance of just 56 Km from the city. One can avail the service of a prepaid cab or a shared taxi outside, to reach Gulmarg easily. The airport is well-connected to the major cities of India like Delhi, Amritsar and Mumbai via regular flights. The major airlines operating there are GoAir, Go Business, IndiGo, Air India and Jet Airways.
By Bus : : Gulmarg is well-connected with the regular bus service as well. It is connected with the frequent buses from the neighbouring towns of Kashmir like Sonamarg, Srinagar, Pahalgam and others. The regular, deluxe and luxury buses, operated by both private companies and the state government, are available.
By Train : Located at a distance of 290 Km from Gulmarg, Jammu is the nearest Railway Station. It is well-connected to most of the railheads of major Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Trivandrum and many others.