The nearest India can make to being a ski resort is via its pine-fringed Gulmarg. Situated at an elevation of 2730 meters above sea level, it well justifies the Meadow of Flowers tag that it has received. The meadow is given a visual highlight by the 1890s Anglican Church of St Mary’s that sits on a lonely hillock which can be accessed off the dead-end road that links the 1965 neo-colonial style Hotel Highlands Park to the historic Gulmarg Golf Club. However, the key reason to visit Gulmarg is just not the same.
You must visit Gulmarg to explore the backing stands of the splendid mature pines traversing you to the elevation of bald Mt Afarwat. To make it to mountain, you can either trek on foot or take help from ponies at a meagre amount of INR 300 per hour. However, the easiest way out is using the two-stage gondola cable car that flutters you to 3747m. The impressive clear day views from the top are worth the ride. During this ride, you’ll encompass Nanga Parbat which is the world’s ninth highest mountain peak located across Pakistan.
Booking for this online can help save you from the long queues especially in the peak season of May and June. This service can however be cancelled either due to civil unrest or during bad weather and getting a refund from the organizers can get really annoying then. Base station of Gandola is situated about 1 km west of the bus stand.
Gulmarg endeavors you with more than 40 choices of accommodation each of them beautiful in their own very way. In the months of July, an average room fare (for a night) will be around INR 2000 for the old looking stays and INR 5000 for newer stays. Prices of the hotels see a drop of 20% in the winter season and a further dramatic drop when there is civil unrest in Srinagar or during the less popular months like September.
Gulmarg is a beautiful place in Jammu and Kashmir. You will crave to see the snow covered mountains of Western Himalayas. When it comes to visualizing the snow covered peaks and smelling the mist air of mountains, the one image that triggers our minds is of Himalayas. Gulmarg is the famous skiing destination which has been the favorite shooting spot for Bollywood as well. You must now be wondering how to reach Gulmarg.Read on.
By Air
Someone has rightly said that all paths to heaven are twisted. Likewise, travelers think really hard to reach this beautiful destination by air. As Gulmarg is near to Srinagar, the nearest airport to Gulmarg is Srinagar Airport. Gulmarg is fifty-six kilometers away from Srinagar. Now the question that arises is how to reach Gulmarg by air. There are many flights that are operational from many major cities of the country to Srinagar. The flights to this place are not a costly affair. You can hire a taxi for Gulmarg from the airport.
By Train
It is a big question for travelers to find how to reach Gulmarg by train. There is no railway station at Gulmarg and has no direct connectivity through railways. You can reach to Jammu Tawi Railway Station from all the major cities of the country through railways. Gulmarg is two hundred and ninety kilometers away from Jammu Tawi Railway Station. The distance from railway station to Gulmarg can be covered by road.
By Road
Gulmarg enjoys great connectivity from Srinagar, Sonmarg and other cities of Jammu and Kashmir. There is still a question as to how to reach Gulmarg by road directly as there are no buses that ply directly to Gulmarg. The highway road A-1 has a good connectivity of roads. You can easily find the state owned and private buses to Gulmarg.
Summer Season in Gulmarg
Summer season in Gulmarg starts from the month of April and lasts until June. This is the best time to visit Gulmarg as the climate is pleasant during this season. The colors of nature are out in full bloom during summer making the place a feast for the eyes and the soul. Though, most parts of the country is still quite pleasant and cool. The lakes, parks and gardens are a sight to behold with colors of every kind which are visible in every corner. The much hyped and not to be missed Shikara ride can also be enjoyed to the fullest during this season.
Monsoon Season in Gulmarg
The monsoon season is not the best time to visit Gulmarg as it is an off season. The frequent bouts of rain make the climate quite chilly and it even affects the tourism as most attractions and adventure activities are shut. Hence, this isn’t the best season to visit Gulmarg.
Winter Season in Gulmarg
For those who wish to enjoy the cold weather and snowfall, this is the best time to visit Gulmarg to see snowfall. If skiing on the slopes of Gulmarg is on your bucket list then this is the best time to visit Gulmarg for skiing as well. This season lasts from October to March. Skiing, snowboarding, playing with snowballs and creating a snowman are just some of the fun activities one can engage in during this season in Gulmarg.