Gulmarg is a town, a hill station, a popular skiing destination and a notified area committee in Baramula district in the Indian state of
Jammu and
Kashmir. The town is within the Himalayas and is within miles of the Line of Control between
India and
Pakistan.
Tourism:
Gulmarg is easily accessible from
Srinagar or
Srinagar Airport (SXR), the capital of Kashmir, in under 2 hours by car or bus. Just 1 hour on the way is the town of
Tangmarg, a key tourist attraction and also a main destination for skiers riding down from Gulmarg during the winter months. From Tangmarg, the Gulmarg plateau is just 30 minutes travel. Gulmarg has around 40 hotels ranging from extremely budget accommodation in private huts to hotels that are of a similar standard to a western Bed & Breakfast. When hotels say 5 star expect similar standards to the aforementioned bed and breakfast or motel. The peak season starts with the snowfall in December and lasts until March. The charges for one night stay during peak season in a hotel range typically between Rs1500 to Rs6500+, however there is also accommodation available for Rs500 which is only for the hardcore.
According to CNN, Gulmarg is the "heartland of winter sports in India." As such, Gulmarg has been rated by CNN International as
Asia's seventh best ski destination. This resort is famous because of its "Gulmarg Gondola," one of the highest cable car in the
World, reaching 3,979 metres. The two-stage ropeway ferries about 600 people per hour to and from the gondola main station in Gulmarg to a shoulder of nearby Mt. Apharwat Summit (4,200 m (13,780 ft)). The “heartland of winter sports in India”, as quoted by CNN, is a gathering ground for all things extreme sports and outdoors related. In the winter, the diverse and extreme terrain combines with torrential snowfall to create a snow destination that is among the best in the world.
The summer is just as busy. With temperatures ranging from 25 to 30°C, Gulmarg attracts outdoor sports fanatics with its world class golfing, trekking, mountain biking, horse riding, water skiing, and fishing. Gulmarg has a lot of highest things along with its name, and of them is the
Gulmarg Golf Club. It is the highest green golf course in the world. There are a few places of religious importance near the resort within a 5 to 20 km radius like Baba Reshi, Haji Murad at Kreeri and Tangmarg. Gulmarg is among the most famous tourist destinations in India and there is a need for some tightened regulation to save the environment of the area from over tourism.
