Gulmarg Kashmir- A Comprehensive Travel Guide

Gulmarg Kashmir is still in the top position on the tourism map. It is a small hill station and the most popular tourist destination in Kashmir Valley. Gulmarg is also termed the ‘’Meadows Of Flowers’’ and offers travelers a mesmerizing beauty. It remains open for all 12 months and receives a huge number of tourists every year. The beauty of this scenic place attracts tourists from across the world. Gulmarg is located at an altitude of 2650 meters in the Pir Panjal mountain ranges.

Gulmarg is the best place for family, couples, and friends. You will witness stunning beauty, magnificent mountains, pristine valleys, and lush green landscapes here through Gulmarg tour packages Everyone wants to have a memorable vacation, so Gulmarg is the best option to choose for your memorable holidays.

Today, in this article I will provide you the complete details of Gulmarg, How to reach, things to do, where to stay, and much more. Gulmarg is heaven for every traveler, if you are planning a beautiful trip, Gulmarg is the Place to be.

Gulmarg Kashmir is one of the famous picnic spots and the lush meadows make it the perfect place to spend holidays. You can explore the world’s highest cable car ride which is located in Gulmarg. You can also go trekking to Apharwat Lake for an adventurous experience. Apart from these, you can indulge yourself in many other activities.

Gulmarg is one of the famous Ski resorts. If you are looking for live snowfall, then there is no better option. It is one of the popular skiing destinations in India where people from across the globe come to enjoy skiing in Gulmarg. There are many places nearby that you can visit during your Gulmarg trip. Therefore, it is the ideal destination for any kind of trip.

The road from Srinagar to Gulmarg is great. The drive from Srinagar to Gulmarg usually takes 3 hours, there are many hotels where you can stay and internet connectivity is also available. Apart from that you can also visit many religious places which include Baba Reshi Shrine, Maharani Temple, and St Mary’s Church.

How To Reach Gulmarg Kashmir

To reach Gulmarg, you have to first reach Srinagar. If you are coming from your vehicle you can take Srinagar Jammu highway or the Mughal road. Once you reach Srinagar you can drive to Gulmarg via Tangmarg, it will take you 2 to 3 hours drive to reach Gulmarg and you will cover a distance of 60 kilometers.

By Road: If you are coming from your vehicle then take the Srinagar Jammu highway to reach Gulmarg. The drive from Srinagar to Gulmarg is straight. From Tangmarg you can feel like you are driving to ascend and climbing up. The entire road is in good condition. The drive will take 3 hours to reach Gulmarg. One can take a cab or taxi service in Srinagar.

By Air: Srinagar Airport is the nearest airport to reach Gulmarg. Once you land at the airport book a cab/taxi to reach Gulmarg. The rate of the cab depends on what type of cab you want to book. Or you can book a shared cab if you want.

By Bus: Several UT buses ply from Jammu To Srinagar. You can take the bus from Jammu Tawi station to reach Gulmarg. 

Best Time To Visit Gulmarg

The best time to visit Gulmarg is throughout the year. The destination is beautiful in all 12 months, it offers different vibes in different seasons. Many people come to Gulmarg to enjoy the live snowfall and a lot of people come here to enjoy the lush green scenic beauty.

Summertime is usually an enjoyable time, you will see the lush landscapes everywhere and also the temperature will be very, pleasant. July, August, and September are the best months to see the greenery everywhere and you can also do photography. If you are looking for snowfall then February is the best time to visit Gulmarg to experience snowfall. 

The most popular activity in Gulmarg is skiing, if you are looking for Skiing in Gulmarg then January and February is the best time to visit and if you want to stay away from crowd then August is the ideal month to visit. Therefore the best time to visit Gulmarg is depend on what kind of trip are you looking for.

Gulmarg In Winter

Gulmarg in winter is quite mesmerizing, as the entire valley is covered with thick snowfall. From September the temperature starts dropping drastically, after December it can receive snowfall at any time. The average temperature in winter months goes from -5 degrees Celsius to 10 degrees Celsius. In winter time you can indulge yourself in many adventure activities which include skiing, snowboarding, heli-skiing, and many other activities. skiing is the most popular adventure activity here in Gulmarg. You can also enjoy the magnificent snow-clad mountain peaks of the Pir Panjal. Below are some of the popular winter months to enjoy this winter wonderland:

Gulmarg In Summer

Gulmarg in summer is also pleasant. The valley in summer is in full bloom. You will see the lush greenery everywhere which makes it the perfect place to enjoy a picnic. The temperature in summer ranges from 12 degrees Celsius to 13 degrees Celsius. You will see the lush meadows blooming at this time. You can go for the Gondola ride which is the highest cable car in the world. Apart from this, there are many activities to do such as trekking, horseback riding, helicopter riding, golf course, and much more. Below are some of the famous summer months to visit Gulmarg.

Weather In Gulmarg

The weather in Gulmarg remains cold and pleasant due to its high elevation. Summers here are quite pleasant. The temperature ranges between 13 degrees to 29 degrees Celsius making it the perfect place to escape from the summer heat. The month of July is the arrival of monsoon season and the valley offers beautiful lush green views from all sides. In wintertime, the valley starts dropping temperature, and the temperature goes from -4 degrees to 11 degrees Celsius. In winter months the nights are very cold from January to March it receives heavy snowfall consistently.

Skiing In Gulmarg

Skiing in Gulmarg is the most thrilling activity. It starts from the Apharwat mountain. Skiing in Gulmarg is quite a beautiful experience one can have. The best time to visit Gulmarg for skiing is from December to February, during this time the valley receives heavy snowfall. Skiing in Gulmarg is performed in high altitudes. Both beginners and experts can ski in Gulmarg. I would highly recommend hiring a ski instructor if you are a beginner. The skiing slopes here are easy.

The first phase of skiing goes from Gulmarg to Kangdoori, the second phase of skiing will take you to the Apharwat peak and the third phase goes to Mary’s shoulder. The snow here in Gulmarg is unique and thick which is very important for skiing. 

Where To Stay In Gulmarg

Gulmarg is one of the major tourist places in India. Tourists from across the world spend holidays here in Gulmarg. There are plenty of hotels located in Gulmarg. In the summer season, tourists enjoy the famous cable car ride. 

Below is the list of some hotels where you can stay in Gulmarg.

Hotel Apharwat: Hotel Apharwat is one of the best hotels to stay in Gulmarg, the services there are good and the hospitality is also good. The hotel is located near the main market, and this is one of the highly recommended hotels in Gulmarg.

Pine View Resort: It is also one of the best choices to stay. it is located just a few kilometers from the Golf Course, the hotel is surrounded by beautiful nature. The hotel offers you luxurious rooms and spectacular views of the high Himalayas. The hospitality and the food services are also very good.

Hotel Green Park: It is one of the budgeted hotels in Gulmarg. It is a 3-star hotel located near the ski institute. The hotel is a 3-star hotel and the best option for budgeted travelers. The hotel provides standard family rooms and good services. The staff there is very polite and gentle.

Apart from this, there are plenty of budget hotels where you can stay in Gulmarg. In the peak tourist season, I would recommend to book in advance because there is little availability in the hotels during peak season. 

Day Trip To Gulmarg

A day trip to Gulmarg is also beautiful, once you reach Srinagar you have to reach early morning to Gulmarg to see famous places such as the golf course, Maharani temple, and St Mary’s Church. You can also enjoy the Gondola ride to enjoy your day trip and all this can be done in one day. You can also read our blog on how to spend two days in Gulmarg.

You will also see the famous Ski resort in Gulmarg. If you are o traveling in winter do not forget to take part in the skiing activity. This is one of the famous adventurous activities in Gulmarg. 

Places To See In Gulmarg

There are many places to visit in Gulmarg. Gulmarg offers travelers a lot to enjoy. It is one of the prime tourist places to enjoy the holidays. The valley is surrounded by lush green meadows and snow-capped high Himalayan mountains. 

Below is the list of the famous places to see in Gulmarg:

Maharani Temple: the temple was built by Maharaja Hari Singh and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple is located near the main market. It is one of the major tourist attraction in Gulmarg, anyone who comes here visit this temple to pay respect. 

Gulmarg Golf Course: It is one of the world’s highest golf courses. The golf course has 18 holes. There is no entry fee for tourists. you can also play golf on this golf course. This is one of the prime attractions in Gulmarg.

St Mary’s Church: The church was built during the British rule in Gulmarg. Due to its Victorian architecture, it is one of the famous tourist attractions in Gulmarg. If you are planning to visit Gulmarg do not forget to visit this place.

Bota Pathri: If you want to go to Bota Pathri, I will highly recommend you hire a local guide because the area is restricted. To reach the bota path you have to first reach Gulmarg and then you will be stopped at the army camp for checking. You have to drive 3 kilometers from the army camp to reach Bota Pathri. 

Alpather Lake: Alpather Lake is one of the main attractions you can visit. The lake is also called a frozen lake because it remains frozen during wintertime. The lake is located at the top of Apahwat Peak. If you want to go there, you have to trek from Gondola Phase 2 to reach there.

Strawberry Valley: The plantation of strawberries takes place in wintertime only. There is a little campsite in the valley, if you are interested in camping, you can go to strawberry valley. This is also one of the most beautiful places to visit. 

Apharwat Peak: The summit is located at a height of 4390 meters. It receives heavy snowfall and the peak is covered with snow almost all year. You can see this peak from everywhere in Gulmarg. 

Drung Waterfall: Drung Waterfall is truly a majestic place to visit. It is also known as the Durung waterfall. It is located 42 kilometers from Srinagar. The water of this fall freezes when the temperature starts dropping in the valley. 

Baba Reshi Shrine: This is one of the pilgrim places in Gulmarg. This beautiful shrine is located only 5 kilometers from the Gulmarg. You can also visit this place when you are coming back from Gulmarg. 

Khilanmarg: Khilanmarg is located near phase 1 in Gulmarg Gondola. You have to walk just a few kilometers from Kungdoori to reach Khilanmarg. You can also spot the small waterfall near Khilanmarg. 

Ningle Nallah And Ferozpur Nallah: Both are water streams near Gulmarg. The best way to reach these two places is through a pony ride. These water streams are surrounded by snow-capped mountain peaks and lush greenery.

Above are the places where you can visit during your Gulmarg trip. These places are the most visited place when you were in Gulmarg. Now let us start with the things to do in Gulmarg.

Gulmarg Biosphere Reserve: The reserve has an area of 180sq kilometers. In this reserve, you will find the rarest and endangered species. Musk ox, snow leopard, brown bear, and Hangul are one of them. Gulmarg Biosphere Reserve has a unique collection of flora and fauna.

Things To Do In Gulmarg

Gulmarg offers a lot of things for travelers. It is one of the popular places for winter sports. Gulmarg is popularly known for its skiing scenes. The top things to do in Gulmarg are listed below.

Skiing: Skiing is one of the popular activities to do in Gulmarg. Every year thousands of tourists from across the globe come to Gulmarg to enjoy skiing. It is one of the most thrilling adventure activities one can go for. If you are interested in skiing then you should come in the winter months because at that time the valley receives heavy snowfall.

Gondola Ride: Gondola ride is one of the highest cable car rides performed in Gulmarg. The majority of tourists come to Gulmarg to enjoy this ride. The Gulmarg Gondola has three phases that will take you to a height of 4200 meters. It is one of the thrilling activities for adventure junkies.

Trekking: Trekking is also an adventure activity you can go for when you visit Gulmarg. Trek to Alpather Lake can be done in a day. If you are an adventure lover trekking is the best option you can take.

Pony Ride: Pony ride is also the best activity in Gulmarg. This is one of the popular activities that most tourists do. You will enjoy the pony when you visit Maharani Temple, St Mary’s Church, and Golf Course. 

Snowboarding: Snowboarding is also the famous winter sport in Gulmarg. The best time for snowboarding in Gulmarg is from December to March. Snowboarding in Gulmarg is one of the most thrilling experiences one can have. 

Sledging: Sledging is one of the thrilling activities performed in the snow. If you are interested in sledding then there is no better option than Gulmarg. Gulmarg offers many things to do, sledging is one of them.

Photography: it is one of the best things if you are a photography lover. You can enjoy the photography in summer as well as winter. In the summer season, the valley offers a magnificent view of the green meadows and landscapes and in the winter season, you can take shots of the snow-covered mountain peaks. 

Shopping: Shopping is one of the most important things one can do. You can buy handicrafts, silverware, Pashmina shawls, carpets, jewelry, and much more. I would highly recommend buying these things from Srinagar because there is no big market in Gulmarg.

Conclusion

I hope the above information I have discussed about Gulmarg will be helpful. Gulmarg is a small hill station which is located in the Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir. It is one of the famous tourist spots where every year thousands of tourists come across the globe to enjoy vacations. Book your Gulmarg tour with Cliffhangers India, they will provide you with the best-customized tour packages for Gulmarg. For further details visit Cliffhangers India.