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Gulmarg

Gulmarg is a city in Kashmir and is noted for having one of the worlds higest Gondola (cable car)

[edit] Get in

Taxi from Airport to Gulmarg or Srinagar to Gulmarg should be 1,200 - 1,500 Rs. There is a sign with a currently posted price of 1,200 Rs. If there is heavy snow on the pass to Gulmarg, you may want to look for a taxi with good tires or chains. The journey takes around 2-2.5 hours.

For those travelling from Srinagar, shared taxis (Sumos) are available from Buttmal to Tanmarg for Rs. 40 per person (March 2008). From there, you can catch a onward shared sumo to Gulmarg for Rs. 20 (March 2008). The whole journey takes 2.5-3 hours.

[edit] Get around

Getting around Gulmarg is done mostly by foot. There is one road that does a loop around the whole area. Walking around it would take about an hour. You can even see around Gulmarg in sledges driven by localites which cost around Rs. 50 in off season.

[edit][add listing] See

Gondola

The main attraction here is the Gondola. Finished in 2004, it runs up to 3995 meters. A sight seeing trip to the top of the gondola will cost you Rs. 300 for Stage one and Rs. 800 for stage two(inclusive of the cost of Stage one) for a return trip; singles (for skiiers for example!) are half the price, with a day pass available for 1200rs. You can decide whether you wish to go to Stage two when you have reached stage one. Stage two is at a much higher elevation, right on the hill top and is clearly visible from the Gulmarg taxi stand. The hills visible from the top are said to be LOC and Pakistan administered Kashmir (specifically Nanga Parbat and (supposedly) the very tip of K2)

[edit][add listing] Do

The main activity for a tourist in Gulmarg is snow skiing. One can enjoy skiing in the long and high slopes of the snowy mountain ranges and experience a difference.

The skiing season starts on the 25th of December and runs through to March, expect to pay 500Rs a day for ski/snowboard hire.

Gulmarg is probably on of the best ski resorts for good and long powder snow descents. With its gondola accessible ski area on Mt. Apharwat, 4'124m it offers many possibilities for descents of up to 1'800 vertical meters. Sound skiing skills and good health are prerequisites to enjoy ski vacations in Gulmarg. More on Gulmarg and its ski options, guides and snow and travel safety is available here: Free Ski Himalaya

The weather is cold and it is necessary for the tourist to wear woollen clothes. Golfing, Sledging, and horse riding are other activities (best enjoyed in the summer). Major Tourist Attractions of Gulmarg are Alpather Lake , Baba Reshi Shrine , Gondola, Cable Car to Kongdor, Gulmarg Gold Golf , Khilanmarg, Maharani Temple, Skiing ,St Marys church,

• Don't. If you don't want to ruin your trip, never and never hire a guide there because they work on a commission basis. They will charge only Rs. 300 from you but everywhere in the stay, there will be a implied commission for them. For example, they will try to make you fool in pony hire. Our Guide Mr. Mohd. Raffiq Noor told us that total charge for pony is Rs. 3000 but he will reduce it to only Rs. 1500 and you know what is the real charge !!! Only Rs. 300  edit

[edit][add listing] Buy

[edit][add listing] Eat

Bakshi's Green Punjabi Dhaba (Vegetarian). Best food and friendliest folks in Gulmarg.

Global Hotel/Restaurant, excellent eating if you're after some western food, 200mtrs in the direction of the Gondola from the Bus Station

[edit][add listing] Drink

Is available legally from the 'Highland Park Hotel' (carry on down the road past the gondola and you will eventually reach it on your right) and not-so-legally from 'other vendors' (ask the locals for hints!)

No trip to Kashmir is complete without sampling the two kinds of Kashmiri tea. One has bicarbonate of soda and salt and is said to aid digestion. The other is green tea infused with cardamoms, saffron and cinnamon, with not a small helping of sugar!

[edit][add listing] Sleep

Global Hotel - 1200Rs./ night, hot water, gas heaters and an excellent western restaurant, 200m from the bus stop in the direction of the gondola.

Green Heights - 750 Rs./ night, no hot water, each room has it's own bahari (fireplace).

Hill Top - Central heating, in house restaurant, closest to Gondola.

Hotel Pine Palace - The Only Ski In Ski Out Hotel located on the Gondola's Ski slope.Centrally Heated.Multiple resturants and higly recommended by returning Westerners. 3500 per night at Pine Palace Herigtage,and 5500 at Pine Palace Platinum.

Hotel Highlands Park is also a good option to stay for a night at Gulmarg.

New Zam Zam - 600Rs./ night for double room, hot water (depending on electricity!)

Fluorescence Hotel and Restaurant

There are several other hotels near Zam Zam that can be bargained down to a similar price (including some with gas heaters instead of the smokey wood-burning stoves of Zam Zam)

[edit] Get out

The Pine Palace Resort ...Rated as the "Best Ski In Ski OutLuxury Hotel" in Gulmarg with highest number of Foreign Clientele over the last 5 Years ;Host to Gulmarg Global Derby ,Annual Ski Marathon starting at Apharwat and Finishing at Pine Palace Gulmarg.

The Ski Lounge:The Lounge with majestic views , live music on weekends,and DJ every night of Gulmarg in winters.

BISTRO BY THE GREENS: Gulmarg's Favourite resturant for authentic Indian and Kashmiri Cusine.

The SNOB:The Resturant With an attitude serving Fresh pizzas and Grills

Tariff: The Pine Palace Platinum :5500 INR. The Pine Palace Heritage:3500 INR.

[edit] Stay safe

Temperatures in Gulmarg remain well below zero for major part of the year. Keep your body well covered with gloves, boots, overcoats to prevent frostbite....