Gulmarg Tour

Gulmarg Gondola

Gulmarg Gondola is the second longest and second highest cable car in the world and the prime attraction Gulmarg is known for. Divided into two phases, it ferries almost 600 people per hour to and from the Apharwat Mountain, which is where most of the winter sports happen in Gulmarg.

Phase 1 of Gulmarg Gondola ferries people from Gulmarg Resort to Kongdoori Station (middle station). It starts at 2,990 m and has a vertical rise of 400 m. Every hour it ferries 1500 people to the height of 3100 m from where several easy runs for skiing are accessible. Phase 2 of Gulmarg Gondola connects Kongdoori Mountain to Apharwat Peak. The cable car ascends 1,330 vertical metres to a height of nearly 4,000m and carries 600 people per hour. After arriving at the station, you can further have a 30 minutes trek to reach the mountaintop. From here the LOC or the Line of Control is visible.

Alpather Lake

Alpather Lake is a high altitude lake set between the twin Apharwat Peak in Gulmarg. It is popularly known as the Frozen Lake as it remains completely frozen from November to June. It is popular for the one-day trek which starts from Gulmarg and covers a distance of almost 13km.

The one day trek to Alpather Lake from Gulmarg is moderately difficult and follows the Gulmarg – Khilanmarg – Apharwat Ridge – Alpather Lake route. The lake looks surreal during winters when it is frozen and the ducks are seen walking instead of swimming. During summers, the lake is surrounded by beautiful flowers and trees.

Apharwat Peak

Situated at a height of 4200 metres above the mean sea level, Apharwat Peak in Gulmarg is one of the most breathtaking places. Remotely positioned near LOC with Pakistan, the region receives heavy rainfall and is covered in snow for most of the year. Apharwat Peak is where winter sports in Gulmarg takes place.

Imbued with snow-clad mountains and surrounded by pearly white meadows, the area is a perfect honeymoon destination and the most picturesque tourist spot in Srinagar.

Skiing in Gulmarg

Gulmarg is a hill town in Jammu and Kashmir which is lately gaining a lot of popularity for its ski terrain. Ideal for both amateur and professional skiers, the place has several skiing operators and institutes that can tutor you on the same.

Gulmarg is normally blessed with unbelievable amounts of snow. It ranks in the realms of Utah and Niseko in the snowfall stakes. The average annual snowfall is not well documented, but it is thought to be about 14 metres, while in the year 2004 it came around 20 metres.

Maharani Temple

The Maharani Temple of Gulmarg is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati and lies on a small hillock which is visible from all corners of the town. It looks striking with its red roof against the green meadows. Also known as the Rani Temple or Mohineshwar Shivalaya, it is popular as the spot where the famous Bollywood song "Jai Jai Shiv Shankar" was shot.

Drung Waterfall

The Drung Waterfall is an extremely popular tourist attraction located in the Tangmarg tehsil of Gulmarg, Baramulla. A cascading waterfall set amidst majestic mountains, it freezes completely during winter due to the extremely low temperature. This frozen waterfall is a must-visit in the area.

Strawberry Valley

A hidden attraction in Gulmarg is Strawberry Valley, unexploited by tourism and still holding its nascent beauty and charm. The emerald meadows with budding red strawberries look like a picture straight out from Garden of Eden. Covered in pristine elegance, with clear blue skies overhead and verdant green meads all along, a visit to Strawberry Valley is an enthralling experience.

Summer season is the busiest time of the year as the strawberries are ripe and ready to be harvested. Tourists are allowed to take a walk amidst rows of scarlet and verdure plantations. You can simply stroll along and awe at the beauty of nature or just take a basket of food and enjoy a wonderful picnic with your loved ones. The fields also boast of having a Bollywood connection in the yesteryears. Several movies have been shot at the destination owing to the ataraxy, vibrancy and overall charisma of the place.

Ningle Nallah

Situated 10 km from Gulmarg, Ningle Nallah is a mountain stream flanked with snow-capped mountains and lush green pastures from all four sides. The water formed by the melting of ice in Apharwat Peak and Alpather Lake is the main source of Ningle Nallah. It is popular for picnic and camping.

After passing through mountains and valleys, Ningli Nallah unites with River Jhelum. This place is highly recommended for family outings especially if one has their kids along.

St Mary's Church

Standing tall, even after a 100 odd years, is this Victorian architectural wonder of the Saint Mary's Church located near the Golf Course in Gulmarg. This might well be your messiah to experiencing the ancient architectural wonders that our country is the most renowned for. The church is accessible only by trekking and is known for the stained glass artwork.

More like a tiny countryside chapel in appearance, St Mary's church is made of grey stone walls. It looks the most scintillating during the winter season especially when it is surrounded by snow.

Seven Springs

Seven Springs is the majestic stream, known for its seven different outlets of water. Located on a hillock near Kongdori, the springs offer a spectacular view of the valley of Gulmarg and Srinagar. A gondola cable ride from the base of the Apharwat mountain can take you to this enchanting place with sweeping vistas of snow-capped mountains and the blooming vale below.