The hill resort of Gulmarg is located in the Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir. At an amazing altitude of 2730 meters above sea level the hill resort has a gently sloping topography. Gulmarg is 56 km southwest from the capital city of Srinagar and is close to the Indo-Pakistan border.

Lush green meadows, fresh dew drops kissing the bright flowers gently, where the silence breaks with the light tinkling of cow-bells... This is the mystic land of Gulmarg, which is nothing less than paradise. The snow-capped peaks add to the grandeur of the land with the Nanga Parbat in one direction and Srinagar in another. There are several places like Khilamarg, Kongdori and seven springs, that can be easily accessed from Gulmarg. The best way to enjoy the rides to these places is on a pony.

The Apharwat peak can be seen from here, along with the Alpather Lake, a pictographic alpine lake. The lake remains frozen till late June. For ardent fans of horse riding, the Alpather lake has wonders in store. A little below Gulmarg, one comes across the holy shrine of Baba Reshi, a Muslim Saint. Gulmarg houses the world's highest golf courses. The club house nearby is a splendour in itself. Facilities for golf training are also available here including golf sets on hire, pros to instruct one in the game, and temporary memberships.

In winter, Gulmarg looks stunning. It turns into a skiing resort. And no.. you don't need to be an expert to ski on these slopes. When you reach there, you find all sorts of people trying to get through the art of skiing and most of them succeed. Well almost all.. Gulmarg is a blessing for the beginners. There are experts to train you with the sport and they do it for a nominal fee. There is no hard and fast rule when it comes to dressing either. A salwar kameez is equally apt for the sport as is any other comfortable skiing outfit. Snow boots, mufflers, woollen socks, windproof jackets and caps are available on hire.

The most gentle slope of 200 metres is linked with a ski lift which helps you to go up. There are steeper slopes too and you learn to ski on these slopes gradually and that is when you tend to throw away your fears and realise its fun. The newly constructed Gondola lift takes you high above the mountains and pine-clad slopes of the region giving you a quick view of the creations of nature.

Prime Attractions of Gulmarg

» Golf Courses
Situated at an altitude of 2,650 m, Gulamarg has got the highest green golf course in the world. The layout of the course is quiet striking and the layout is similar to a normalgolf course with land slopes and inclines along the complete area of the course, which has a par of 72. The golf club was started by the British who used Gulmarg as a holiday resort, and opened it for golf lovers in the year 1904. At present the Jammu & Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation manages the club.

» Alpather Lake
13-km from Gulmarg at the foot of the twin 4, 511 metre Apharwat peaks, this lake is frozen until mid-June and even later in the year one can see lumps of ice floating in its cold waters. The walk from Gulmarg follows a well-graded Pony track over the 3, 810 metre Apharwat ridge, separating it from Khilanmarg, and then up the valley to the lake at 3,843 metres. The more adventurous trekkers can climb straight up the boulder-strewn slope of the ridge and descend the other side to the path. For horse riding aficionados, Alpather Lake makes an exciting day's excursion, starting early morning and returning late evening.

Excursions of Gulmarg

» Sonmarg
No spoken word can ever suffice in describing the experience of watching the snow laden mountains turn golden as the sun kisses them, as if God in painting them a rare shade of gold. That is why it gets its name Sonmarg which means "A meadow of Gold". The way towards these exotic mountains is lined with snow even during the summers. Trekking, skiing and snow sliding are popular activities on these mountains. On the foot of these mountains, all equipment essentials are available on rental basis. The nearest pass from Sonmarg is Drass. Drass is a place of strategic importance and was a war land during the recent Indo-Pak war. The captivating beauty of Sonmarg holds you long after you have lift this place.

Places to Stay in Gulmarg

Gulmarg houses a number of hotels that offer good accommodation and meals. Hotels of international standards are also available. JKTDC (Jammu and Kashmir Tourist Development Corporation) has huts on the offer at Gulmarg and all these properties require advance booking from Srinagar when the season is onThe accommodation available there suits all budgets. One should not miss the opportunity of tasting the traditional Rogan Josh and other preparations in non-vegetarian and sweetmeats while visiting Gulmarg.

How to get there

» Air
The nearest airport is in Srinagar and is connected with the major cities of the country.

» Rail
The nearest railhead is at Jammu.

» Road
There are buses available from Srinagar to Gulmarg. The route to this place passes through rice fields. Enthusiasts can take ponies that are available on hire. The journey from Srinagar to Gulmarg via National Highway 1 takes about 2 hours by bus.