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

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. <br><br>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.

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.

See

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 occupied Kashmir (specifically Nanga Parbat and (supposedly) the very tip of K2)

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.

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). Gulmarg is likely to host the 2010 winter Olympics. And 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,

Buy

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

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!)

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 and Highland Park are also good options to stay at night in 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)

Get out

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.