GoBattuta
Meadow and ski resortMust visit

Gulmarg

A high meadow for snow, skiing and the gondola

Type
Meadow and ski resort
Location
Gulmarg, Kashmir
Time needed
1 day, or 2 days with skiing
Best time to visit
December to March for snow and skiing. May to September for green meadows and pleasant weather.

About Gulmarg

Gulmarg means meadow of flowers. It is a long, open bowl of grassland at about 2,650 m in the Pir Panjal range, ringed by pine forest. In summer the meadow is green and good for walks and pony rides. From December to March it is under snow and becomes India's best-known ski resort.

Most visitors come for the Gulmarg Gondola, which climbs from the edge of the meadow towards Mount Apharwat. Even in summer you can usually find snow at the upper station. Around the meadow there is a golf course, the small St Mary's Church and the old Maharani Temple, a Shiva temple on a low hill.

Gulmarg works as a day trip from Srinagar, but staying a night lets you take the gondola early, before the queues build, and see the meadow quietly in the morning and evening. The road climbs through Tangmarg, the last town before Gulmarg, where you can hire snow boots and jackets in winter.

Things to do at Gulmarg

  • Ride the Gulmarg Gondola towards Mount Apharwat
  • Ski or snowboard from December to March
  • Take a pony ride across the meadow or up to Khilanmarg
  • Visit the Maharani Temple and St Mary's Church
  • Sledge and play in the snow in winter

How to reach Gulmarg

  • About 50 km from Srinagar via Tangmarg, about 1.5 to 2 hours by road.
  • In heavy snow, cars may need chains or you may have to change to a 4x4 at Tangmarg.

Tips before you go

  • Hire snow boots and jackets at Tangmarg or Gulmarg in winter. You do not need to buy them.
  • Book gondola tickets online in advance, especially in peak season.
  • Settle the rate for ponies and guides before you start.
  • It is much colder than Srinagar. Carry warm layers even in summer.

Packages that cover Gulmarg

Nearby places to visit

Must visit
Cable car · Gulmarg

Gulmarg Gondola

A cable car in two phases, from Gulmarg to Kongdoori and then up to Mount Apharwat, with snow at the top for much of the year.

Time needed: 3 to 5 hours for both phases, including queuesRead more →
Meadow · Budgam

Doodhpathri

A quieter meadow in Budgam district, about 2 hours from Srinagar, with streams running through open grassland and pine forest.

Time needed: 1 day, including the driveRead more →
Must visit
Lake · Srinagar

Dal Lake

Srinagar's best-known sight, with houseboats, shikara rides at sunrise and sunset, the floating vegetable market and views of the Zabarwan hills.

Time needed: Half day, plus a houseboat night if you likeRead more →

Gulmarg: FAQs

Will I find snow in Gulmarg in summer?

Not on the meadow, but there is often snow near the upper gondola station on Mount Apharwat well into early summer.

Is Gulmarg a day trip from Srinagar?

Yes, many people do it as a day trip. Staying a night gives you an early start for the gondola and a quieter evening.

When is the skiing season in Gulmarg?

Usually from December to March, with the best snow in January and February.

← All places to visit in Kashmir