Gulmarg is a premium hill station located in the Baramulla district of Kashmir. At an average altitude of 2,600 metres above sea level, this wonderland is one of the busiest tourist places in the Kashmir Valley. Gulmarg is known for its wide range of colourful wild flowers and you will often find it by the name of ‘Meadow of Flowers.’ Besides flowers, the amazing thing about this magical place is that it hosts one of the Asia’s highest cable cars. This cable car or gondola is also one of the longest and it will provide you with an ultimate tour of the Himalayan mountains. There is a golf course also that is considered one of the highest in the world. The season in which this place receives the largest amount of travellers is winter. After snowfall, it gets converted into the India’s most loved ski resort. The beauty of Gulmarg in the snow is unmatched and it is often called the snow wonderland of India. The destination is located only 40 kilometres from the Srinagar city.
There area multiple options by which you can reach the beautiful heaven of Gulmarg. You can use multiple modes to reach Gulmarg via road, train and air.
Tangmarg: This is a village around 8 kilometres away from Gulmarg. You will pass this area and you will notice the change of the surroundings. Forests and steep road will appear after the Tangmarg village. You can buy any necessary items from the Tangmarg Market.
Drung Waterfall: It is actually not a part of the Gulmarg route but a little away from it. However it is close to the Gulmarg area and you can easily reach there. The Drung waterfall is quite famous in the snow when it freezes to amaze the viewers. It becomes hotspot for tourists.
Baba Reshi: Falling some 7 kilometres away from the Tangmarg area, Baba Reshi is the famous shrine of the revered saint Baba Payam ud Din Reshi. It is a beautiful and spiritual place where night stays are also available for the devotees. The market at the place is very colourful and charming.
Shranz Fall: This waterfall has become famous from a couple of years. The waterfall is an artistry of nature. This place is a good photography spot but many basic facilities are not available here yet.
Gulmarg Market: The Gulmarg area has a small market for all your needs. There are cafes, restaurants, cloth shops, and many other daily items to buy. You can buy sim cards here as well.
Gulmarg Golf Course: This is the renowned golf course of Asia and has 18 holes. Golfing at this place becomes a unique experience that will make you calm amid the lush surroundings. It is surrounded by forests and mountain peaks.
Gulmarg Childrens Park: To your surprise, this area is childrens favourite when you visit Gulmarg. There are swings, rides and many games to play and enjoy with your kids.
Bootapathri: This place is also known as the Strawberry Valley due to the vast amount of wild strawberry vegetation. You will need a permission from Gulmarg Police Station to visit this serene place.
Khilanmarg: This is a beautiful meadow near Gulmarg. This tranquil place is around 5 kilometres from Gulmarg and it is best to trek to the location while enjoying beautiful views along the way
Luxury Accomodations: Gulmarg hosts many luxurious staying options that will be more than enough for your peaceful stay at the natural surroundings of this place. Some options are “The Khyber Himalayan Resort and Spa,” “Grand Mumtaz Gulmarg,” and “The Vintage Gulmarg Hotel.”
Cheap and comfortable stays are also available in Gulmarg with satisfying services and facilities. Some options are “Gulmarg Woods,” “The Trout Stream” and “Sheen Homestay.”
You can find many purely vegetarian places in and around Gulmarg like “Pandit Brothers Vegetarian Dhaba”. “Punjabi Rasoi Veg and Jain Foods,” “Bakshi Resturant” and “Miasa Cafe” are some other options among the many that you can find all over Gulmarg.
There are lots and lots of places for non-vegetarian food lovers in Gulmarg. Some options among many include “The Gulmarg Cafeteria,” “Restaurant Hill Point” and “New Lala Restaurant.” You will be licking your fingers after tasting the rich cuisine of Kashmir.
Khilanmarg Trek: Khilanmarg is a meadow in Gulmarg which is only around 5 kilometres away from the main area. It is one of the best and shortest treks to take in Kashmir.
Gulmarg comes from two Persian words, ‘Gul’ and ‘Marg.’ Gul means ‘a flower’ and Marg means ‘a meadow.’ This name was given to this place by Sultan Yusuf Shah Chak of the Chak Dynasty. He visited the place with his wife and encountered many wild flowers, thus giving it this name.
It is believed that the meadow of Gulmarg was discovered by the Chak Dynasty Ruler, Yusuf Shah Chak in the 16th century. He gave it the name ‘Gulmarg’ after witnessing many wild flowers at the location. At the time of Mughal Rule in Kashmir, the emperor Jahangir who was the son of Akbar, used to visit the place often. Jahangir encountered more than 21 species of wild flowers. In the British Rule, Gulmarg was among the favourite retreats of the British officials. The Gulmarg Golf Course was built by the British in 1890. It is considered among the world’s highest golf courses. Another advancement in the history of Gulmarg was the construction of the Gulmarg Gondola which opened in the year 1998 through a joint venture of the state tourism government and a French company. Today the gondola falls among the highest and longest cable cars in Asia.
The area of Gulmarg is of utmost importance to the Indian Government. It has close proximity with the Indo-Pak Border or the LoC. From the tourism point of view, the destination is one of the prime and most famous locations and generates a huge revenue. A large majority of the population of the area are related with tourism and provide services in the categories of tourist guide, shopkeepers, adventure sports, accommodation, taxi services and more. Gulmarg is full of resources including minerals, alpine lakes, forests, glaciers and perennial streams. The place hosts the Gulmarg Biosphere Reserve which hosts a wide variety of flora and fauna. Many rare species find home in the place also.
Gulmarg is a place of celebration, bonding, and brotherhood in Kashmir. The destination is jam-packed in the winter months as it is considered the best ski resort because of its amazing geography and climate. This destination should be visited by every person at least once to experience the wonders of nature that are kept here.
Both destinations are equally beautiful and charming. It is up to you to explore these pieces of heavens. However, Gulmarg is associated with snow more than Pahalgam as it serves as the snow epicenter for tourists in the winter
There is proper network connectivity in Gulmarg. You can buy new simcards also from the Gulmarg market.
There are a few ATM’s in the Gulmarg market which are accessible easily.
The nearest petrol pump is the Tangmarg area, around 8 kilometres from Gulmarg.
To protect yourself both physically and financially, you can impart certain practices while in Gulmarg. Keep your identity proofs with you all the time. Check weather before moving out. You will also need to check government rates of the tourist services to be safe from scammers.
