Gulmarg, situated in the Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir spans over the Pir Panjal range of the western Himalayas. This place is as pristine as it can be in winters. For me, this journey was initiated with a long called invitation of my good friend, Arjun, who works in Gulmarg and used to push me towards coming there. During the last few months, I was unable to withstand his energetic invitations and tales of this place of snow. The journey by car from Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu & Kashmir state to the snowy ski resort of Gulmarg was the beginning of one of the most incredible journeys that I will ever undertake. In this article, l, Ezhil share my travel experience on this winter wonderland and the exciting moments of the trip worth telling about.

The Journey to Gulmarg

My journey to Gulmarg was more than just a trip; it was a long-awaited adventure fueled by my excitement to reunite with my friend Arjun, who had been working in Gulmarg for years. Arjun had been inviting me to visit him for a long time, and finally, the stars aligned for me to experience this snowy paradise.

The journey began with a scenic drive from Srinagar. The route offered glimpses of lush green landscapes that slowly transitioned into a winter wonderland as we ascended towards the hills. The drive was picturesque but also filled with suspense and challenges. The winding roads, slick with snow, required careful navigation, and I couldn’t help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness as we approached our destination.

Arjun had warned me about the unpredictable weather and the cold, but nothing could have prepared me for the sheer chill of Gulmarg. The temperature was biting, and as we made our way through the snow-covered landscape, I found myself struggling to acclimate to the cold. My breath came out in frosty puffs, and despite bundling up in multiple layers, I could feel the icy fingers of winter seeping through.

Arjun met us at the edge of Gulmarg with a warm smile and a hot cup of Kahwa, which immediately warmed my spirits. “Welcome to Gulmarg! I knew you’d love it here,” he said, his enthusiasm evident. As we drove through the snow-clad streets towards our accommodation, Arjun regaled me with stories about the local culture and the adventures awaiting us. His familiarity with the area and his cheerful demeanor helped me shake off the initial discomfort of the cold.

Despite the challenges of the journey, including navigating through snowy patches and occasional whiteout conditions, the excitement of reaching Gulmarg and reuniting with Arjun made every moment worthwhile. The anticipation of the adventures that lay ahead, coupled with the warmth of Arjun’s hospitality, set the stage for an unforgettable winter escapade.

Getting to the Snowy Wonderland

From the time I entered the Gulmarg I felt as if I was in a fairy tale location for real. Again, the entire environment was covered with snow to the extent that everything including; trees- pines- looked pristine white having had snow accumulate on them up to the branches. It was my first time to feel the touch of snow, and being used to the warmer climate, the cold weather with icy winds made me feel like I made a mistake of coming out of my home. Attempts to dress warm was done to the maximum and still I felt the cold was so deep that it could even pierce the bones.

Arjun who was from the area was amused by the discomfort I was going through. He carried on saying words that solaced me that I would get used to that, and that I had to embrace the cold as part of the experience. With his help I went to take my first steps in to the beautiful snowy world. It is an understatement to say that I started with no preparation of an amazing roller-coaster ride brimming with adversities, and numerous, many more, unbelievable delightful moments.

Skiing and Snowboarding

Another great experience I got to have on my trip to Gulmarg was getting an exposure to skiing, a new sport for me. My friend Arjun who was working and living in Gulmarg for years was a perfect guide. He encouraged me that skiing would be great and said that he would teach me how to maneuver the snow.

When we got to the ski resort I buckled my ski boots and skied down the slopes as carefully as I could, with equal parts anticipation and nervousness. Gulmarg for its superior skiing facilities provided an opportunity of skiing in the highest locations. The highlight was the Apharwat Peak measuring 4,390 meters and what preceded was the fun in the gulmarg gondola to the peak before the slopes down.

During the skiing I saw an incredible skier skiing very confidently and making the sharp turns enjoying the snow. He was graceful and particularly coordinated especially when making turns as compared to my jerky turns. I was interested and amazed and without further ado I showed him to Arjun. ”I think you should talk to him,” Arjun was helpful. “Oh, he comes in here often; I have heard that he has one hell of a tale.”

Following Arjun’s advice I went up to the skier and started talking to him during a break at the bottom of the slopes. Imagine my shock when I heard that the skier was a European named Lars in for a skiing tour and who has been skiing in various places. We became good friends at once and started exchanging funny stories on skiing and the beauty of this place, Gulmarg. During conversations I understood that Lars was not only a fanatic skier but also a former Winter Olympian. He had participated in the winter Olympiad, this was further evidenced by his performance in the snow slopes. The Olympic stories flowed easily as he weaved them in between the conversation with some pride and yet equal portions of humbleness of the whole episode of competitive skiing.

The more that I came to know Lars, the more envious I became. To meet an Olympic athlete, such as in the given case, in an environment as casual as a regular grocery store truly was a chance of a lifetime. We continued to ski all day and during this time Lars readily shared his recommendations and even assisted in making myself a better skier and gain more confidence on the slopes.

Arjun was as friendly as always and kept smiling at me as I went up and down the slope with great vigor. ‘Ah, I knew this trip would be good for you,’ he stated patting me on the back. You are creating memories of a life time alright and a wonderful and great one I might add.

Towards the evening I could not help but be filled with thankfulness. Not only have I had the opportunity to ski the great slopes of Gulmarg, but I have also made a new friend, an olympian. I accomplished the trails and the common ground we got on the snow, along with Lars’s legends and guidance, made my visit to Gulmarg even more special. A realization that sometimes the best adventures are not planned but come with it, having a friend like Arjun made it even better.

The Gulmarg Gondola

The next day, our next activity was the Gulmarg Gondola or cable car ride which Arjun had been talking about since I arrived. This two-station ropeway took us from Gulmarg to the basement of Apharwat Peak, the bird’s eye view of the snow covered terrain. Arjun was in full spirits as we moved higher to Kongdoori at 3050 meters where skiing and snowboarding was the order of the day.

“Hang on, Arjun saw something more interesting; he exclaimed, ‘just wait until you get to the top and see the view’. He was right, the view that I got to see from the Apharwat Peak is something I will never forget. The view which I saw showed snow-clad mountains and valleys which impressed me to the extreme. Having the privilege to share this wonderful moment with Arjun was a real bonus and we spent many hours absolutely immersed in what was happening and enjoying the moment and taking lots of photographs.

Snowshoeing and Winter Hiking

It took Arjun less than two days to plan so well that we got a probable feel of all what the place, Gulmarg, had to offer. Next on the list was snowshoeing and winter hiking. We put on special snowshoes and we went deep in the snowy landscape; the sound of our steps was muffled.

“Why don’t we go a little deeper into the bush?” said Arjun and I followed him into the thick bushes. The environment was very quiet and what could be heard was only the sounds created by nature. We chose easy to mid-level trails, which was perfect for sightseeing and at times seeing an animal or two! Arjun knew the area very well, making the hike safe and entertaining, and his anecdotes about plant and animal life added an adventurous layer to the trek.

Sledging and Ice Skating

Arjun being my sporty friend, he then took me for some fun activities such as sledging and ice-skating. Hiring wooden sledges, we flew down the long gradients of Gulmarg; smiles glued on our faces as ever.

A popular quote came ringing through Arjun’s cheeks, “This never gets old,” he laughed and we fell off our sledges amidst flying snow. He was such a joy to be around due to his ability to laugh contagiously.

Our day proceeded with an ice – skate on the natural ice rink that is in town. Arjun, of course, was always the polite and tolerant friend and he assisted me in regaining my balance on the skates. “That’s it, just glide and let the ice do all the work,” he said. Soon I became in sync with him, and we continued skating in the afternoon along the ice while the cool winter breeze was accompanied with laughter and the skates pierced through the ice sheet.

Cultural Experiences

Arjun became not only the friend, but also the tourist guide for the cultural sides of Gulmarg. He further showed me around the St. Mary’s Church which is Victorian architecture and majestically located amidst pine trees. The church was wrapped in white snow thus having that fairy-tale like or magical feel to it.

“It has so much history,” I nodded as I agreed with Arjun and we stood and aptly looked at the beautiful construction of the church and its tranquil environment. We then went to the Baba Reshi Shrine which is a shrine of the Sufi saint Baba Payamuddin. Gulmarg shrine was silent and to some extent that quiet environment together with the picturesque beauty which surrounded it was very spiritually enriching. Arjun’s knowledge about these cultural landmarks added value to the visit and made me realize how deeper heritage of Gulmarg is.

Local Cuisine

There was no question of not eating local food and Arjun being a resident knew all the famous eateries. He then switched to a traditional restaurant, taking me through some local tasty food recipes such as Rogan Josh, Gushtaba, as well as Yakhni.

Kahwa is a must try, Arjun declared and called a waiter to order the saffron tea. This carmine warm fragrant drink was an ideal choice in the cold season and indeed became my favorite. We also bought Sheermal, which is sweet rice pudding and Bakarkhani baked bread sweet from a nearby bakery to complement the eating spree. This proved to be useful because Arjun has connections and knows good places to eat in the local areas.

Accommodation

Arjun had booked a warm wooden cabin with a fireplace and wide glass windows that made me look outside to the blanket of snow. “Here was my plan, I wanted you to feel the real Gulmarg,” he said with a pleasant smile taking us to our beautiful cottage stay. It was perfect to relax after our activities and the view of the fireplace coupled with beautiful sceneries was lovely. The preparation and planning displayed by Arjun made the stay comfortable and fun, shopping numerous little touches that made it feel like a home away from home.

A Final Note

Arjun was such a gracious host and friend from the start of the trip to the end. He made everything magical. The exciting experiences on the slopes, historical and artistic discovery, food, and wines, the warm homes and the overall experience of the trip was full of fun and exploration. Such people as Lars, the European skier and Olympian I met in the course of the journey and new friends made the journey richer.

It was time to hit the road again and as much as we had a great time, it was time to make way to the next destination with equal zeal and expectations. Apart from being a friend that companions me, Arjun was kind enough to make sure that my first interaction with snow was a memorable one. This trip was not just any vacation, but a vacation of a hundred adventures and associations that will last a lifetime.

Certainly! Here’s a first-person version of the bio:

Author Bio

Hi Ezhil here, I am a seasoned freelance writer with a decade of experience crafting engaging and informative content across various industries. Specializing in travel, hospitality, and lifestyle, I have a knack for capturing the essence of a destination and making it come alive for readers. Currently, I am contributing to Bag2Bag.in. With a passion for storytelling and a commitment to quality, I continue to inspire and inform audiences through compelling narratives and insightful articles.

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