PERSONEL EXPERIENCES

I have been at Gulmarg a number of times since my childhood both during summers and Winters. Gulmarg is a beautiful place with cherishable natural settings and outlay. One feels in heaven and away from daily boring, hectic and brain storming routine. Gulmarg witnesses a huge rush throughout the year and tourists and visitors from almost all the corners of world visit Gulmarg. Localites also visit Gulmarg frquently to increase the inflow . 

Last year in Feb i visited Gulmarg and had a ski-ing course of 15 days through Indian institute of Ski-ing and Mountaineering. IISM is a poineer  institute of Govt. of India providing water and snow ski-ing courses in J&K. 

They provide basic , intermediate and Advanced courses in Snow ski-ing at Gulmarg each of 15 days duration. Last year the rates were Rs4500/-  per head per course. This year the there may be a slight increase keeping in view the rush of Tourists. Within a sum of Rs 4500-5000 IIMS provides Accomodation, FOOD, Training-cum-instructors and Ski-ing equippment. This year (2010) IIMS is providing accomodation in their newly constructed Grand hotel type building in the midle of the Gulmarg with all the latest facilities including Cyber cafe , canteen, Gymnasium and last but not the least internal heating system . 

I suggest that one should visit Gulmarg in the month of Jan or Feb as there is a slight decrease in the peace disturbing rush and uncontrolled flow of visitors . It is advisable that one should carry with him warm clothes , first Aid and other travelling requirements .

It is to be noted here that Gulmarg is only a tourist spot /hill station and every person you meet here other than visitors/ tourists  may be a professional like a travel agent, ponny walla, Hoteliers,Shopkeepers etc. So, one needs to take care of his needs and desires and act accordingly.

( It is pertinent to mention here that these are my personel experiences and i dont belong to any  Travel agency / website or training institute  neither i am a tourist guide. I am a local inhabitant and reside at Ganderbal- Srinagar)

Wish you a happy trip.

Shabeer Shah

shabir_er@yahoo.co.in

+919906594323

Gulmarg can be accessed from Srinagar (the capital of Kashmir) in about 1 hour by car or bus, though army checkpoints may increase the travel time to three hours, depending on the security situation. The buses will reach Tangmarg in about 45 minutes. From Tangmarg, for the 20 km hill road, jeeps can be hired for reaching Gulmarg hilltop in about 20 minutes. Searches and identity checks will take place about 5km before Gulmarg. There is a strict time limit in travelling between Tangmarg and Gulmarg. The last jeep down from Gulmarg is available at sunset.

Gulmarg has around 40 hotels of all grades. The peak season starts with the snow fall in December and lasts until April. The charges for one night stay in off season range between Rs500 - Rs4000+. The off-season rates usually have a discount of about 60%.

Gulmarg Gondola - The New Cable Car of Gulmarg

Gulmarg boasts Asia's highest and longest cable car project, the Gulmarg Gondola. The two-stage ropeway ferries about 600 people per hour to and from Kongdoori Mountain, a shoulder of nearby Afarwat Peak (4,200 m (13,780 ft)). The ropeway project is a joint venture of the Jammu and Kashmir government and French firm Pomagalski. The first stage transfers from the Gulmarg resort at 2,600 m (8,530 ft) to Kongdoori Station in the bowl-shaped Kongdori valley. The second stage of the ropeway, which has 36 cabins and 18 towers, takes skiers to a height of 3,747 m (12,293 ft) on Kongdoori Mountain, a shoulder of nearby Afarwat Peak (4,200 m (13,780 ft)). The second stage was completed in a record time of about two years at a cost of Rs 11 crore and opened on May 28, 2005. The French company had also built the first phase of the gondola project, connecting Gulmarg to Kongdoori, in 1998.

Skiing is normally offered from mid-December to mid-May. The JKSCCC also proposes to construct chair lifts which will connect Kongdoori with Merry Shoulder peak for beginners and intermediate skiers. Gulmarg is being mooted as a possible host for the 2010 Commonwealth Winter Games. There are a few places of religious importance near the resort within a 5 to 20 km radius like Baba Reshi, Haji Murad atKreeri etc.