5 Places to Visit in Gulmarg

Want to try skiing in the most beautiful valley on earth? Visit Gulmarg and you will be stunned to see the nature spreading its beauty all around!

Skiing in this valley is bound to give you a thrilling and exciting experience.

The other unique selling proposition of Gulmarg is its Gondola ride. It’s the highest as well as the longest cable car project of Asia.

The Gulmarg Gondola is a two-stage ropeway transferring around 600 people each hour to and fro from Kongdoori Mountain, which is situated near Afarwat Peak.

There are two stages; the first stage carries tourists to Kongdoori station from Gulmarg resort while the second stage takes them to Kongdoori mountain.

This gondola can carry six tourists at one time and its operational timing is from 10 am to 5 pm. Chair cars are also available here.

If you want to explore this place at its best, here are the top five locations of Gulmarg which should never be given a miss if you are in Srinagar as its 49 kilometer away from this city:

1. Gulmarg Golf Course

If you love golfing and if you are a nature lover at the same time, then this place is definitely meant for you. The Gulmarg Golf Course is one of the largest golf courses in India. This golf course benefits golfers in two ways. Firstly, it beats the summer heat and secondly, they can enjoy the game of golf in 18-hole golf course which is the largest in the country. It was in the year 1920 when golfing started at this place and its credit goes to Britishers who used to visit here to escape summer heat. The golf course remains open from 8.30 am to 10 am.

2. Khilanmarg

If you want to see varying colors of flowers blooming all around in summers, then you should visit Khilanmarg. In winters, the same place converts into a skiing destination. The paragliders can enjoy the beautiful landscape around. There are skiing slopes peeping directly into snow-laden mountains. This paradise could be reached by travelling a distance of six kilometers from bus station in Gulmarg. One can fall in awe of nature by glancing at Nanga Parbat which gives the best scene to frame a picture in your mind. As this mountain is 7,100 meters in height, it gives a picturesque view. It won’t be wrong to brand this place as a little paradise in Srinagar.

3. Gulmarg Biosphere Reserve

If you want to explore the most diverse species of plants, animals and birds, this could be a paradise for you. Stretching across a widespread area of 180 square kilometers, this reserve houses Musk Deer, Leopard, Red Fox, Black Bear, Brown Bear and what not. The biodiversity exists in the richest form here.

There are beautiful conifers as well as green herbs giving it a scenic location. Ornithologists consider this place as their heaven for it houses a diverse species of migratory birds such as Blue Rock, European Hoopoe, Kashmir Roller, Snow Cock and Jungle Crow.

September to March is the best time in Gulmarg Biosphere Reserve for mammal viewing while March to May is the best time for birdwatching. This reserve gives you the chance to click beautiful shots of rare movement of animals in different moods.

4. Shrine of Baba Reshi

This is considered to be one of the holiest shrines of Muslims. Zairat is a tomb of a renowned saint, Baba Payam-ud-Din RA (AD 1475) who expired in 1480 at this place. It is situated 8 km from Gulmarg. Baba Reshi used to prayer here. The Kashmiri architectural wonder is displayed at its best as windows are carved with lattice work and exquisite craftsmanship is seen all around.

According to the story, Baba had renounced the worldly affairs and then he became Shiek Noor-ud-Din Noorani’s disciple. This saint, once played the role of a courtier to King Zain -ul-Abidin (from Kashmir) before renouncing the worldly pleasures. Thousands of devotees from different caste and creed throng this shrine daily and offer their prayers.

5. Seven Springs

Want to see a spectacular sight of water emanating from seven natural outlets of water? Then you should visit Seven Springs in Gulmarg. This place also gives a pristine view of Srinagar as well as Gulmarg Valley from this location.

The scenic location of Gulmarg has wooed thousands of tourists from across the world. With its USP of having the highest cable car in the world, Gulmarg continues to rope in adrenaline lovers.

Now, if you too want to be in the lap of nature and enjoy adventure, plan a trip to Gulmarg. Once you are there, you will definitely feel like in a paradise!