Gulmarg - Best Ski Resort in India

One of the major attractions for adventure loving tourists is skiing in the Himalayas. Gulmarg, the best ski resort in the Himalayas, was first established by the British in 1927, when two British Army Officers, Maj. Metcarp and Maj. Hadow had setup the Ski Club of India at Gulmarg. Skiing had become very popular during the pre-independence years and Gulmarg used to host two main events, one each during Christmas and Easter. In 1938-39 about 500 skiers are reported to have participated in the Christmas and Easter ski races. Gulmarg's atmosphere can generally be identified with 1940's and 50's European skiing—‘the Alps of good old days’. It has good sunshine as well as good snow.

Gulmarg holds a position as one of the highest lift-served ski resorts in the world. This is due to setting-up of a Gandola Cable Car Lift from Gulmarg to Apharwat top, giving a downhill ski run of about 3 kms. In addition, three ski lifts and one chair lift also service the resort, which are suitable for beginners and intermediate-level skiing, respectively. The skiing season in Gulmarg usually commences before Christmas (around middle of December) and continues till middle of April. In January-February, 1998 the first National Winter Games of India were held at Gulmarg, for which the facilities were enormously improved and upgraded. The resort acquired two Kasse Bohrer snow beating machines used for preparing skiing slopes, and five snowmobiles, which can be made available for going up the mountain. Good quality equipment, including skis, boots, sticks, gloves and goggles are available on hire on the spot from the Government-run ski shop.

There are also trained instructors available for guiding the tourists. Gulmarg is ideally suited for learning skiing, as it is probably the cheapest ski resort in the world. Some time back, the famous French skier Sylvain Saudan, had started Heli-skiing in the Himalayas for European skiers. He would take the skiers by helicopter on top of Gulmarg mountain and other peaks in the area from where they would ski down the immense Himalayan slopes. This programme has been discontinued for the time being. The most enjoyable aspect of a winter sojourn in Gulmarg is the friendly atmosphere. It is like being in a family where everybody knows every one else.

India isn't an obvious destination for skiing but there has been a resort at Gulmarg since the days of the British Raj. Gulmarg’s legendary beauty, prime location and proximity to Srinagar naturally make it one of the premier hill resorts in the country, in addition to Pahalgam and to some extent Sonamarg in Kashmir. While Gulmarg is an all-weather resort with refreshing summer meadows and pastoral scenes to keep the camera busy, the main reason to come here, at least in winter, is the off-piste, deep-powder, long-run skiing and snowboarding. The Himalayan resort of Gulmarg is one of the newest and increasingly popular ski destinations. Head here for the world’s highest gondola ski lift and eye-popping views of the great Himalayas.

In Gulmarg, skiing brings you joy, fun, adventure, and nature near you. Gulmarg, located 56-km southwest of Srinagar, provides natural slopes, inclines, snow and gondola, making it the country’s premier ski resort and a favorite winter tourist destination. Skiing in Gulmarg is a wonderful combination of incredible curry powder skiing and the unique hospitable Kashmiri culture - which makes it one of the world’s most adventurous and memorable skiing experiences one can ever have. Gulmarg is also the capital of winter games and has an institute providing comprehensive ski training. Gulmarg’s beauty cannot be explained in words. The skiing experience in Gulmarg gives you a traditional inclination to nature. The quality of snowfall in Gulmarg is quite impressive, and people around the world are exploring the skiing opportunities in Gulmarg. Due to its geographic conditions, Gulmarg has heavy snowfall in the season and is known as one of the best skiing resorts in the Himalayas.

In the season, tourists visit from several countries and enjoy skiing at its best. Some of the leading countries from where adventure visitors come to explore skiing in Gulmarg are France, Germany, Australia, Austria, Russia, New Zealand, the UK, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and several other western countries. Gulmarg skiing is not just about the incline it provides or the quality of snow it has; it also offers cultural exchanges and provides more knowledge, understanding, and custom knowledge of the diverse culture of Gulmarg.