Gul means flowers and Gulmarg is translated as the meadow of flowers. During the summer season, this heaven on earth is completely covered in flowers. Flowers from these valleys once been collected for Mughal Gardens. Here you will find everything you need to know about Gulmarg
There are a lot of places in Kashmir that take your breath away. Gulmarg is one such place that leaves you speechless. If you are planning to visit Gulmarg, make sure that you include Srinagar, Sonmarg, and Pahalgam. Then only your trip to Kashmir completes.
You can check the J&K official website for more details.
How to reach Gulmarg
Gulmarg has located around 55 Km from Srinagar. Unlike Pahalgam and Sonmarg, which are located on the eastern side of Srinagar, Gulmarg is located on the western side. To reach here, you need to reach Srinagar first. From Srinagar, you can book a taxi to Gulmarg. You can also get public transports to a place called Tanmarg, which is 39 km from Srinagar. From Tanmarg, a shared or private taxi is available to Gulmarg.
Gulmarg by Road
- Buses from Delhi to Jammu or Srinagar
- Private / Shared taxi / Bus to Tanmarg.
- Private / Shared taxi from Tanmarg to Gulmarg
Gulmarg by Car or Bike
Delhi – Jalandhar – Pathankot – Udhampur (Jammu) – Anantnag – Srinagar – Tanmarg – Gulmarg
Gulmarg by Train
- Book a ticket to Jammu Railway station
- Private / Shared taxi / Bus to Srinagar from Jammu
- Shared / Privare taxi / Bus to Tanmarg.
- Private / Shared taxi from Tanmarg to Gulmarg
Gulmarg by flight
- Reach Srinagar by flight
- Shared / Private Taxi to Gulmarg
- Private / Shared taxi / Bus to Tanmarg.
- Shared / Private taxi from Tanmarg to Gulmarg
Places to see in Gulmarg
First I have to say it. Gulmarg doesn’t come cheap. Especially during the peak tourist season. It is one of the luxurious gateways in India. Hotels and restaurants and pretty expensive when compared to Manali or Mussoorie. Most of the tourists visit Kashmir to enjoy the snowfall and explore the mesmerizing snowy landscapes.
Gulmarg Gondola
This iconic cable car is one the highest in the world and can carry about 600 passengers at a time. I would say, this is a must thing to do in Gulmarg and do not leave without a trip on this cable car. It operates between 10 AM and 5 PM. The Gondola rides are built into two phases. Phase 1 ferry tourists from the Gulmarg resort to Kongdoori. There are a lot of activities you can try in Kongdoori during the winter season. Skiing and snow sledding is a must try and there are operators who help you in teaching the basics of Skiing. You can also ride snowmobiles and it will cost around 2500 Rs.
Phase 2 will take you to the Apharwat Peak from Kongdoori and there is a small trek route to the mountaintop. From there we can even have a view of LOC ( Line of Control).
Gulmarg Golf Course
During the British rule, Gulmarg became a favorite summer retreat for them and they have built 3 Golf Courses there. Out of these 3, only one still survived. Gulmarg Golf Course is one of the highest in the world. Visitors are allowed to enter during the summer season.
Alpather Lake
It is an intermontane lake in the Apharwat mountain peaks. Alpather Lake trek is a 14 Km trek that starts from Gulmarg. It remains frozen for half of the year from November to July.
Strawberry Valley
This is a must-visit place during the summer season. The valley is covered in wild strawberries and hence got the name. This is one of the unexplored, yet charming places in Gulmarg. The ideal time to visit is of course during the summer season.
Maharani Temple
One of the most popular religious centers in Gulmarg. It is situated on a small hill and can be visible from all parts of the town.
St Mary’s Church
This Victorian styles church resembles a small country chapel. It is located near the Gulmarg Golf Course.
Best time to visit Gulmarg
There are two best times to visit Gulmarg. Summers and Winters. Now it’s your personal preference that you have to choose which time period.
Summers are pleasant and it is every nature lover’s dream. Valley is covered in a thick blanket of lush green and flowers of all types. Clear blue skies make the lakes look like blue crystals. Snow-capped mountains beyond the thick pine forests add more majestic to this fairytale scenery.
You cannot miss Gulmarg without seeing the snowfall. Most of the tourists visit here to experience the snowfall. The best time to visit is during the months of December, January, and February.
Gulmarg in Winter
To experience snowfall and to try all sorts of winter activities, there is no place in India better than Gulmarg, Winter arrives in the valley during the later October and during December, it will be completely covered in Snow. December, January, and February are the best time to visit during this season.
Temperature ranges between 4 to -7 degrees celsius during the winter months. Especially in January. So make sure that you carry the best possible winter gears that include inner thermal wear, warm woolen clothes, jackets, waterproof shoes that are good enough to walk on snow, gloves, etc.
There are a lot of activities you can try during the winter season. There are a lot of Ski resorts where you can learn the basics of skiing. Snow sledding is a must-try for an amazing ride through the slopes between the trees. You can also get snowmobiles and ATVs which will take your experience to the next level.
Gulmarg in Summer
Summer tourism starts from April to June and this is considered to be the peak season in Gulmarg. Due to heavy demand and rush, it is always advisable to pre-book your stays. There are a lot of summer activities available during this season.
Temperature ranges between 10 to 25 degrees celsius during the Summer months. Night can be cold, hence need to carry light woolen clothes all the time.
Most of the activities you are available at Phase 1 of Gulmarg Gondola. You can try pony rides from there. ATVs are also available to explore the places. The best thing to do is to trek to the nearest mountain top to get a better view of the valley. Also, Golf Course opens for visitors and you can have a drive around the place. Another great spot to visit is Strawberry Valley.
Month-wise details to visit Gulmarg
January
- Ideal for: Experiencing snowfall and winter activities.
- Weather: Very Cold. Heavy winters gears are necessary
- Hotel and Restaurants: Expensive.
February
- Ideal for: Experiencing snowfall and winter activities.
- Weather: Very Cold. Heavy winters gears are necessary
- Hotel and Restaurants: Expensive.
March
- Ideal for: All types of travelers.
- Weather: Still cold. Need to wear winters clothes.
- Hotel and Restaurants: Reasonable prices.
April
- Ideal for: All types of travelers.
- Weather: Nights can be cold and need to carry light woolen clothes.
- Hotel and Restaurants: fair prices.
May
- Ideal for: All types of travelers.
- Weather: Sunny and pleasant climate
- Hotel and Restaurants: Expensive
June
- Ideal for: All types of travelers.
- Weather: Sunny and pleasant climate. This is the peak tourist month
- Hotel and Restaurants: Expensive
July
- Ideal for: Budget Travellers
- Weather: Light drizzle
- Hotel and Restaurants: Fair prices.
August
- Ideal for: Budget Travellers
- Weather: Light drizzle
- Hotel and Restaurants: Fair prices.
September
- Ideal for: All types of travelers.
- Weather: Light drizzle
- Hotel and Restaurants: Fair prices.
October
- Ideal for: All types of travelers and the best time to visit.
- Weather: Mostly pleasant and colder
- Hotel and Restaurants: Expensive
November
- Ideal for: Ideal for budget travelers.
- Weather: Very Cold. Need to carry good woolen clothes.
- Hotel and Restaurants: Fair prices.
December
- Ideal for: Experiencing snowfall and winter activities.
- Weather: Very Cold. Heavy winters gears are necessary
- Hotel and Restaurants: Expensive
Also Read: Detailed Guide to Visiting Sonmarg