Detailed Description

Gulmarg since eternity has been a famous retreat which had been frequented by the Mughal emperors in the bygone era and the trend continued with the British officers in the 19th century who visited the alpine town for recreational activities like golfing and hunting. Today Gulmarg continues to be an attraction for tourist from all over India and abroad for its breathtaking beauty and adventure sport activities.

 

 

 

Gulmarg is situated in the Baramullah district of Jammu and Kashmir and is one of the most beautiful hill stations in Kashmir. Every year the ice clad valley attracts travelers from all over the world who like to participate in winter sport activities in winter and enjoy sightseeing in summer. So if you are thinking of how to reach Gulmarg then here is a guide which will help you in reaching Gulmarg with ease.

 

 

By Air:

 

There is no airport in Gulmarg, the nearest airport lies in Srinagar which is 56 km away. Srinagar airport (Sheikh-ul-Alam airport) is well connected to major cities like Mumbai and Delhi by regular flights .This is the best way to reach Gulmarg as once you reach Srinagar you can hire a prepaid cab or a shared taxi and head straight to Gulmarg. The entire travel by air and road will take you a few hours and in no time you will be enjoying the scenic beauty of Gulmarg.

 

 

By Helicopter from Srinagar Airport to Gulmarg:

 

An exciting option for travelers having considerable amount of funds and would like to experience the best. A helicopter service to Gulmarg and Pahalgam from Srinagar airport has been recently started (November 2015) by the department of tourism of Jammu and Kashmir.

 

 

To avail the helicopter service travelers will have to book their tickets well in advance so that on the day of their arrival the tourism officials know which chopper can be used from the existing fleet according to the number of bookings.

 

 

So once travelers reach Srinagar airport they will directly be transferred to the waiting helicopter and within 15 minutes they will reach Gulmarg. The money is worth the time, furthermore the breathtaking views travelers will experience during the helicopter ride will forever remain in their memories.

 

 

 

By Road:

 

An exquisite network of roads connects Gulmarg. J&K SRTC runs several buses within the state and from the neighboring states. So you can reach Gulmarg through buses from places like Srinagar, Pahalgam, Jammu, Anantnag and many more places.

 

 

A road trip from Srinagar to Gulmarg gives tourist a wonderful experience of the true beauty of the region. On the way to Gulmarg travelers will witness a number of hamlets, farmlands, apple orchards, locals going about their daily chores, and mountain peaks covered in snow.

 

 

The road journey from Srinagar to Gulmarg

 

NH 1A connects Gulmarg with Srinagar, travelers will enjoy Gulmarg by road from Srinagar and it takes about 2 hours of drive to Gulmarg by car through the winding paths and hairpin curves that are fun and breathtaking at the same time. It is better to make prior arrangements to make your travel easier.

 

 

From Srinagar one can also board private, public buses, shared taxis that are available at Batmaloo bus station in Srinagar. During winter months buses and taxis operate up to Tanmarg and the remaining distance (11km) is being covered by smaller vehicles like Sumo, Scorpio or Qualis (with chained wheels) for the icy stretch to Gulmarg.

 

 

In case you are visiting Gulmarg in your own vehicle then it is recommended that you update your car with specially equipped tyres to drive up to this region. For a 4 wheel drive car it is pretty easy to go up the hill although most of the track to Gulmarg is plain but the last half hour track is uphill.

 

 

About Tanmarg:

 

Tanmarg is a small town or tehsil in Baramulla district, a happening place with a small post office, hotels and restaurants; it is about 40 km from Srinagar and on the way to Gulmarg. A brief stop here will help travelers to rent gum-boots, fur-coats and other essential items before they head for Gulmarg. Tanmarg is an important stopover, since there are no shops or stores on the way right up to Gulmarg.

 

 

By Rail:

 

Rail is another effective way of reaching Gulmarg. Currently there are no direct trains to Gulmarg and if you are coming by train then Jammu Railway Station is the nearest and is well connected to all major cities of India. Travelers can get down at Jammu Railway Station and catch a bus (state or private) or a taxi to reach Gulmarg, the distance between Jammu and Gulmarg is 350 km by road.

 

 

This is by far the best option if you have time in hand and are on a tight budget, travelers can then reach Jammu by train and then continue their journey towards Gulmarg by road.

 

 

Travelers can also commence their journey further on a shared taxi and if they want to reach their destination more comfortably then they can hire a personal cab.

 

 

Tips for Budget traveler and Bag packers

 

If you planning for some adventure and want to save on money then there is a cost effective way of reaching Gulmarg from Srinagar. After reaching Srinagar move towards Batmaloo bus stand from there take a shared taxi to Tanmarg from Tanmarg take a shared Taxi to Gulmarg.

 

 

The whole journey may take you maximum 3 hours including waiting period and the total cost will be ¼ of the cost of a direct cab from Srinagar to Gulmarg. Take this option if you have plenty of time and are looking to save on some travelling expenses.

 

 

The same route can be used to come back from Gulmarg to Srinagar Airport by using a shared taxi. i.e. Gulmarg –> Tanmarg –> Batmaloo Bus Stand –> Rickshaw or JKSTC bus to Srinagar airport. Again the total cost will be ¼ of the cost of a direct cab from Gulmarg to Srinagar. In case of directions local Kashmiri’s and Indian army soldiers are very friendly, polite, respectful and helpful and I am sure you will not lose your way.

 

 

Getting around Gulmarg

 

This is a very important section and every traveler visiting Gulmarg must know that there are about 2000 ponies or horses in Gulmarg and the owners and the pony rider’s livelihood is directly dependent on tourist hiring them. Hence there are a few rules one has to follow when they reach Gulmarg.

 

 

Once you enter Gulmarg you will not be able to take your hired vehicle further than the parking zone or the entrance of Gulmarg. Only those vehicles are allowed to enter Gulmarg whose passengers are going to stay overnight at one of the hotels at Gulmarg.

 

 

For traveling within Gulmarg one has to hire a pony, a sledge or walk, though the distances that are not much but travelers who can’t walk for long distances can hire ponies after negotiating with the owners.

 

It is easy to move around Gulmarg as it is a very small alpine town and a popular resort in both summers and winters. This town is mainly catering to tourism and there are no people living here except people catering to the tourism industry.

 

 

So if you are planning a vacation with your family or friends, which is worth the time and money then Gulmarg must be on top of your wish list. Please click here to know more about staying options in Gulmarg.