Welcome to Gulmarg the adventure destination with magical meadows and mountains. The best ski resort in the Himalayas, Gulmarg’s legendary beauty, prime location and proximity to Srinagar naturally make it one of the premier hill spot in the country. Originally called ‘Gaurimarg’ by shepherds, its present name was given in the 16the century by Sultan Yusuf Shah, who was inspired by the sight of its grassy sloes emblazoned with wild flowers. Then natural beauty of Gulmarg has attracted tourists since long. In fact the adventure destination of Gulmarg literally means “the meadow of flowers”. The snowclad peaks and the lovely landscapes of Gulmarg have provided background for several Bollywood ventures. The slopes of Gulmarg make it Asia’s only heli-skiing resort. There are immense beauty and adventure activities that make Gulmarg much more than a cool adventure destination of Gulmarg in 1927 during their colonial rule in India.

Prime Attractions
Alpather Lake : Beyond Khilanmarg,13kms from Gulmarg at the foot of the twin 4,511 mtrs Apharwat peaks, this lake is frozen until mid June and even later in the year one can see lumps of ice floating in its cold waters. The walk from Gulmarg follows a well-graded pony track over the 3,810 mtrs Apharwat ride, separating it from Khilanmarg, and then up the valley to the lake at 3,843 mtrs.
Khilanmarg: This smaller valley is about a 6 kms walk from the Gulmarg bus stop and car park. The meadow, carpeted with flowers in the spring is the site for Gulmarg’s winter ski runs and offers a fine view of the surrounding peaks and over the Kashmir Valley.

The Ningli Nallah This long, grassy valley is a popular picnic spot and the walking path caries on, crossing the Ningli (also spelt as Ningli) Nallah by a bridge and continues on to the Khilenmarg, another grassy meadow and a good spot for camping. In early summer one will probably share the campsites with Gujars moving their herds up to the high meadows.

Gulmarg – Adventure: For the adventure seekers Gulmarg is the ultimate destination for skiing. You may easily hire the skis and sticks, snow boots, woolen socks, mufflers, windproof jackets, goggles, and caps. With all the equipments and the Ski instructors at hand it is the best bet to enjoy the holidays at Gulmarg. The skiing season at Gulmarg is from November to February. The slopes in Gulmarg varying between 8,700 and 10,500 feet make the ski runs the highest in India. It is noteworthy that Gulmarg is the only heli- skiing resort in Asia. Even the amateurs can enjoy with the ski lifts and the chair lifts. Gulmarg also boasts of a gorgeous green golf course that happens to be the world’s highest too. You may even hire the golf sets from Gulmarg. The Golf club offers short-term memberships to the players.

Gulmarg- Sites to Visit: The gorgeous adventure destination of Gulmarg is dotted with sites of interest for the tourists. Khilanmarg is the spot for skiing in winters. You must enjoy the views of the Kashmir valley and the Himalayan range from Khilanmarg. It takes a couple of hours by pony, to reach Khilenmarg as it is slightly longer on foot. Then there is the Alpather Lake, a picturesque alpine lake that remains frozen until late June. From Khilanmarg the lake lies across the Apharwat peak. Adventures seekers must take the one-day and thirteen kms trip to the Alpather Lake from Gulmarg. While at Gulmarg you may even visit the shrine of Baba Reshi, a Muslim mystic saint.

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