Gulmarg travel guide

Hill resort

Gulmarg is a premier hill resort known for alpine meadows, snow-covered peaks, and year-round adventure activities. It attracts skiers, trekkers, honeymooners, and nature lovers with its gondola rides, scenic landscapes, golf course, and winter sports, while summer offers lush greenery, trails, and panoramic Himalayan views.

Best time to visit Gulmarg

Jan–Feb for snow and skiing, with the ski season running into Mar; May–Oct for green meadows, walks and clear gondola views, with Jun and Sep the pick.

Month	Verdict	Temperature	Rain	Crowds	What to expect
January	good	-8–1 °C	160 mm	high	Snow and skiing; the icy road up from Tangmarg calls for a jeep-type taxi
February	good	-6–2 °C	210 mm	medium	Heart of the ski season; fresh snowfalls can slow the drive up
March	mixed	-3–5 °C	220 mm	medium	Skiing continues; wettest month, with frequent snow and rain spells
April	mixed	2–10 °C	170 mm	medium	Snow melting and paths slushy; snow stays at the upper gondola stations
May	good	6–16 °C	140 mm	high	Meadows green up, snow patches up top; school-holiday crowds from mid-May
June	best	9–19 °C	100 mm	high	Meadows green and in flower; busiest summer month, so book early
July	good	12–21 °C	100 mm	medium	Warmest month; meadows in flower; occasional rain
August	good	12–20 °C	100 mm	medium	Mild and green with occasional showers; good for walks and biking
September	best	9–18 °C	80 mm	medium	Settled, clear weather; quieter after the summer rush
October	good	4–14 °C	50 mm	medium	Dry and crisp with long views; cold nights
November	mixed	-1–9 °C	60 mm	low	Cold and dry between seasons; meadows brown, snow not yet reliable
December	mixed	-5–5 °C	70 mm	medium	Freezing nights; snow not assured early on; busy over Christmas–New Year

How many days to spend in Gulmarg

One day covers the Gulmarg Gondola up to Apharwat and a walk past St Mary's Church; a second allows the walk to Alpather Lake in snow-free months or a day on the ski slopes.

How to reach Gulmarg

• By air: Srinagar (SXR) — 62 km by road
• By train: Srinagar (SINA) — 61 km by road. Linked by rail to Katra since 2025
• By road: From Srinagar — 51 km, about 1.5 h. Most visitors drive up from Srinagar, often as a day trip

Getting around

Gulmarg is small: one loop road, about an hour's walk round. Ponies cover the meadows and in winter locals pull visitors on sledges; the gondola climbs to Kongdori and Apharwat.

Things to do in Gulmarg

1. Dal Lake — Lake (3 h · Free entry)
2. Houseboats In Srinagar, Dal Lake, Jammu & Kashmir — Stay (3 h · Paid entry)
3. shikara Ride — Boat ride (1.5 h · ₹600-₹1,200 per boat)
4. Gulmarg Gondola — Cable car (3 h · ₹700 (phase 1))
5. Tulip Garden Srinagar — Tulips (2 h · ₹50)
6. Gandola 2nd Phase Afarwat Station — Cable ride (2.5 h · ₹900)
7. Mughal Heritage — Gardens
8. Gulmarg Ski — Ski area (4 h · ₹2,100 day lift ticket (peak season))
9. OYO 5546 Hotel Taj Mahal Pahalgam — Glacier
10. Shalimar Garden — Garden (1.5 h · ₹10)
11. Hazaratbal — Shrine
12. Jamia Masjid Srinagar — Mosque (1 h · Free entry)
13. Snow Adventure — Snow fun
14. Aru Valley — Valley (2.5 h · Free entry)
15. Baisaran Road — Meadow
16. Nishat Garden — Garden (1.5 h · ₹10)
17. Shri Shankaracharya Temple — Temple (2 h · Free entry)
18. Lal Chowk — Market
19. Drung Road — Waterfall
20. Lidder River — River (2 h · Free entry)
21. Zero Point Sonamarg — Snow (2 h · Free entry)
22. Nigeen Lake — Lake (1.5 h · Free entry)
23. YHAI BASE CAMP DACHIGAM NATIONAL PARK SRINAGAR — Wildlife
24. Floating Market Dal Lake — Market (1.5 h · Free entry)
25. Golf course — Golf field (2.5 h)
26. Baba Reshi Shrine — Shrine
27. Chandanwari — Valley
28. Amarnath Yatra Base Camp, Pahalgam — Pilgrim
29. Lolab valley Kupwara — Valley (5 h · Free entry)
30. River Rafting — Rafting (1.5 h · Paid entry)
31. Parimahal — Monument (1.5 h · Paid entry)
32. Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary — Reserve (3 h)
33. Horse 🐎 riding in pahalgam — Riding
34. Forest Block — Lake
35. Kupwara- Hayhama Road — Caves
36. Chashme Shahi Garden — Garden (1 h · ₹10)
37. Zabarwan Park زبرون پارک — Hills (2 h · Paid entry)
38. Khilanmarg Woods — Meadow (3 h · Free entry)
39. Mamaleshwar Temple, Pahalgam (J&K) — Temple (30 min · Free entry)
40. Pahalgam Market — Market (1.5 h · Free entry)
41. Nehru park — Park (1.5 h)
42. Manasbal Lake — Lake (2 h · Free entry)
43. Vare-Kanoul Nag /Frozen Lake 2/Alpathar Lake — Lake (6 h)
44. Tangmarg — Town
45. Kiani Marg — Trails (3 h)
46. Love Pahalgam View point — Views (1 h · Free entry)
47. SOGAM CHADOORA — Meadow (1.5 h)
48. Photography in pahalgam — Photos
49. Sunset Peak — Peak
50. Woodswalk Treks and Tours — Camps
51. Gadsar Lake — Lake (10 h)
52. Strawberry Valley — Valley (1 h · Free entry)
53. Nichnai Pass — Pass
54. Badam Wari Park — Garden (1 h)
55. Maharani Temple — Temple
56. St. Mary’s Church, Gulmarg — Church (30 min · Free entry)
57. LIDDER VALLEY GOLF COURSE PAHALGAM — Golf (2 h · Paid entry)

Food to try in Gulmarg

• Kahwa — Kashmiri green tea with saffron, cardamom and almonds; welcome warmth in the cold
• Noon chai — Pink, salted Kashmiri tea made with baking soda, usually drunk with local bread
• Rogan josh — Kashmiri lamb curry, red with Kashmiri chillies; a staple of the wazwan feast

Frequently asked questions

What is the best time to visit Gulmarg?

Jan–Feb for snow and skiing, with the ski season running into Mar; May–Oct for green meadows, walks and clear gondola views, with Jun and Sep the pick.

How many days are enough for Gulmarg?

1–2 days. One day covers the Gulmarg Gondola up to Apharwat and a walk past St Mary's Church; a second allows the walk to Alpather Lake in snow-free months or a day on the ski slopes.

How do I reach Gulmarg?

By air: Srinagar (SXR) — 62 km by road. By train: Srinagar (SINA) — 61 km by road. Linked by rail to Katra since 2025. By road: From Srinagar — 51 km, about 1.5 h. Most visitors drive up from Srinagar, often as a day trip.

What are the top things to do in Gulmarg?

Dal Lake, Houseboats In Srinagar, Dal Lake, Jammu & Kashmir, shikara Ride, Gulmarg Gondola, Tulip Garden Srinagar, Gandola 2nd Phase Afarwat Station.

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Guide checked on 2026-10-06.