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Gulmarg Hindi translation: “Meadow of Flowers” is a hill station and a
notified area committee in district Baramula of Jammu and Kashmir. It is located
at an average.height of 2690 meters. Gulmarg is known for having one of the
worlds highest Gondola (cable car).
Journey to gulmarg takes 2.5-3 hours. Getting around Gulmarg is done mostly
by foot. There is only one road which loops around the whole whole hill station.
The main attraction here is the Gondola. Finished in 2004, it runs up to 3995
meters. Daily passes are available for the skiers and the nature lovers. The
hills visible from the top are said to be a part of LOC and Pakistan
administered Kashmir.
Major Tourist Attractions of Gulmarg are Alpather Lake, Baba Reshi Shrine,
Gondola Cable Car to Kongdor, Gold Golf , Khilanmarg, St Marys church, horse
riding, skiing and sledging.
Temperatures in Gulmarg remain well below zero for major part of the year. It is
necessary for the tourists to wear heavy woolen clothing, gloves, boots and
overcoats to prevent frostbite.
Gulmarg has long been famous for golfing. The 18-hole Gulmarg Golf Club has been
in existence since the British raj. Golf is popular in the summer season.
Membership is given on a daily basis on the payment of a daily fee.
Other interesting activities during the summers are horse riding and trekking.
Some of the most famous treks are- trek to khilanmarg (4km), and on the same
route apherwat trek (7 km). From Aprerwat there is an uphill trek to Alpather
lake which is frozen for most part of the year (about 13 km from Gulmarg by
foot). Khilanmarg is a small valley about 6 km away from Gulmarg. Its breath
taking beauty in summers when the valley is laden with a carpet of flowers
cannot be missed.
In winters Gulmarg’s slopes turn into an ideal ski resort. You need not
necessarily be a ski lover to come here in winters. Many tourists come just to
enjoy the snow and take a ride on the snow sledges.Snow scooters also available.
A few slopes even have a ski lift to cater to the needs of the ski lovers. Most
of the ski activities are concentrated in these slopes. Services of Instructors
can be availed of on payment, from the ski equipment shops run by the State
Government’s tourism department. Skiing in Gulmarg is cheaper than any other
country.
Ziarat of Baba Reshi : Shrine of saint Baba payam-Din is situated near Alpather
Lake, about 13 kilometers from Gulmarg. Baba Reshi is a well-known Muslim saint
and was a courtier of the Kashmir King Zain-ul-Abidin. This shrine was built in
his memory in the year 1480. The baba is known to have spent his days here, in
prayer and meditation after renunciation. The cover of the grave is an exquisite
piece of craftsmanship. Thousands of devotees visit the shrine through the year.
Gulmarg is known for its beauty both in the summer season and in the winter
season. During the month of May local strawberries are available at reasonable
prices anywhere and everywhere in Gulmarg. However it is important to bargain
with the traders to get the best possible price.
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