Places to Visit in Gulmarg: 16 Best Sights, Snow, Skiing, Weather and Prices (2026-27)

16 places worth your time in Gulmarg

Gulmarg is one wide meadow at 2,650 m with the mountains rising straight out of it, so most of what you will see is within walking or pony distance of the market. The Gondola takes you higher. These are the places we would put on any first visit.

The drive up: chains, Tangmarg and the first views

For us, the trip starts on the road. Gulmarg is about 56 km from Srinagar, roughly an hour and a half to two hours by car, and the last stretch climbs from Tangmarg through pine forest. In winter that is where the fun begins: the car stops at Tangmarg, chains get tied to the tyres, and the rest of the climb is a slow, crunchy ride through snow with the views opening up at every bend. It is one of our favourite parts of the whole day.

The chains are not optional. Under the SDM Gulmarg's winter orders, only 4x4 vehicles and cars fitted with anti-skid chains are allowed from Tangmarg to Gulmarg in snow. Registered vendors fit them in the allotted parking at Tangmarg, and vehicles with more than 10 seats are not allowed up.

Coming from Srinagar? Our Srinagar guide covers where to stay the night before, and how to find a day taxi.

How to reach Gulmarg

Gulmarg is about 56 km from Srinagar, roughly an hour and a half to two hours by road, through Tangmarg. There is no airport or railway station in Gulmarg itself: the nearest airport is Srinagar, and the nearest railway station is Baramulla, about 53 km away on the Kashmir valley line.

Getting to Srinagar first? See how to reach Kashmir for flights, the Vande Bharat and the highway.

• By taxi from Srinagar: the easiest option, as a day trip or a one-way drop if you are staying the night. Agree whether the fare includes waiting time in Gulmarg.

Bus and shared taxi options, union taxi rules and fares are in our Srinagar to Gulmarg guide.

• From the airport: you can drive straight from Srinagar airport to Gulmarg without going into the city.
• In winter: allow extra time at Tangmarg, where cars without 4x4 fit chains before the last 13 km up.

Fitting Gulmarg into a longer trip? See our Kashmir travel guide for route order, bookings and what to sort before you go.

Tangmarg and Drung Waterfall: the stops on the way up

Tangmarg is the gateway town 13 km below Gulmarg, where the road starts its last climb through pine forest. In winter it is where you rent snow boots and jackets and where chains go on the car, so it is worth arriving with a little time to spare. It is also the turn-off for Drung.

Drung Waterfall is about 3 km from Tangmarg, and in the depth of winter it freezes into a wall of ice. It has become one of the most popular winter stops in the area. In summer it is a pleasant waterfall in the forest; in winter, when frozen, it is worth the short detour on the way up or down.

Apharwat: the top of Gulmarg

Apharwat is the peak above Gulmarg, reached by Gondola Phase 2 to a station close to 3,980 m. It holds snow for most of the year, even when the meadow below is green, and it is where the serious ski runs start in winter. On a clear day the views over the Pir Panjal are the best in Gulmarg.

Above Apharwat, Alpather Lake sits at about 4,200 m and stays frozen for much of the year. It is reached on foot or by pony in summer and is a hard walk at that altitude. Whatever you do up there, move slowly: the air is thin, and it is easy to get breathless if you have come straight from the plains.

Beyond the meadow: Ferozepur Nallah and the wildlife sanctuary

Gulmarg sits inside the Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary, about 180 sq km of forest and high meadow between 2,400 m and 4,300 m, declared a sanctuary in 1987. It is home to the Himalayan brown bear, the snow leopard and about 95 species of birds, although most visitors see far more ponies than wildlife.

Below the resort, Ferozepur Nallah is a clear mountain stream known for its trout, and the starting point for the Tosamaidan trek, a multi-day walk into high meadows. In summer it makes a quiet half day away from the Gondola crowds, by pony or on foot.

Stay the night: one day is not enough in winter

Most people do Gulmarg as a day trip from Srinagar. In winter, it is worth staying at least one night instead. Day-trippers arrive late in the morning, queue for the Gondola, and leave just as the light turns gold on the snow. If you stay, you get the quiet evening, the meadow white and empty in the morning, and the first Gondola slot before the day crowd arrives. That is also the only way to fit in skiing without rushing.

Book early for December to February, when rooms fill up.

Where to stay and eat

Stay close to the Gondola and the meadow so you can walk everywhere in the snow. Two well-known options sit right by the Gondola:

• Hotel Hilltop: a 4-star about 50 m from the Gondola, centrally heated, with three restaurants. In our experience the food is good, though it is expensive.
• The Khyber Himalayan Resort & Spa: the luxury ski resort near the Gondola, open all year, with several restaurants and a spa.

Fresh snow: snowball fights and snow angels

Our best Gulmarg memories are the simple ones: snowball fights and making snow angels in fresh snow. You do not need a ticket for any of it. Walk a few minutes away from the market and the meadow is one big playground.

In recent winters, the Kolahoi Green Heights hotel has built an igloo café out of snow, with tables and benches made of ice. It runs from about early December to mid-March, depending on the snow, so check that it is up before you go.

Sledges pulled by locals are everywhere on the meadow. They are fun for children and older parents who would rather not walk in the snow, but there is no fixed rate on the meadow, so agree the price, the distance and the time before you sit down.

Up at Kongdoori, watch for guides charging to stand on small patches of snow they have piled up for photos. Real snow is free. More on these tricks in our Gulmarg Gondola guide.

Try skiing, even once

If you come in winter, try skiing, even if it is only for a morning. Its slopes are ranked among the best in Asia, and learning here costs far less than a ski trip abroad. The season runs from about December to early March. Beginners start on the gentle slopes near the base with an instructor; the long runs off Apharwat, reached by Gondola Phase 2, are for experienced skiers.

• First time? Book a half-day group lesson or a two-hour private lesson. It is enough to get you sliding and stopping on the gentle slopes.
• Want a proper course? The Indian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering (IISM) in Gulmarg runs structured ski courses in the season.
• Staying one night? Ski in the morning when the snow is firm and the slopes are quiet, then take the Gondola in the afternoon.

Slopes, IISM courses, snowboarding and heli-skiing are in our full Gulmarg skiing guide.

The Gondola: Kongdoori and Apharwat

The Gondola is the reason most people come. Phase 1 climbs from Gulmarg to Kongdoori, with snow play, tea stalls and the beginner slopes; Phase 2 continues to Apharwat, close to 3,980 m, where there is snow for most of the year. Domestic fares on the official JKCCC portal are ₹800 for Phase 1 and ₹1,000 for Phase 2.

Booking, time slots, refund rules and the scams to skip are all in our Gulmarg Gondola guide.

Gulmarg without the Gondola

If the Gondola is closed for wind or sold out, Gulmarg still has plenty for a full day on the ground.

• The meadow and golf course: walk the edge of one of the highest green golf courses in the world, with the Pir Panjal all around.
• St Mary's Church: a small grey-stone Victorian church from 1902 with a green roof and wooden interiors.
• Maharani Temple: built in 1915 by Maharaja Hari Singh for Maharani Mohini Bai Sisodia, on a rise above the meadow.
• Khilanmarg: a meadow about 4 km above Gulmarg with wide views, reached on foot or by pony.
• Ziarat of Baba Reshi: the shrine of a revered Sufi saint, a peaceful stop below Gulmarg.

Gulmarg in winter, summer and autumn

Comparing months for the whole trip? Our Kashmir month-by-month guide puts Srinagar and Gulmarg side by side.

Snow is the main event in winter; our guide to snowfall in Kashmir shows when and where it falls across the valley.

Gulmarg means "meadow of flowers", and it earns that name in summer. From December to March it is a snowfield. Snow can come early on the upper slopes: last season, Apharwat had its first snow on 2 and 3 October, although the first snowfall usually arrives at the end of October or in early November.

Gulmarg weather and temperature, month by month

Gulmarg is always much colder than Srinagar. At 2,650 m, its average high is under 1°C in January and only about 21°C in July, and nights are below freezing from November to March. It also gets far more precipitation than the city, most of it as snow from December to April.

Planning around snow? Check our Gulmarg snow report today for the latest dated report from the ground.

What this means for packing: from November to March you need a proper winter jacket, gloves and waterproof shoes even in the middle of the day, and in summer a fleece for the evenings and for Apharwat, which is always several degrees colder than the meadow.

What to pack for a day in the snow

Our one rule for Gulmarg: bring an extra pair of clothes and shoes that can handle snow. After an hour of snowball fights, you will be wet through, and the drive back is long and cold. Everything else can be rented at Tangmarg or near the Gondola, but dry clothes cannot.

Coming at Christmas or New Year? Read Kashmir in December first: Gulmarg sells out that week.

How many days do you need in Gulmarg?

In summer, a long day trip from Srinagar is enough for the Gondola and the meadow. In winter, give it one night, two if you want to ski properly. Here is how we would plan a winter stay.

Day 1

1. Leave Srinagar early; chains at Tangmarg if there is snow.
2. Check in, then an afternoon on the meadow: snowball fights, sledges, St Mary's Church.
3. A long, warm dinner.

Day 2

1. A morning ski lesson on the beginner slopes while the snow is firm.
2. The first afternoon Gondola slot to Kongdoori, and Apharwat if the weather is clear.
3. Head down to Srinagar before dark, when the road is at its safest.

Is Gulmarg safe?

Gulmarg is one of Kashmir's busiest tourist spots, with a visible security presence and tourist police in Tangmarg. In winter the real risks are weather and roads: follow the chains rule, travel in daylight, and check the day's weather and road status before you drive up. On the slopes, ski only where you are allowed and within your level.