Gulmarg Gondola Ticket Price and Booking 2026-27: Phase 1, Phase 2 and Tips

How much does the Gulmarg Gondola cost in 2026-27?

Planning the rest of your day up there? Start with our Gulmarg guide for what to see, where to stay and what to pack for snow.

Phase 1 (Gulmarg to Kongdoori) costs ₹800 per person and Phase 2 (Kongdoori to Apharwat) costs ₹1,000, so both phases come to ₹1,800. The portal also sells a Joy Ride ticket at ₹700. These are the domestic fares on the official JKCCC portal, and they were the same for October and late December dates when we checked.

A few more costs to plan for:

• Tatkaal tickets: a separate last-minute quota on the same portal. The portal says Tatkaal booking is open from 8 am to midnight daily (some guides still say 5 pm). Booking guides report fares of about ₹1,100 for Phase 1 and ₹1,300 for Phase 2, and these tickets cannot be cancelled. None were on offer when we checked in late September, so expect them mainly in peak season.
• Chairlift above Kongdoori: a separate lift, mainly for skiers. Children under 11 are not allowed on it, according to booking guides. JKCCC's site lists the Kongdoori chairlift as coming soon.
• Ski passes: sold on the same portal under Passes. None were listed yet in late September; we will add 2026-27 prices when they appear.
• Foreign tourists: the portal showed no foreigner fares when we checked, so foreign visitors should confirm with JKCCC before planning around the Gondola.

Why do Gondola prices online not match?

Because most sites copied a number once and never updated it. On the first page of Google in September 2026 we found four different price pairs for the same two tickets, and none matched the portal's current ₹800 and ₹1,000. We list only the fare we see on the official portal, with the date we checked it.

The ₹810 and ₹1,010 you see most often probably include a small convenience charge: one hotel blog lists Phase 1 at ₹810 including it. If a page does not say when it checked the price, treat the number as a guess. Ours shows where each price comes from and the date.

How do you book Gulmarg Gondola tickets online?

Book on etickets.jammukashmircablecar.com, the portal the Jammu & Kashmir Cable Car Corporation (JKCCC) calls its new official domain. Older links such as eticket.webfront.in still rank on Google, so type the address yourself:

1. Open the portal and log in with your mobile number. It asks for a captcha and sends an OTP; there is no separate password.
2. Under Normal Ticket Booking, pick your date and tap Check Availability. The portal shows the Phase 1, Phase 2 and Joy Ride fares for that day.
3. Add each passenger with their name exactly as on the photo ID they will carry, and choose Phase 1, Phase 2 or both. Booking guides say both phases can now go in one booking, and each ticket is for a slot: forenoon (8 am to 11:59 am) or afternoon (12 pm to 3:30 pm).
4. Pay online and save the e-ticket with its QR code as a screenshot. Mobile data is patchy at the base station.

Dates open well in advance: in late September we could already see availability for the end of December. For December to February and May to June, book as soon as your dates are fixed. If Normal tickets are gone, check Tatkaal Ticket Booking. JKCCC's own home page warns visitors to book online and not to fall for touts.

Phase 1 or Phase 2: which one should you book?

Book both if everyone in your group is healthy and the weather is clear. Phase 2 reaches Apharwat, around 3,980 m, where there is snow even in summer and the best views. Phase 1 alone suits small children, older parents and anyone with heart or breathing problems, because Kongdoori is lower and has food stalls and easy walks.

Coming straight from the plains? Spend a night in Srinagar first. Altitude sickness is a real risk at nearly 4,000 m if you fly in and go up the same day.

Which time slot is best for the Gondola ride?

Take the forenoon slot, 8 am to 11:59 am as listed by booking guides. The sky is usually clearest in the morning and you finish Phase 2 before afternoon winds, the most common reason the upper section stops. The afternoon slot runs 12 pm to 3:30 pm, gate entry closes at 3:30 pm and the last ride down is at 5 pm.

What should you carry for the Gondola?

Carry the original photo ID you booked with and your e-ticket saved offline. Gate staff check the name on the ticket against the ID, and children may need age proof such as an Aadhaar or birth certificate. It is always colder at Apharwat than in town, so dress for snow even in May.

How do you reach the Gondola base station?

The base station is about 1 km from the Gulmarg market, roughly a 15-minute walk. You do not need a guide to find it or to board. Older family members can take a pony; rates vary a lot by season, so agree the price before you start.

In snow, the road from Tangmarg up to Gulmarg is open only to 4x4 vehicles and cars fitted with anti-skid chains, under the SDM Gulmarg's winter orders. Chains are fitted by registered vendors in the allotted parking at Tangmarg, and vehicles with more than 10 seats are not allowed up.

Which scams should you avoid at the Gondola?

Most trouble at the Gondola comes from people who make money from confusion. None of them work for JKCCC, and none of them can get you on without a valid online ticket.

• "The online system is down": a common opener to sell you a marked-up ticket. The gates scan the QR code on your own booking, so there is no back door.
• "You need a guide to board": false. The Gondola is self-service: show your ticket and ID and walk in.
• Fake snow spots: visitors report guides piling up small snow patches near Kongdoori and charging to stand on them for photos. Real snow is free, and in most months there is plenty of it at Phase 2.
• Forced gumboot rental: you only need gumboots if you plan to walk into deep snow. For the station areas in summer, sturdy shoes are enough.

Is the Gondola open in winter?

Yes, the Gondola runs in winter, and it is the main lift for skiers heading to the Apharwat slopes. Phase 2 closes more often in winter because of wind and fresh snow, sometimes for the whole day. On the morning of your ride, check the notifications on jammukashmircablecar.com and the official Instagram, @gulmarggondola_official, before you leave Srinagar.

For snow on the ground, see is there snow in Gulmarg now, our dated report from Gulmarg.

A safety note from 2026: on 25 May 2026 a technical fault stopped the Gondola, and more than 300 tourists and guides were rescued from the cabins by the Army, police and disaster response teams. The Gondola reopened on 25 June 2026 after repairs, tests and safety audits, and the government set up a committee to investigate. It is running normally again, but check its status on the day of your ride.

Choosing when to come? See the best time to visit Kashmir for snow, crowds and temperatures by month.