Gulmarg Skiing 2026-27: Season, Costs, Lessons, IISM Courses and Slopes

Why ski in Gulmarg?

Gulmarg is India's best-known ski resort, and one of the most affordable places in the world to learn. The slopes run from the meadow at 2,650 m up to Apharwat, close to 4,000 m, reached by the Gulmarg Gondola, and the snow is usually reliable from December to early March. It hosted the Khelo India Winter Games from 23 to 26 February 2026, with about 1,000 athletes and officials. For our family, winter in Gulmarg means staying the night and trying skiing, even if it is only for a morning.

When is the Gulmarg ski season?

The season usually runs from about December to early March. Snow can arrive early on the upper slopes, as it did on 2 and 3 October in the 2025-26 season, but the ski season proper needs a solid base, which usually builds from December. January and February are the most reliable months, and February is often the snowiest.

Where to ski: the slopes

• Beginner slopes near the base: gentle, open slopes near Gulmarg itself, where ski schools and instructors teach first-timers.
• Kongdoori (Gondola Phase 1): a bowl-shaped slope with easy and intermediate terrain, and the start of the chairlift that runs up towards Mary's Shoulder for skiers. JKCCC lists online booking for the Kongdoori chairlift as coming soon, so check on the day.
• Apharwat (Gondola Phase 2): long, steep runs from near 4,000 m, including off-piste terrain. For experienced skiers only, and Phase 2 often stops in high wind.

Book Gondola tickets only on the official portal; fares, slots and refund rules are in our Gulmarg Gondola guide.

Skiing in Gulmarg for beginners

You do not need any experience. Most first-timers take a half-day group lesson or a two-hour private lesson on the gentle slopes near the base, which is enough to get you sliding and stopping on easy terrain. If you enjoy it, book a few days of lessons, or a proper course.

1. Rent skis, boots and poles in Gulmarg, and check the boots fit and the bindings work before you pay.
2. Book an instructor: a half-day group lesson or a two-hour private lesson.
3. Stay on the beginner slopes on day one; move up to Kongdoori once you can turn and stop confidently.
4. Ski in the morning, when the snow is firm and the slopes are quiet.

Gulmarg skiing price: what a ski day costs

Skiing in Gulmarg costs a fraction of a ski trip abroad. A complete beginner day, with both Gondola phases, rental and lunch, averages about ₹3,000 to ₹4,500. Lessons are extra.

• Clothing: if you have no ski jacket, trousers, gloves and goggles, rent them in Gulmarg or at Tangmarg on the way up.
• Helmets: rent one, especially for children and beginners.

Learning properly: IISM ski courses

For a structured course, the Indian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering (IISM) in Gulmarg, set up in 1969 by the Department of Tourism and the Government of India, runs subsidised ski courses in winter. Its basic snow skiing course has typically run for 14 days and included accommodation, meals, instruction and ski equipment, at fees far below private lessons for the same time.

As of late September 2026, IISM's website lists its summer and autumn 2026-27 courses (booking opened on 14 July 2026), but not yet the winter ski course dates and fees. Places are first come, first served, so watch iismgulmarg.in and book as soon as the winter courses open.

Snowboarding, off-piste and heli-skiing

• Snowboarding: boards can be rented in Gulmarg, and the same instructors often teach both.
• Off-piste: Apharwat's off-piste terrain is serious and avalanche-prone. Go only with a qualified guide, and check the daily backcountry avalanche advisory for Gulmarg, a service provided by the J&K Tourism Department.
• Heli-skiing: Kashmir Heliski runs heli-skiing from Gulmarg for experienced skiers; its 2026 season ran from 23 January to 10 March.

Skiing with children

Gulmarg is a good place for children to try skiing. Book a private instructor for a child rather than a big group, keep sessions short, and rent a helmet. Very young children often have more fun with sledges and snow play on the meadow than on skis. Keep them to Gondola Phase 1 and the beginner slopes; Apharwat, near 4,000 m, is cold, windy and steep.

Gulmarg vs other places to ski in India

Gulmarg is the biggest and highest ski area in India, and the only one with a gondola reaching close to 4,000 m. Other places to learn include Pahalgam, where the Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering and Winter Sports at Nunwan runs courses, and Manali, where the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports offers basic skiing courses near Solang. For snow depth, terrain and the range of slopes, Gulmarg is the first choice for most skiers.

Be realistic about what to expect. Gulmarg is not a European resort: there are few lifts beyond the Gondola and the Kongdoori chairlift, rental gear is often old, and services are simpler. What you get instead is deep snow, huge mountains and prices far below any resort abroad.

Getting there and staying

Gulmarg is about 50 to 56 km from Srinagar. In snow, only 4x4s and cars with chains can drive the last 13 km from Tangmarg; our Srinagar to Gulmarg guide has the route, taxis and chains rule.

Stay close to the Gondola so you can walk to the slopes in ski boots; our Gulmarg guide covers where to stay and eat.

What to pack for skiing in Gulmarg

Staying safe on the slopes

• Stay within your level: beginners belong on the beginner slopes; Apharwat is for experienced skiers.
• Watch the weather: after heavy snow the J&K Disaster Management Authority issues avalanche warnings; follow them.
• Altitude: Apharwat is close to 4,000 m. Spend your first night in Srinagar, move slowly and drink water.

When and where snow falls, and how cold it gets, are in our guide to snowfall in Kashmir.