Srinagar to Gulmarg Distance: Route, Time, Taxi, Bus and Winter Chains (2026-27)

Srinagar to Gulmarg distance and travel time

Gulmarg is about 50 to 56 km from Srinagar by road, depending on where in the city you start, and the drive takes about 1.5 to 2 hours in normal conditions. The route runs west out of the city through Parimpora to Tangmarg, then climbs the last 13 km through pine forest to Gulmarg. In snow, allow extra time at Tangmarg, where cars without 4x4 have chains fitted.

The route: Srinagar, Parimpora, Tangmarg, Gulmarg

Leaving Srinagar, the road passes Parimpora and heads west across the valley floor, through apple orchards and villages, to Tangmarg, the gateway town at the foot of the hills. From Tangmarg the road starts climbing in bends through pine and fir forest, and the views open up as you go. In winter this is the fun part: for us, the ride up with chains tied to the tyres, and the snow and the views at every bend, is one of the best parts of the whole day.

• Drung Waterfall: about 3 km from Tangmarg, a short detour that freezes into a wall of ice in the depth of winter.
• Baba Reshi shrine: the shrine of a revered Sufi saint, below Gulmarg, often visited on the way up or down.
• Tangmarg market: the place to rent snow boots and jackets in winter, and where chains go on the car.

By taxi: the easiest way

A taxi is the simplest way to go, either as a same-day return trip or a one-way drop if you are staying the night. Typical fares for a day trip run from about ₹3,000 for a sedan to ₹3,700 for an SUV. Agree before you leave whether the fare includes waiting time in Gulmarg and any stops, such as Drung.

One rule catches many visitors out. Taxis from Srinagar can drop you at your Gulmarg hotel, but they are not allowed to run local sightseeing inside Gulmarg. For trips around Gulmarg, such as the outer circuit, Baba Reshi or Drung, you hire from the Gulmarg Taxi Union stand, which works to posted rates.

By bus or shared taxi: the budget way

There is no direct bus with a fixed timetable. You take a minibus to the Parimpora bus stand, a bus from there to Tangmarg, and another for the last stretch up to Gulmarg. Buses leave when they are full, so the whole trip can take 5 to 6 hours, for about ₹200 to ₹300 in total. Shared taxis follow the same route faster, for about ₹500 per person. Both are fine for backpackers in summer; with luggage, children or in snow, a taxi is far easier.

Srinagar to Gulmarg in winter: chains and 4x4s

From December to March the last 13 km from Tangmarg is often covered in snow and ice. 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, and vehicles with more than 10 seats are not allowed up. Registered vendors fit chains in the allotted parking at Tangmarg.

• Rent gear at Tangmarg: snow boots and jackets are rented here on the way up.
• Bring spare clothes: our one rule for Gulmarg in snow: an extra pair of clothes and shoes that can handle snow.
• Come down before dark: the road ices over after sunset; plan to be back in Tangmarg in daylight.
• Check the road: look at the J&K Traffic Police updates on jktrafficpolice.in on the morning you drive.

Driving yourself, or travelling as a group

You can drive your own car or a rental to Gulmarg. In summer it is an easy drive; in winter, the same rules apply to you as to taxis: in snow only 4x4s and cars fitted with anti-skid chains may go up from Tangmarg, and the chains are fitted there by registered vendors. If you have never driven on snow and ice, leave the car at Tangmarg and take a local 4x4 for the last 13 km.

Travelling as a big group? The SDM Gulmarg's winter orders allow only light vehicles with no more than 10 seats on the Tangmarg to Gulmarg road, so a large tempo traveller or a bus may have to stop at Tangmarg in winter, and the group then goes up in smaller local vehicles. Check this with your operator before you book.

Can you go to Gulmarg by train?

Not all the way. The nearest railway station to Gulmarg is Baramulla, about 53 km away, on the Kashmir valley line that runs through Srinagar. For most visitors staying in Srinagar, a taxi is far simpler than a train to Baramulla followed by a taxi up. If you are arriving in Kashmir by the Vande Bharat at Srinagar, take a taxi from the station straight to Gulmarg.

Day trip or stay the night?

In summer a day trip works well: leave Srinagar early, take the Gondola, walk the meadow and be back for dinner. In winter it is worth staying at least one night in Gulmarg instead. The drive, the chains and the queues eat into a short winter day, and staying lets you take an early Gondola slot and try skiing, even for a morning.

• For the Gondola: the forenoon slot runs from about 8 am to noon, so leave Srinagar early enough to reach the base station on time.

Where to stay, what to do and what to pack are in our Gulmarg guide.

Book your slot on the official portal first; fares and slot times are in our Gulmarg Gondola guide.

Going straight from the airport

If you land in Srinagar in the morning, you can drive straight from the airport to Gulmarg, about 54 km, without going into the city. It saves time on a short trip, but in winter it is better to spend your first night in Srinagar: it is lower, and it lets your body adjust before you go up to 2,650 m and the Gondola beyond.

For flights, the Vande Bharat and the highway into Kashmir, see how to reach Kashmir.