Gulmarg: Paradise on Earth.
Introduction (A Glance)
Gulmarg is a beautiful hill station located in Jammu and Kashmir, India. Just as its name suggests it is undoubtedly a flower strewn meadow. The town is about 3.6 kilometres’ long and about 1 kilometre wide. It is covered mostly with green grassy slopes with a few cottages scattered around the area. Its divine beauty and its location close to Srinagar has captivated many a mind and makes it one of the best and preferred hill stations in India. Gulmarg is primarily known for its natural beauty and also as a summer retreat for many emperors who once ruled India in the past and also the British. Gulmarg was originally called ‘Gaurimarg’ by the locals and the shepherds. It was later sometime in the 16th century when it was renamed to Gulmarg by the then ruler Sultan Yusuf Shah who was touched and inspired by the beautiful grassy slopes and wild flowers that adorned the place.
The town of Gulmarg had witnessed heavy militancy in the 90’s, but after the peace treaty between India and Pakistan in 2003, the town has been experiencing a peaceful and quiet time. Gulmarg is nestled between the great Himalayas close to the line of control also called the LOC. It is located about 56 Kilometres from Srinagar the capital of Jammu Kashmir. The journey to Gulmarg is only half the fun. On reaching there you will find yourself amidst beautiful landscapes, endless expanses of green rice fields with picturesque villages which is just the treat your eyes always craved for. Depending upon the season nature’s colour plays its role. It could be a translucent green during spring, rich emerald in the summers, and a golden hue in the autumns.
How to Reach (Getting There)
The best way to get to Gulmarg is by taking a flight to Srinagar and hiring either a bus or a taxi from there. There are regular daily flights by the Indian airlines and Jet Airways operating from Mumbai, Delhi and Jammu. Once in Srinagar, tourists can either use the Srinagar road transport cooperation (SRTC) which has frequent bus service to Gulmarg and also to a town called Tangmarg which is about 11 Kilometres from Gulmarg. The remaining distance can be covered by either hiring a taxi or a local jeep. You also have taxis from Srinagar that will take you to Gulmarg. On the way from Tangmarg to Gulmarg, at one point also commonly called as the View point you can stop for a few minutes to watch the spectacle of snow covered mountains peaks of the Himalayan range surrounded by gorgeous deep valleys.
Tourist Destinations (Attractions)
This beautiful town is at its best all year round, but it is at its mighty splendour only in the winters which is normally between November and February. Gulmarg is not just another mountain resort, it is supposed to be the highest golf course resort in the world of exceptional beauty. Situated at an altitude of 2680 meters above sea level, it just happens to also be the country’s prime and the only ski resort in the winter. The mystic beauty of the place is such that it has inspired many kings and emperors who have ruled India in the past. It is also said that Gulmarg was a favourite destination of Emperor Jahangir who once collected 21 different varieties of wild flowers from the beautiful grass lands.
This is the perfect place for one to have a relaxing holiday and get the chance to set pace with nature and laze around. You can go on long walks or treks, play a game of golf, take a pony ride all along the length and breadth of Gulmarg, through the summers. In winters, one can enjoy skiing since the snow covered slopes of Afarwat Hills and the Himalayan chain offers one of the highest and longest ski slopes in Asia. The distance covered by the ski lift is a whooping five kilometres, and the ski resort peaks to an altitude of 12300 feet or 3750 meters accessed only by a telecabine or also commonly called as an aerial gondola. The ski project was inaugurated only recently by the chief minister of Kashmir on the eve of Christmas 2004. The famed ski resort attracts skiers from all around the world; therefore security is the biggest concern. The hill is guarded by the Indian army all the time without bothering the tourists. For additional safety and security everyone excepting the hotel employees and guests are required to leave Gulmarg before sunset. This is one reason why this little village does not have any permanent residents.
Apart from skiing, Gulmarg is most famous for its golf course. The Gulmarg golf club is been in existence for over hundred years. One can imagine the kind of records the club may hold for this long. Normally you would only have permanent members visiting the club, but the club also accommodates temporary members with the payment of a daily fee to play all 18 holes on a beautiful course which is well maintained by the State tourism department to meet industry standards and quality making it one of the best courses in Asia. However, only a limited supply of golfing gear is available for hire.
Sledging and horse riding are other activities tourists can involve themselves with. Horse riding is considered one of the best activities since one can watch all the best spots in Gulmarg on a horse back which is definitely a beautiful experience. Sledging is nothing but sitting atop of a wooden board and slide with it down hill making it a thrilling experience. Sledge pullers are always available with their sledges on hire, who would pull you up hill with their sledges and let you slide down the snow covered slopes. Sledging is also commonly called Tobogganing by the locals and since the game requires no skill, all you need is the plank of wood. You can also hire snow scooters or play snow bobbing which again requires no skill.
One of the places you should definitely visit is the Alpather Lake, which is frozen all through the year. The silent icy blue depths surrounded by misty peaks of the Himalayas makes is an ideal treat for the eyes. You can also go on a picnic with your loved one to Ningal nallah and Lienmarg which are both 10 kilometres from Gulmarg. The best way to reach these places is on a horse back making the journey fun and adventurous. The other place you can visit is Tosa Maidan which is a 3 day trek from the village which can again be covered on a horse back.
Hotels and Resorts (The Stay)
Gulmarg has approximately about 40 hotels and restaurants serving guests all year round. The season starts with the beginning of the snowfall towards the end of November and lasts until the beginning of May. But it is a preferred holiday retreat all year round. The charges per night during the off season ranges anywhere between Rs 400/- to Rs 4000/-; the off season rates normally enjoy a discounted price of almost 60% of the actual. Apart from this the Jammu Kashmir tourism department has one, two, three and four bed roomed huts for travellers and tourists alike. The huts are very cozy and inviting with the wooden interiors and sloping roofs giving one the feeling of living with nature. These huts are normally fully furnished with an attached bath and kitchen where you can even hire a gas cylinder for some personal cooking from the tourism office.
So, if you are planning on making a trip to Gulmarg, make sure you are carrying all your travel gear including warm woolly outfits to suit the cold chilly weather. Gulmarg is a place on its own with so much of beauty yet to be unravelled that it has also been mooted to be a possible site for the 2010 Commonwealth Winter games.