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Gulmarg literally means &Meadow of
flower s&. Gulmarg is located 60 KMs away from Srinagar which is an
hour and half journey by car. Gulmarg has attracted millions of
tourists throughout its existence with the scenic beauty of the
Himalayan Mountains in the back drop. One of the main attractions
in Gulmarg is the Gulmarg Gondola, the Highest Cable Car in the
world. The 1st phase of the Gondola takes tourists to the height
of 8530 ft to Kongdori Station and the second stage of the Gondola
goes up to the height of 12293 ft. Tourists can enjoy horse Riding
and can go riding to the magnificent &Strawberry Valley& ,
Leopards Valley and ride up to & Kongdori & to see the frozen lake
of &Al- Pathar&. Gulmarg in winter is a magnificent experience,
fully covered in a white blanket of Snow which turns it into a
skiers paradise. The natural slopes here are untouched and prove
to be a challenge to ace skiers! Besides the scenic side to
Gulmarg, winter time in Gulmarg is a season of festivities with
celebrations of &White Christmas& and New Year parties.
Tourist Attractions in Gulmarg
The gorgeous hill resort of Gulmarg is dotted with various places
of interest like Khilanmarg, Alpather Lake, Wular Lake and
Manasbal Lake.
Gondola
Gulmarg Gondola is one of the most prominent attractions of the
world famous resort of Gulmarg. It is the only cable car system in
Asia which tr avels up a height of 13,500 feet above sea level. The
Gondola was designed in technical collaboration with a French
Company PUMA and is operated by the JKCCC (Jammu and Kashmir Cable
Car Corporation). The Gondola operates in two phases, PHASE 1 and
PHASE 2.
Each Gondola is a small yellow colored cabin with space for 6
adults. The cabins are slung on high tensile strength cables which
move continuously. The Gondolas have two stops, where they slow
down to enable Embarking and Disembarking of Tourists.
Phase 1.
Phase 1 Gondola carries people to a height of 10,000 feet above
sea level from Gulmarg to Seven Springs Kangdori. The journey is
an exhilarating 15 minutes among tall pine trees and looming
mountains. Fare is Rs.200 per adult passenger.
Phase 2:
Phase 2 is the recently completed stage opened in May 2005. It
carries the passengers to a scary 13,500 feet above sea level to
Alpanther. The journey is of 25 minutes, ascending steeply to the
rocky mountain peak. The Gondola occasionally travels above the
clouds. The fare is Rs. 500 for adults. WARNING: Patients of Heart
Disease, Respiratory in-sufficiency and children below 5 are not
allowed. Also the weather can be chilling at any time of the year
so Tourists are advised to carry along warm clothings.
Khilanmarg
Khilanmarg is
 the famous spot for skiing in winters. From Khilanmarg, you can enjoy the views of the Kashmir valley and the
Himalayan range. It takes a couple of hours by pony, to reach
Kilanmarg as it is slightly longer on foot.
Alpather Lake
The Alpather Lake is a picturesque alpine lake that remains frozen
until late June. The lake lies across the Apharwat peak. The
adventure tourists can take the one-day and thirteen km trip to
the Alpather Lake from Gulmarg.
Wular Lake
The Wular Lake is situated on the route from Gulmarg to Srinagar
on Baramula Road at Sangrama. The Wular lake is the largest
fresh-water lake in Kashmir and the second largest in India. It
looks like the Genevo Lake of Switzerland. It has a beautiful
setting, with Haramuk Mountain at its head. The sunset at the lake
is breathtaking.
How to reach here
By Air: The nearest airport is located in Srinagar about 57 km
from Gulmarg. Regular flights connect Srinagar with the other
major cities in India.
By Rail: The nearest railway station is located in Jammu.
By Road: Gulmarg is well connected by road with Srinagar, Pahalgam,
Sonamarg, Jammu and various other cities of Jammu and Kashmir
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