Gulmarg Hill Station

Gulmarg, a beautiful hill station that lies at a distance of 56 kilometers from Srinagar, Kashmir, is among the most favorite holiday destinations.
The word "Gul" means flowers, and hence the name Gulmarg stands for "a meadow of flowers". This is an apt description for this hill station, as a trip to this land will transport one to a beautiful world of flowers. Flowers that bloom here include bluebells, daisies, forget-me-nots and buttercups. Gulmarg is located in the Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir at an altitude of 2730 meters above sea level. The snow-capped peaks add to the grandeur of the land.

Gulmarg's green golf courses and the gondola lift are very popular tourist attractions. The beautiful and panoramic 18-hole golf course that is situated at a height of 2,650 meters above the sea level offers tourists a temporary membership. If one does not want to actually play the game, he can admire the spectacular lush green land slopes that incline gradually. The newly constructed Gondola lift offers a ride high above the mountains and pine-clad slopes of the region and provides for an attractive view of Gulmarg. Tourist places like Khilamarg, Kongdori and seven springs offer enjoyable rides on pony from Gulmarg. A little below Gulmarg, one comes across the holy shrine of Baba Reshi, a Muslim Saint.

In winter, the stunning Gulmarg turns into a skiing resort. Khilanmarg is an important skiing center. The skiing season commences in December and goes on till the month of April. The most favorite tourist sports here include Skiing, Trekking and Heliskiing. Heliskiing is where a helicopter takes one to the chosen peak from where one can choose his own descent route. Gulmarg also acts as a trekking base for those who trek to the Pir Panjal Range, Nanga Parbat and Khilanmarg. Gulmarg offers facilities for hiring trekking equipment and local guides. The places to see in Gulmarg are the picturesque Gulmarg Biosphere Reserve and the Alpather Lake. The Gulmarg biosphere reserve offers one of the most attractive wildlife tour packages and the Alpather Lake is a beautiful lake at the base of the Apharwat Mountain. It remains frozen till the month of June. The Alpather Lake and the melting snow and ice from the Apharwat Mountain form the Ningli Nallah, which is also one of the prime tourist attractions for those who travel to Gulmarg.