Nature is a beautiful gift of the almighty and Gulmarg is a perfect example of that! Did you hear about it? If not then you, my friend, are missing out on life itself. Nestled in the vicinity of the Himalayan state of Jammu & Kashmir, lies a beautiful bequest of the glory of Mother Nature, Gulmarg! Thi quaint little place serves as a perfect recluse to both the adventurous and the peaceful. Such is its beauty!
The small town called Gulmarg is located in the Pin Panjal range of the gargantuan Himalayan Mountains. The eloquent name was preceded by the term called Gauri Marg, derived from the term “Gouri Marg” which means the path of “Devi Gauri”, the local deity. It is a must for any mountain lover to visit this place once, check out the top places to visit in Gulmarg, bask in its pleasant Himalayan weather, or embark on adventures across its wilderness.
It has a rich history and is a significant mark stone in the collective history of India. It has seen wars waged between nations as well as witnessed the fury of Mother Nature. The British used it as a retreat during the extreme summers of the Indian plains. Emperor Jahangir was an admirer and had personal gardens built in the area during his reign in the Mughal Empire. So, it is a piece of history and is a must-visit for any avid explorer.
The attractions are many in this Himalayan town so are adventure sports. The name “Gulmarg” meaning meadow of flowers truly lives up to its name. The area is filled with excellent views of the glorious Himalayas and the scenic beauty is a must-watch. In order to help the traveler in you, we have made the task easy and have compiled a cohesive list of top things to do and place to visit in Gulmarg.
It can work as your authentic source or guide to explore the beauty and offerings of this amazing place and come back with memories worth remembering.
The infamous Gulmarg Gondola is not just popular for its name but its feat as well! It is the world’s highest operating cable car at a height of approximately 13,000 ft. The views from the cars are just out of this world. You can’t take your eyes from the terrain and the nearby Apharwat peak. It is incredibly beautiful to experience Gulmarg! It was built by a French firm, Pomagalski and can ferry 600 people at a time! There are two separate stages of the cable line. One transfers from Gulmarg at 2600 meters to Kongdoori at 3080 meters while the other transfers to a height of 4200 meters (13,800 ft) at the Apharwat Peak. In short, you cannot miss the Gulmarg Gondola if you’re in the region!
The Gulmarg Biosphere Reserve is undoubtedly one of the best places to visit in Gulmarg. The idea of exploration around its rich biodiversity and witness various species of flora and fauna is in itself an exciting thought. You need to visit this place once if you love wildlife and plan to explore the Himalayan wilderness. The ecosystem is a paradise for ornithologists as one cannot absolutely avoid the scenic question that arises before oneself, the variety of birds! You can find the endangered Musk Deer here along with other animals like Hangul, Leopard, Brown Bear, Black Bear and Red Fox. One can also see birds like Griffon Vulture, Blue Rock Monal, Snow Cock, Kashmir Roller, etc.
Alpather Lake is an excellent attraction for anyone keen to explore the best beauties of Gulmarg. It is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful lakes in Jammu & Kashmir and is located at a distance of 13 km from Gulmarg. It is an ideal destination for photography enthusiasts and you can also hop on a pony to explore the area! Now, how cool is that!
Nallah and it is ideal for people to look for what is great in these places. You can sit and watch the downstream or take a freezing bath in its ice-cold water, which we highly not recommend.
The Shiva temple of Gulmarg is a quaint old temple of Lord Shiva and was the royal temple of the Dogra dynasty, the last monarchy of the state of Jammu & Kashmir. It is serene and peaceful and is a dreamer’s paradise. It is frequented by devotees throughout the years sparing the winters. If you’re in Gulmarg, you need to visit this place once!
If you’re religious and plan to visit the holy places around Gulmarg then Baba Reshi’s shrine is a must-see. Nestled in the calm of the mountains, this shrine was built in 1480 and was dedicated in the name of Baba Reshi, a Muslim saint who stayed and prayed in this beautiful valley. The old-world Kashmiri architecture is excellent and you cannot take your eyes off the craftsmanship of medieval era artists and sculptures.
Indicating the perfect diversity of India, Gulmarg is home to some ancient European art as well! Saint Mary’s Church is a particularly attractive destination in Gulmarg and represents 20th Century Victorian architecture. The location is beautiful, to say the least, and one has to actually visit this place in order to get a proper idea! It is a memory of our British heritage and will make you reflect on your roots and the legacy of your land! It is open every day throughout the year from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Last but not least, the Children’s Park in Gulmarg undoubtedly makes the list to top places to visit in Gulmarg. The beautiful meadows and green pastures with ponies is nothing short of a child’s wonderland. Its dreamy beauty is perfectly accentuated with various rides for kids including live pony rides! If you want to explore the mountain lands and have children then this is the place that you should seek.
If you’re an adventure junkie and are in Gulmarg then you are lucky, my friend. From Skiing on the snowy mountain slopes to rafting on the vicious mountain rivers, Gulmarg can fulfill daily dose of adrenaline rush to its fullest. The places are filled with adventure sports of all kinds including bungee jumping and paragliding. You can explore the various options and embark on the true spirit of all of them!
It is nothing short of a true Paradise for the adventure seeker, the nomadic mountain lover, the passionate explorer. However, abiding by the rules and taking proper precautionary measures is highly advised to stay out of risky situations. Also, you can take amazing treks around its valleys or explore the Himalayan motorways on bikes of your choice. The options of joy are endless and you cannot get out of the ethos of this place!
Gulmarg also has a large golf course for cleaner sports in life that you may want to engage yourself in! The large green pasture is ideal to spend a morning striking shots and scoring big. At an altitude of 2,650 m, it is the highest green golf course in the world. The Gulmarg Golf Club was started in 1911 by the British who used the place as a holiday resort. The origin of Gulmarg as the golfing center goes back to the late 19th century when a 6-hole course was made in 1890-91 by Colonel Neville Chamberlain.
If you’re not an avid golfer and just want to try your hand at the sport as a vacation spirit, the club has trainers and guides to help you with that as well! Now, how about a cool golf lesson on your vacation?
Gulmarg is a wonder of nature that will make you think about the gifts of the creator and the attributes of his creation. It is an adventurer’s dreamland and an explorer’s paradise. You just cannot miss the experience and the chance to see the top places to visit in Gulmarg. It is undoubtedly one of the best experiences of the Himalayas, one that you can visit with your friends as well as family.
Take that trip to Gulmarg and make memories for a lifetime. We can promise that the love for this place will compel you to keep returning for more. We know because we have been through the same. Its feel is endless and its experiences are evergreen, one that attracted the mightiest of our Kind. It is a fable of our rich history as well, making us remember our heritage and our glorious as well as not-so-glorious past. It has seen the making of a nation and has witnessed the conflict of historical races! Gulmarg is a jewel on our gigantic crown!