If you are an adventure junkie and are looking for a fun-filled break, Gulmarg offers a host of Winter Sports to pump up your adrenaline and have you panting for more.
Best Gulmarg winter sports to enjoy this year
Gulmarg, the meadow of flowers, is one of Asia’s premier hill resorts for its legendary beauty, prime location and the range of choices it offers to visitors. Famous for its exquisite valleys, gorgeous streams, fascinating slopes for every sort of skiing and hiking, Gulmarg is also home to one of the highest golf courses in the world.
Gulmarg is equally most sought after place in summers as well as in winters for, it offers myriad choices during summers like greenery and flower beds all around, with beautiful lakes, sublime valleys and Gulmarg gondola. During winters, the place is thronged by tourists for its snowy slopes where skiing is done.
Gondola Cable Car system in Gulmarg.
Where is Gulmarg located?
Gulmarg is a hill station located in the Baramulla district in Jammu and Kashmir. It is situated at an altitude of 2730 metres above sea level. The literal translation of Gulmarg is a ‘Meadow of flowers’. It was earlier called ‘Gaurimarg’ by the shepherds there, as a mark of their obeisance to Goddess Parvati.
King Yousuf Shah Chak of the Chak dynasty, who was a regular visitor of the place, was fascinated by the grassy slopes and wildflowers there, gave it the name Gulmarg.
Gulmarg
Gulmarg is nestled among the stunning peaks in the Himalayan ranges. This scenic hill resort is said to be a hot favourite among prominent people for ages. It is said that this scenic hill station was a pleasure resort for kings as well as their family members.
It was also a summer retreat for the British officers during British rule in India. It is also believed that the Mughal Emperor Jehangir was so besotted by the flowers he saw there, that he went on a collecting spree and managed to collect 21 different types of flowers from here.
The beauty of Gulmarg lies in its natural scenic surroundings. The spectacular scenes that a tourist can soak his eyes on are snow-clad mountains, beautiful landscapes and flowering gardens.
Temperatures in Gulmarg in winter
The temperature of Gulmarg ranges from -4°C to 11°C in winter and this place receives heavy snowfall during the season, thus making it the ideal spot for snow sports. Gulmarg offers a host of other snow sports at this time of the year.
The most popular among the tourists is riding a sledge and being pulled along the snow-covered roads or gentler slopes. Tobogganing also does not require any skill – a flat wooden board is taken up the hill and then allowed to slide downhill.
Snowboarding, another exciting winter sport, is also being introduced and promoted here. Making a snowman and holding campfires around it amidst music and feasting is another popular activity indulged by the tourists. Skiing, tobogganing, snowboarding and heli-skiing are some of the few winter sports which are popular here.
Let’s take a brief look at a few winter sports that can be enjoyed in Gulmarg.
Heli-skiing:
Gulmarg is the only place in Asia that has a heli-skiing resort. The sport of heli-skiing involves being dropped down by a helicopter on the summit of a high, snow-covered peak and thereafter skiing down the slopes. Although this sport has some elements of risk, the thrill experienced here is unbeatable.
Heliskiing takes place on the slopes of Mount Apharwat. The trip to Mount Apharwat is an adventure in itself as it can only be accessed by a cable-car system called Gondola. Incidentally, it is one of the longest and highest cable cars in Asia considering its height of 3979 metres.
Tobogganing:
One of the popular sports, tobogganing does not require any specific skill and can be tried by all. The sport involves just descending from the top of a hill on a Toboggan (wooden board).
Rides on snow sledges are being replaced by rides on snow scooters. Even snow bobbing is popular here as it does not require any specific skill.
It is because of this wide variety of winter sports available that it is called as the Heartland of Winter Sports by CNN.
Gondola Ride:
Asia’s largest and highest and world’s second-largest and second-highest cable car project, Gulmarg Gondola is the top attraction in Gulmarg. This must-do activity in Gulmarg is perfect for family vacationers, romantic couples as well as adventurers seeking to get to the top of the mountain for the best skiing experience (in winter). The scenic views of mountains and valleys during the cable car ride are also unforgettable and unmatched.
Winter Hikes:
Hiking is also one of the best things to do in Gulmarg. You would not be able to resist the magical charm of the mountains in Gulmarg. The breath-taking sight of the Alpather Lake comes as the perk of one of the trekking journeys.
What to pack for a trip to Gulmarg in the winter?
When you are already planning such a thrilling adventure trip, why should you lag behind in its preparations? Here are a few essentials which will make you well equipped for your travel as well as snow sports. Although you can rent the gear for your snow sports, you can also take your own stuff if you are a frequent adventure traveller.
The basic essentials for these snow sports are ski boots, ski racks, ski bags, ski clothing, ski goggles and helmets, ski socks, ski gloves and ski boots.
Apart from this, considering the weather, what you need to pack for an adventure trip to Gulmarg is warm clothes such as thermals and clothes which cover from top to toes such as Waterproof pants, full sleeved shirts and men’s and women’s jackets. Being fully clothed and covered is essential to bear the winter temperature of -4°C to 11°C.
Check out Kosha’s winter wear collection here!
Explore the Heartland of Winter Sport with Kosha Travel Wear.
Outerwear like puffer jackets, parkas or a coat
As there will be heavy snowfall during winters in Gulmarg we need to carry waterproof jackets to keep us warm as well as comfortable to move out and enjoy the weather. Kosha’s puffer fleece jacket, parkas or coat are a unique blend of reliable warmth and lightweight wear-ability.
Check the Fleece lined puffer jacket for men here and parkas here
Check the Fleece lined puffer jacket for women here and parkas here
Sweaters and Pullovers
After the base layer sweaters or pullovers are the second layer on your body which will keep you warm and will look stylish as well. The regular fit of the sweaters or pullover allows it to be worn over a shirt or t-shirt & can level up as a mid-layer for extra warmth.
Kosha’s sweater for men and pullovers here
Kosha’s sweater for women and pullovers here
Base layers
A good base layer is a great asset for anyone who loves winter sports. The base layer, which is worn under your regular clothes keeps you warm and dry. But we have all been there at some point in time when you had to compromise between feeling warm or feeling sweaty.
Since we are engaging in winter sports, it is also necessary to make sure that the base layer is lightweight and does not make you feel uncomfortable or stop you from enjoying the experience.
Check out base layers for men here
Check out base layers for women here
Woollen bottoms – Snow Pants
For your big winter adventure, trip and winter sports activities you will need a jacket that is lightweight, breathable and waterproof.
Check out our hardshell waterproof ski jacket for men here and for women here
Check out our hardshell waterproof ski pants for men here and for women here
Warm accessories
In winter, to look stylish and keep you warm you’ll need some accessories like beanies, caps, scarves, mufflers, ear cuffs and leg warmers.
All weather merino wool accessories
You can check out merino wool accessories for men here.
You can check out merino wool accessories for women here.
Warm shoes or boots
You’ll need boots that are waterproof, comfortable and lightweight and very stylish for cold winter days. Feet are the important part of the body which needs to keep warm as you’re gonna walk, do activities and enjoy the snow.
You can check out winter boots for men here | For women here.
Warm socks
The socks will keep your feet odour free for a longer time. The merino wool sock will keep you warm an extra layer inside the socks which will keep your feet soft and pain-free with its superior quality.
Check out Kosha’s socks for men here
Check out Kosha’s socks for women here
Importance of layering and how to stay warm in Gulmarg in winter
Proper layering techniques can help you make the most of your cold weather clothing and prevent dangerous exposure. It does this by helping maintain your core body heat and by protecting you from cold air and freezing snow.
When working outside in cold weather months (or when working in a cold storage facility), a good rule of thumb is to use three layers: an inner layer for wicking moisture away from your body, a middle layer to insulate you from the cold, and an outer layer that acts as a barrier between you and the elements.
Inner layers are your base layers, middle layers are your shirt or sweaters and outer layers are your jackets which are windproof and waterproof.
Is Gulmarg worth visiting? When is the best time to visit Gulmarg?
Gulmarg’s proximity to the state capital Srinagar makes it one of the most popular hill resorts for tourists. It is located just 52 kms away from Srinagar in the Pir Panjal Mountain range.
The best time to visit Gulmarg is during the peak season which starts with the snowfall in December and lasts until March and at times till April depending on the weather. It is not that Gulmarg is only enjoyed during the winter, it can be also enjoyed during the summer with activities such as horse riding and playing golf.
Incidentally, Gulmarg houses one of the world’s highest green golf courses, situated at an altitude of 9000 feet above sea level and is one of the longest in India with a stretch of 7000 yards.
Many Bollywood films such as ‘Yeh Jaawani Hai Deewani’ and ‘Jab Tak Hain Jaan’ have been shot here to capture their picturesque beauty. Gulmarg plays host to an annual Gulmarg Winter Music and Adventure Festival in March. This has been organised in an attempt to promote culture and local artists.
You can’t miss visiting a destination that has received an award for being the best ski destination by CNN International – a destination beyond skier’s imagination. During the winter months, it is all happening at the world-famous ski resort 56 km South-West of Srinagar.
You will watch heli-skiers sliding down from the mountain peaks, kids sloping it along on the baby slope, burly boys running in shorts for rugby thrill on the beaten snow while the artists turn the atmosphere musical under sub-zero temperature at the wonderful natural setting of sprawling snow meadows at Gulmarg.
The powder snow at an altitude of above 14000-feet high on the Pir Panjal range attracts adventure lovers from across the world. The resort is also famous because of its “Gulmarg Gondola” ropeway project. The ropeway connects the bowl-shaped Kongdoori valley with Afarwat. It’s the world’s highest cable car using gondolas and the only one in the world that takes skiers and tourists to a height of 4,390 m.
Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir won the maximum number of medals in the second edition of the Khelo India Winter national Games that just concluded at Gulmarg, in J&K in February 2021. They won 11 gold, 18 silver and 5 bronze to finish with a tally of 34 medals.
More than 1000 athletes from various parts of the country participated in the mega five-day event, which was inaugurated on Friday by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It was also announced that the third edition of the Khelo India WInter Games has also been allocated to Gulmarg.
Athletes from 27 states and Union Territories will converge on the snow-bound slopes of Gulmarg during the event to compete in different categories of sports. Athletes from the Indian Army and the Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering and Winter Sports will also participate in the event.
The prominent sports activities, which will be the hallmark of the winter games, include snowshoe race, ice skating, ice hockey, skiing, Nordic ski, snowboarding, ski mountaineering and ice stock, etc.
The event is being organised by the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in collaboration with the J&K Sports Council and the Winter Games Association of J&K.
Other additional attractions are a short film festival, Flea market and of course, Kashmiri food! With so much to offer, isn’t it about time you start planning an adventure trip to Gulmarg?
Still not sure about what layers to get for your cold-weather needs? Let us help you with the right layers! Call us / WhatsApp us at+91 9820999006 between 11am & 6pm IST Mondays to Saturdays.
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This blog article is updated by Kosha Team Member – Pallavi Kokane