Gulmarg sits high on Mt. Apharwat, a ski and snowboard resort with over 1,330 vertical meters of skiable terrain. The resort's claim to fame is the Gulmarg Gondola – the highest ski lift in the world, ascending to an elevation of 3,980 meters.
CNN International helped put Gulmarg Ski Resort on the map with a Number 7 ranking for the best ski areas in Asia.
A Brief History of Gulmarg, Kashmir, India
Gulmarg is a small village in the Pir Panjal peaks of India, located at the extreme western edge of 1 of the 6 mountain ranges that form the Himalayan Mountains. Gulmarg was established as a ski resort in 1927 by two British Army officers but was originally a hill station for wealthy tourists looking to beat the summer heat. It was a favorite vacation spot for Mughal kings and later for the British elite during their Indian occupancy.
Phase II of the Gulmarg gondola was added in 2005, which stops just below Mt. Apharwat's summit (4,124 meters), offering additional challenging runs and beautiful views of the Kashmir landscape.
Geography of Gulmarg
Gulmarg is located in India, in the state of Jammu and Kashmir - not far from the India / Pakistan border. Gulmarg's geography makes it an ideal location to ski Himalaya. It's 52 km from Srinagar, Kashmir's state capital. And at an elevation of 2,650 meters, Gulmarg receives some of the heaviest snowfall in the Himalayas.
Gulmarg is translated as "Meadow of Flowers" and is also home to the highest golf course in the world!
Demographics of Gulmarg
Gulmarg has a population of 730 people – 99% of them are male! The state's official language is Urdu, but the main languages spoken are Kashmiri and Dogri. Hindu is spoken as a second language. English is widely spoken in tourist areas, making it easy for English-speaking tourists to ski India.
