Daily Archives: June 19, 2007

Scorching sun in plains rains money for Gulmarg Cable Car

Srinagar, June 11 – The scorching sun in the Indian plains has come handy for the World’s highest Cable Car project at Gulmarg in Kashmir. In just one week, it recorded a turn over of around Rs.7 million.

With mercury soaring in entire north India, thousands of tourists are visiting the Kashmir Valley to escape sweltering conditions even though summer capital Srinagar also witnessed hottest day of the season at 34.4 degrees Celsius Sunday. However, as tourists keep thronging the resort, Gulmarg kept tempers cool with the maximum temperature of just 23 degrees.

‘Besides the bewitching beauty and cool temperatures of Gulmarg, the five kilometre long gondola ride on Gulmarg-Afarwat hills is chief attraction,’ said Farooq Ahmad Shah, Kashmir’s director for tourism.

‘The (Gulmarg) gondola made a revenue of Rs.60 million last year and we have set a target of Rs.100 million this year,’ Shah said.

‘We charge Rs.700 for the entire to and fro ride from Gulmarg to Afarwat Hills and for children below 10 years, the rates are half.’

Gulmarg Gondola is the World’s highest Cable Car at 13,400 feet above the sea level.

‘We are also planning the World’s highest restaurant at Afarwat Hills at 14,000 feet where we have the World’s highest ski point,’ the tourist official said.

Besides the high profile Cable car project, local traders – including the pony-owners who take the tourists on joy rides through the meadows in Gulmarg – are also doing brisk business these days.

‘The place is wonderful and the people here are very courteous. It is a dream vacation for me and my family,’ said Sanjay Kholsa, 46, who has come here with his wife and two kids from Mumbai.

Golf course in Gulmarg

In summer, play on the world’s highest golf course. The 18-hole, par 72 Gulmarg golf course is quite hilly. The golf club itself was built in 1904, by British residents feeling lost without the bare necessities. It also offers table tennis and billiards, should you feel the need for knocking other little balls about. For green fees and rental rates, talk to someone at the J&K TDC (Tel: [91-1954] 254-507, 254-424; www.jktdc.org), which manages the place.

Indian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering

The Indian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering also conducts courses in the Gulmarg area, apart from taking groups out on “adventure courses”, which are basically treks. The institute is not considered one of India’s best, but it’s an option.

IISM is a national institute which has been promoting winter and adventure sports in the Kashmir valley for the last five decades.

Details on 15-day snow ski courses of the Indian Institute of Ski and Mountaineering (IISM) at Gulmarg in 2009:

  • Total courses organized in a year: 5
  • First ski course was held from January 14 to January 27.
  • Second started on January 28 and concluded on February 11.
  • There is a test in which the trainees appear after the end of the course which need to pass to qualify to get certificates.
  • The course stregth is about 40 students of various age groups. Generally there is a huge rush of applicants.
  • The course is three-level, designated as basic, intermediate and advance.
  • Name of some Trainers: Hadeeqa Khurshid, Muhammad Shafi, Tariq Zargar, Feroz Ahmad Khan, Jeelani, Shabir Ahmad Dar
  • Principal: Mr. Khurshid Ahmad Mir
  • Equipment: The institute now sources equipment independent of Tourism department and its own snow scooters, snow beating machines and all the hi-tech gadgets needed for skiing
  • Address: The Principal, Indian Institute Of Skiing & Mountaineering, Gulmarg, J&K

For Skiing courses in the winter of 2009-2010, check this post here:

http://gulmarg.org/calendar-of-five-short-snow-skiing-courses-2009-2010/

    Skiing in Gulmarg

    Gulmarg prides itself as one of the highest lift-served ski resorts in the world. This is laregely due to setting-up of a Gandola Cable Car Lift from Gulmarg to Apharwat top. The first section of the Gandola, from Gulmarg to Kongdori gives a downhill ski run of about 3 kms. In addition, three ski lifts and one chair lift also service the resort, which are suitable for beginners and intermediate-level skiing, respectively.
    The skiing season in Gulmarg usually commences before Christmas (around middle of December) and continues till middle of April. In January-February, 1998 the first National Winter Games of India were held at Gulmarg, for which the facilities were enormously improved and upgraded. The resort acquired two Kasse Bohrer snow beating machines used for preparing skiing slopes, and five snowmobiles, which can be made available for going up the mountain (in reality, would they be??). Good quality equipment, including skis, boots, sticks, gloves and goggles are available on hire on the spot from the Government-run ski and other rental shops. There are also trained instructors available for guiding the tourists. Gulmarg is ideally suited for learning skiing, as it is probably the cheapest ski resort in the world.

    The Tourism department is organizing National Winter games from February 17 to February 22, 2008 at Gulmarg. In which about 500 players are participating.

    The upper gondola (phase 2) to Mt Apherwat is the prime attraction for skiers, hikers. The cable car ascends 1,330 vertical metres to a height of nearly 4,000m. The first phase, from Gulmarg to the Kongdori mid-station 300m above costs Rs100 each way, or Rs500 for the day. Phase 2, to nearly 4,000m at the ridgeline of Mt Apherwat, costs Rs250 each way. A day pass is Rs1,000.

    The gondola operates both during winter and summer, with times when its taken off for planned or unplanned repairs, including for inclement weather. It is possible to hike or take a pony, depending on the season. For the ski season, J&K Tourism (www.jktourism.org) also operates two lifts on the snow-covered golf course in Gulmarg proper. Lifts are about Rs60 for a full day’s use and Rs40 for a half-day.

    You can learn golf for Rs250 a day, which is as low it can get anywhere in the world. Taking lessons is very common for local Kashmiri population. For foreigners www.skihimalaya.com.au conducts some tours that are albeit expensive.

    Sample costs:

    • You can get a government guide for Rs1,000.  
    • Skis and snowboards with bindings cost Rs500 per day; get them cheaper from J&K Tourism’s ski rental shop.
    • Boots, skis and sticks (or board and boots) Rs250 a day.
    • Goggles and gloves for an additional 50 bucks.
    • Discounts at half off for under 12 of age and students