The 2-day food and snow festival is starting in Gulmarg from February 2. New for this year, the festival will be held near the base station of world’s highest Gondola, in tented accommodations, so that skiers can participate as soon as their last run off the mountain concludes.
The festival will include night skiing, snowboarding, ice-skiing, snow-cycling and international food festival. Its widely believed that the quality of snow and the slopes at Phase 2 surpasses those in Europe and North America
The food festival will give an opportunity to savour traditional Kashmiri cuisine like Wazwaan, Harissa, Masala, fish and Kashmiri snacks. This year, also expect some Italian and Russian dishes, sponsored by tour operators from other countries. According to Carin Jodha Fischer, tourism consultant to J&K Tourism Department, compared to the last two years, everything at Gulmarg has improved in terms of infrastructure. Apparently the tarrif for the Gandola ride has been reduced, its been running on time and snow removal has been better. Advance bookings for accomodations are always better, especially to guard against unexpected arrival of domestic tourists.
J&K Cycling Association is expected to organize snow cycling event on the first day of the 2-day festival.
Srinagar, Jan 31: The annual inter-college snow skiing championship for boys, organized by the Directorate of Physical Education and Sports, Kashmir University, concluded at Gulmarg yesterday.
Thirty skiers representing colleges of Tral, Islamabad, Pulwama, Sopur, Bemina, Varmul, Islamia, Gandhi Memorial, Amar Singh, Sri Pratap, Government Medical College and other post-graduate departments of Kashmir University participated in the event.
Earlier a 15-day coaching camp was organized by the Directorate for the participants. The students were trained in basic, intermediate and advance courses.
First ever Srinagar district Zam Zam Ski Cup was organized in Gulmarg in which 60 expert skiers participated.
The cup was organised by District Srinagar Winter Games Association (DSWGA) under the patronage of Tourism Department Kashmir, Jammu Kashmir Winter Games Association and Gulmarg Development Authority (GDA) on the slopes of Gulmarg.
The festival was postponed to Feb 3 and 4, and its also un-reliably learnt that its been postponed to Feb 5 and 6.
Official reason is apparently less snow and then death of former President of India – but some say it could be due to unavailability of someone from the new Government (CM?) to declare it open!