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Gulmarg (elev. 2600 m) is most famous as a destination for powder skiing/snowboarding in winter. The gondola has two phases, the first one leading to Kongdoori at about 3100 m and the second one to Apharwat at around 4200 m. Starting from Kongdoori, a chairlift can take you to a place called Mary’s Shoulder at around 3600 m.

From Kongdoori one can hitch a ride on a snowmobile or a local wooden sledge.

A special activity is the offer of Heliskiing.

Gulmarg also offers ski-lifts for beginners, each about 150 m in length, around the valley station of the gondola. Two of them are located next to the Gulmarg Ski Shop, a government operated ski/snowboard rental. This is another location where you will find plenty of offers for riding on a wooden sledge. Rides on an All-Terrain-Vehicle (ATW/Quad) are also available. Furthermore, there is an ice-skating facility in walking distance, which is operational when the temperatures remain below the freezing point for longer periods of time.

In summer, Gulmarg is nice for walks and hikes, or for taking a gondola ride and enjoying great views in fine weather. Gulmarg also has one of the world’s highest golf courses. Those who like pony riding will find many opportunities for a guided tour. The same applies to the ATWs mentioned earlier.

Kashmir tour: Kashmir has a long history of being admired for the beauty of its landscapes. It has been described both as “Switzerland of the East” and as “Paradise on Earth”. In the past, Moghul emperors enjoyed it and built several gardens around Srinagar that are still a sight today. In the past century, up until the beginnings of insurgency in the early nineties, it was a popular destination for tourists from Europe and other Western countries. With the situation becoming calmer in the past ten years, it has become one of the top tourist destinations for people from all over India, especially in the spring and summer time, where it offers not only mesmerizing landscapes, but also very agreeable temperatures.

Historically, the religious beliefs of Kashmir were strikingly varied. In the 3^rd century BC it turned from a Hindu kingdom into a renowned center of Buddhism, before turning towards Islam in the 13^th/14^th century, mainly through Sufi mystics coming to the valley.

Kashmir has a rich cultural heritage, which is visible in its tradition of different handicrafts, such as paper maché, wood arts, fabrics made of cashmere or pashmina wool, and carpets.  The local cuisine is especially known for offering the famous “Kashmiri Wazwan”, a variety of aromatic, mainly meat-based dishes. A must have drink is the so called “Kahwa”, a sweet tea with saffron and almonds, or “Noon Chai”, a salty, milky, green tea.

Depending on the season in which you are visiting Kashmir, you will be able to see the blossoms of the famous saffron, countless apple trees, almond trees and, last but not least, the traditional walnut trees. The rapeseed fields in the Valley are very colorful during April, the rice fields at harvest season in October.