Location: Gulmarg

Duration: 4-5 hours

Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate

About the Activity

Trekking is a blend of hiking and walking activity for the purpose of exploring unexplored destinations, feeling the closeness of nature, admiring the beauty of the breathtaking views that come after your climb at the top of the ridges. Treks may differ from destination to destination but the activity is something one should at least try because once you start trekking, you cannot just stop there. You will be compelled to do more of these treks. It is a multi-day excursion, filled with adventures, serenity, and tranquility. Trekking is not only restricted to climbing mountains or hills, it is much more than that. It offers a sense of perspective and a sense of target that one has to complete no matter how long or how much strength it takes. You set a goal that you have to reach your destination and you do it despite being tired and exhausted. Trekking is like meditation where you can feel your heart pounding and every inch of your skin wanting to stop and just give up but you don’t. Once you reach the point where your trek ends, it will be worth every effort you put in climbing the trail when you witness the intoxicating beauty and spellbinding views.

About Trekking in Gulmarg

Trekking in itself is a fun and thrilling activity full of an adrenaline rush but trekking in Gulmarg, a heaven on Earth, is an all-new and exciting experience as one trek in Gulmarg’s mighty mountains covered with patches of snow. The trek to Khilanmarg starts from Gulmarg, giving you the view of Nun & Kun peaks. It is a 5.5km trek that takes almost 2 hours to complete. Another trek you can try is to the Alpather Lake, trekking along the Lake that is a 13km trek and takes almost 5 hours to complete, thus most people prefer starting this trek in the early morning. A trek from Gulmarg to Drung is a 3km trek, taking 1.5 hours to complete the entire trek. There are plenty of options for trekking and none of the treks are any less exciting than the others. Apart from skiing, trekking is also a very common adventure activity that people prefer.

Gulmarg Weather

• Gulmarg in summers
  • Summers in Gulmarg start from April and stay till June, marking the most pleasant time as the temperatures don’t rise much and the weather remains pleasant. The flowers begin to bloom and Valley flaunts its lush green views. This is the best time for local sightseeing in the region. The maximum temperature in summers is 19℃ and the minimum temperature drops to 2℃.​
• Gulmarg in Monsoon
  • July marks the onset of Monsoon lasting till the month of September. Monsoon in Gulmarg makes the temperature rise by a few degrees instead of dropping. If you want to avoid the tourists’ crowd then the monsoon is the right time for you to plan your trip to Gulmarg as the river and streams begin to sparkle. The maximum temperature in Monsoon is 22℃ and the minimum temperature drops to 10℃.​
• Gulmarg in Winters
• The months between October to March is the season of winter in Gulmarg. Winters in Gulmarg is a completely different experience as most tourists feel that the extremely cold winters are not for them but that is the time when Gulmarg looks stunning as the snow in Gulmarg covers the valley, making it look like a dreamland. The maximum temperature in winters is 15℃ and the minimum temperature drops to -8℃.

Thus the best time to visit Gulmarg is between the months of March to June.

How to Reach Gulmarg

Gulmarg by Air

The Sheikh-Ul Alam International airport in Srinagar is the nearest airport from Gulmarg at a distance of 56km. It is an international airport connecting major cities of the country. There are direct and frequent flights to Srinagar. From the airport, you can hire a taxi or cab and reach Gulmarg. There are several taxis from Srinagar to Gulmarg.

Gulmarg by Train

The nearest railway station from Gulmarg is the Jammu Tawi railway station at a distance of 290km that is connected to major cities. One can hire a taxi or cab from the railway station that will cover the distance and take you to Gulmarg.

Gulmarg by Road

The NH A-1 is the National Highway connecting major cities of India to Gulmarg. Apart from that, several private, as well as government-owned busses to Gulmarg, are available. Sometimes people take their own car and drive to Gulmarg if they don’t live very far away.

Things to Carry

ID Proof: Carry a valid ID proof issued by the government.

Clothing: Warm clothing (Down jacket/fleece jacket, woolen cap/scarf, hat, lowers, woolen & cotton socks, thermal wears), cotton towels, trekking/hiking shoes & other comfortable regular wear.

Toiletries: Lip balm, wet wipes, skin moisturizer, sunscreen.

Medical: Personal medicines (if any), mosquito repellent, prescribed medicines for high altitude sickness, dehydration salt.

Do`s & Don`ts in Gulmarg

Do`s

• Do try at least one of the treks.
• Do take pictures of the picturesque valley.
• Do carry your ID proof at all times.
• Do wear a mask.

Don`ts

• Don’t use isolated paths.
• Don’t buy anything from the locals that you are not supposed to.
• Don’t take fights with anyone.
• Do not litter.