Sightseeing in Gulmarg Kashmir Valley

Sightseeing in Gulmarg is all about marvelling at the picturesque scenery, visiting the scenic lake, or paying homage at the famous shrine of a Muslim saint.

Kongdoor-in-Gulmarg

Gulmarg is dotted with beautiful sites that will enthral you in its splendour. A Gondola ride (cable car ride) takes you up to Kongdori to enjoy the magnificent sights of the meadow from the top.

Khilanmarg is the spot for skiing in winters. You must enjoy the views of the Kashmir valley and the Himalayan range from Khilanmarg. It takes a couple of hours by pony, to reach Khilanmarg as it is slightly longer on foot.

Gulmarg-Ice-field-Kashmir

The Alpathar Lake, about 13 km from Gulmarg, is a scenic alpine lake that remains frozen until late June. From Khilanmarg the lake lies across the Apharwat peak. Adventure seekers must take the one-day trip to the Alpathar Lake from Gulmarg.

Also, while in Gulmarg don’t forget to pay your obedience at the famous Shrine of Baba Reshi, a Muslim saint.

Near By Places  in Gulmarg

Khilanmarg is the place near Gulmarg which is also the spot for skiing in winters and a picnic spot in all seasons. You must enjoy the views of the Kashmir valley and the Himalayan range from Khilanmarg. It takes a couple of hours by pony, to reach Khilanmarg as it is slightly longer on foot.

Gandola-Gulmarg-Kashmir

Visit the Gulmarg Biosphere Reserve to witness a whole range of birds and wildlife, especially the musk deer.

Restaurants and eateries in Gulmarg

The restaurants and eateries in Gulmarg serve excellent vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. The food is not only delicious but also hygienic as well. ‘Rogan Josh’ – a traditional non-vegetarian dish, is a must try. For some mouth-watering vegetarian food, Bakshi’s Green Punjabi Dhaba is the best bet. Global Hotel and Restaurant, 200mtrs in the direction of the Gondola from the Bus Station is the place if you’re after some western food.

Horse-cart-ride-gulmarg

Other adventures in Gulmarg

Baba Reshi Shrine

Baba Reshi Shrine (Ziarat) was built and dedicated to the famous Muslim Scholar and Sage – Baba Reshi who breathed his last in Gulmarg in 1480.He was a prominent member of the court of Zain-ul-Abidin – a Kashmiri King of the early 15th Century. This shrine was built amidst a luxuriant garden and is a major tourist attraction apart from the visits from its devotees.

Shiva Temple

The Shiva Temple, also known as the ‘Rani Temple’ and ‘Maharani Temple’ is perched on a small hillock in the town square of Gulmarg and because of its vantage point; the Shiva Temple is visible from all parts of Gulmarg. For the last 17 years, the priestly duties in this Hindu temple have been performed by a single Muslim priest – Ghulam Mohammad Shiekh – epitomizing the communal harmony between Hindus and Muslims in the Kashmir Valley. The local and visiting communities have gracefully accepted a Muslim performing Hindu Temple rituals like puja, aarti and distributing Prasad among the devotees. And being a Muslim, he also performs Namaz every day.

St.Mary’s Church

St. Mary’s Church is a Roman Catholic Church in Gulmarg and was constructed amidst Alpine trees atop a meadowy plateau. In the year 2003, the Church was renovated and on this occasion a special Mass was conducted at Christmas which incidentally happened to be after 14 years.

Banibali Nag Lake

Ferozepura Nallah is 5 kilometres from Gulmarg and Banibali Nag Lake is a couple of kilometres further from here.Banibali Nag Lake is set in the meadows and is surrounded by mountains at 9600 feet. This area is especially breezy so u can see the meadows swaying. And the lake reflects the mountains and the skies when still. It takes around 5 hours to get here from Gulmarg owing to the mountainous terrain.

Ferozepura Nallah – Mountain Stream

About 5 kilometres from Gulmarg is the Ferozepura Nallah – a fresh water stream that meanders its way from the mountains. This stone-studded stream is an ideal picnic spot and the trail that leads to this spot is even more interesting as it goes through the meadows and then the forest and then downhill to the stream. This route is the most ideal for nature photography.

GulMarg-Kashmir-Valley

Ningli Nallah – Mountain Stream

‘Ningli Nallah’ is a sparkling lively stream whichis 8 kms from Gulmarg. This is a perfect picnic spot and also a good spot for camping. All it takes is a couple of hours of trekking from Gulmarg and you would reach this amazing locale surrounded by small hills and flowery meadows with a cold stream trickling down effortlessly.Carry your coffee and book and camera and start very early at the break of dawn from Gulmarg. You could choose to explore this landscape for a few hours and then return to Gulmarg or head up further into other valleys and meadows of Kashmir. Else carry your camping gear from Gulmarg and pitch a tent for the night by the stream. It guarantees to help you relax and recharge.A highly recommended ‘TO-DO’ for honeymooners! Ningli Nallah offers you many more reasons than you can imagine for cuddling up in this cozy environment.

Gulmarg Golf Course

Perched at about 9000 feet altitude, Gulmarg Golf Course is one of the highest golf courses in the world.

Gulmarg-Golf-Course

Mountain Ranges in India

India has seven major mountain ranges having peaks of over 1000 meters. India has some of the highest mountain ranges in the world. It also has some of the world’s highest mountain roads. The Great Himalayan mountain range are the famous and highest mountain hills of India. The Himalayan mountain range bisects India from the rest of Asia, this mountains is the primary source of mighty rivers in India. These hills contain areas of exceptional natural beauty, sparking waterfalls and habitat for many species of medicinal plants, beautiful birds, unique reptiles and wild animals. Kanchanjenga is the highest peak in India and 3rd in the world, Nanda devi is the second highest mountain peak in India.

The Himalayan Range

The highest mountain range Himalayas means “abode of snow” is the one of the youngest mountain ranges in the world. By extension Himalaya Range also include the Karakoram, the Hindu Kush, and other lesser ranges. Karakoram is one of the Greater Ranges of Asia. Himalaya mountain ranges are the highest in the planet and home for the worlds highest peaks that include Mount Everest and K2.The Great Himalaya mountain is a source of some of major rivers in India as well as in the world. The second longest glacier in the world Siachen Glacier is also the part of Great Himalaya range. Great Himalaya also host some of the most amazing valley’s which contains group of most beautiful lakes in India such as Pangong Tso -Ladakh,Tsongmo Lake -Sikkim and and the frozen one Sela Lake of Tawang. Kangchenjunga and K10 Saltoro Kangri I are respective highest mountain peaks of Himalaya Ranges and Karakoram ranges in Indian territories.

Himalaya - Adobe of Snow

The Purvanchal Range

The Purvanchal Range is the extension of the Great Himalaya range in north-east region of India. It is parallel to Karakoram and ladakh range. Three hill ranges that come under the Purvanchal ranges are, the Patkai, the Garo–Khasi–Jaintia and Lushai Hills. It is the most densely forested area and full of flora and fauna in India. These hill region also known for highest rainfall. Cherrapunji and Mawsynram are well famous for highest annual rainfall and wettest place on earth. Phawngpui is the highest peak of Purvanchal Range situated in Manipur with an elevation of 2,157 m (7,077 ft).

Purvanchal Range in NorthEast Region

The Vindhya Range

The Vindhya range is one of seven chief holy mountain ranges in India. The Vindhya geographically separates the Northern India from the Southern India as it runs across the central India. Vindhya range is a very old mountain range in central India. It extends in east-west direction from Varanasi through Madhya Pradesh to Gujrat. Vindhya range is parallel to Satpura ranges. The southern slopes of the range are drained by the Holy Narmada River also known as Narmada valley. Amarkantak is the tallest peak of  Vindhya Range with an elevation of 1,048 m (3,438 ft) in Madhya Pradesh.

Vindhyachal in Central India

The Satpura Range

The Satpura Range is a mountain range that stretches through the states in the central part of India. It extend across Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Satpura range is triangular in shape with its apex at Ratnapuri other two sides being parallel to the Tapti  and Sacred Narmada River. The Narmada and the Tapti are the only major rivers that flow into the Arabian Sea. It runs parallel to the Vindhya range, The Satpura range was formerly heavily forested. These forest provide habitat for some of India’s remaining large mammals, including The Royal Bengal Tiger, gaur, bear and black buck. The highest peak of Satpura mountain range is Dhupgarh with an height of 1,350 m (4,429 ft) in Madhya Pradesh.

Satpura crossing thru states of India

The Aravali Range

The Aravali range is the oldest mountain range in India, running across Rajasthan to Haryana. The Aravalli range is the eroded stub of a range of ancient folded mountains. Aravalli Range is one of the most popular mountain ranges in India also known as mewat hills. Aravalli range is famous for mineral resources and surrounded by dense forests with rich in flora and fauna. The highest peak of Aravali Mountain Range is Guru Shikhar with height 1,722 m (5,650 ft) at Mount Abu.

The Aravali - Oldest Mountain Range in India

The Western Ghats

The range starts near the border of Gujarat and ending at Kanyakumari. About sixty percent of the  Sahyadri Range are located in the state of Karnataka. This area is one of the world’s ten “Hottest biodiversity hotpots. The Arabian sea area is known as Konkan area, one of the best tourist attraction in India. Green city Pune is the largest city within this mountain range in Maharashtra. The western ghats mountain ranges make up an impressive fortress all along Kerala. There are a number of beautiful hill stations and wildlife sanctuaries in Kerala. AnaiMudi in the Anaimalai Hills in Kerala is the highest peak in the Western Ghats. The Ghats also offer best valley’s scenery-view through out the journey.

Sahyadri - The Hottest biodiversity in the World

The Eastern Ghats

The Eastern Ghats is an irregular range of mountains, Which include four major rivers The Godavari, Mahanadi, Krishna and Holy Kaveri. Its range start from West Bengal to Tamil Nadu. The Nilgiri hills “The Blue Mountains” in Tamil Nadu lies at the junction of the Eastern and Western Ghats. This area has the largest population of Indian elephant . This discontinuous mountain ranges run parallel to the Bay of Bengal. The Shevaroy hills is the highest peak in the Easter Ghat.

Eastern Ghats connects Manjor Rivers in India

Winter Sports in India

India is well known for its highest peak and big mountains ranges, these ranges offers all kind of mountaineering, aero sports as well as the winter sports in India. Himalayan region of India are ideal destinations for chill and thrill adventures winter sports. The Snow-capped Mountains, lush greenery and a cool breeze are the assets to the north Indian, which makes them one of the best destinations for the snow sports. The hill station of India like Shimla, Darjeeling, Nainital, Gulmarg and Srinagar are counted as best for the snow sports. The unexplored valleys, snow-capped mountains with stunning glaciers, and towering peaks are the major adventures places for snow sports such as Skiing, Ice skating, Ice Climbing and Snowboarding. Other recreational sports include Ice hockey, Figure skating, Snowmobile, Ice fishing, snow cycling, snow football and snowball fight can also be enjoyed some time.

Skiing: 

This recreational activity is most famous snow sports, used skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are connect to the toe and heels with the use of a binding. Many different types of skiing are also popular such as Alpine skiing, Freestyle skiing and Military skiing. The major destination with fine, flowing, snowy slopes for skiing in India are Auli, Pahalgam, Manali, Narkanda, Uttarakhand and Sikkim. Gulmarg is one of the most popular skiing destinations in India.

Skiing in Gulmarg - India

Skating:

Ice skating is one of the major attractions of snow sports in India. The destination for Ice-skating in India is shimla, himachal pradesh. Ice-skating carnival of Shimla is famous for major winter sports like ice hockey, dance performances and figure skating. Ice Skating Association of India is take care of the all ice skating sports.

Ice Skating in Shimla

Snowboarding: 

Snowboard is board attached to a rider’s feet using a special boot set onto mounted binding. The free-ride style of snowboarding is the most common and easily accessible style of snowboarding,consists of riding down any terrain. Another style of snowboarding is Freestyles, In freestyle, the rider uses man-made terrain features to perform tricks. The chill and thrill Snowboarding needs skills and exercises like maintain body balance, turning of the board,Edging,control and timing.

Snowboarding in Shimla and Gulmarg

Sledding: 

Sledding or sledge is similar to sliding in seated position on a device called as sledge. In sledding riders, ride down from a snow covered hill and determines the path by twists and turns. Lying on the stomach can also be a good technique to improve the fun of sledge ride.

Sledding in Shimla

Ice climbing: 

India is a paradise for mountaineering lovers, its large belt of mountain ranges are well known for climbing. As a sport, ice climbing is still evolving in India, it is one of the fastest growing sports of India. The thrilling and adventures winter sport ice climbing is one of the major attractions of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh tourism.

Ice Climbing - Himachal Pradesh

Mount Kailash - Abode of Lord Shiva

Kailash Parvat

This is the name of a mountain peak also called “Mount kailash” in the Gangdise Mountains which is the part of Himalaya Tibet. It is the perfect mountain with awesome beauty, with 4 great faces. It is the source of some of the longest river in the world, the Brahmaputra, Sutlej and The Gange one of the holiest river in India. This is one of the sacred place for Hindu as well as for Buddh. It is considered be the “Abode of Lord Shiva“. In Hinduism Lord Shiva, The destroyer of evil” reside here along with his wife parvati the daughter of Himalaya. Lord Shiva sit here in a state of meditation. It is the most significant peak in the world that has not seen any known climbing attempts. The largest rock cut template is Kailash Temple at Ellora in Maharashtra, it is named after The Mount Kailash.

Kailash Parvat 

Kailash Mansarovar Yatra: 

Every years thousand of peoples make pilgrimage to Kailash, thats called Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. In Hinduism its believe that circumambulating Mount Kailash on foot brings good fortune. The complete path of Mount Kailash is around 52 Km. Some peoples thinks that walk around Kailash should be made in one day. The Great Mountain Kailash is also known as the center of the universe in the Hindu Puranas. South  of Mount Kailash are called Rakastal also known as Ravan Hrid. Because of the border dispute with china, Indians were not allowed to visit Kailash- Mansarovar for nearly two decades. Now only a limited  number  of  people  are allowed to visit. Weather condition can change any time,so be prepare for the worst.

Kailash Mansarovar Yatra