Area : 3.5 kms.1km.wide Altitude : 2,730 Meters Season : October to March
A huge cup-shaped meadow lush and green with slopes where the
silence is broken
Only by the tinkle of cowbells Gulmarg looks like a fantasy set in a
film. All around are snow capped mountains and on a clear day you
can see all the way to Nanga Parbat in one direction and Srinagar in
another.
The large meadow of Gulmarg is 52 km. South-west of Srinagar at 2730
mts. The name means Meadow of Flowers and in spring it’s just that.
Also once a popular trekking base Gulmarg used to be India’s
premiere skiing resort.
If Sonmarg is a meadow of gold Gulmarg is a meadow of flowers.
Gulmarg turns more enchanting as one season changes into another. It
is also the country’s premier winter-sports resort.
Places of attraction
Gulmarg is primarily known for its natural beauty. The summer and
autumn months provide excellent opportunities for excursions. Under
a mantle of snow Gulmarg in winter and spring presents different
facets of activities and sightseeing.
Alpather Lake: 13 kms. This lake is at the foot of main Apharwat
peak and lies just behind the ridge separating them from Khilanmarg.
The icy waters of the lake remain frozen till the middle of June and
carry floating snow.A well mark pony track joins Apharwat Ridge with
Gulmarg.
Khilanmarg : 4 kms. Carpeted with flowers in summer Khilanmarg is an
uphill journey from Gulmarg. It offers an unrivalled spectacle of
the peaks and the wide spreading waters of Wular and other lakes.
Ningal Nallah: 10kms. This stream flows from the snow-bed and
springs near Apharwat and Alpather and cuts through picturesque pine
forests.
Ziarat of Babareshi: A Muslim shrine 5 kms. From the middle gap on
the east of the Gulmarg Valley. The road leads down through thick
forests. The ‘ Ziarat’ or tomb is of Baba Payam-u-Din a noted Muslim
saint who lived here during the Mughal rule. Both Muslims and Hindus
make offering here.
