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Gulmarg resort snow
Lat Long: 34.05° N 74.38° E
Ski India

Gulmarg Resort Reviews

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Visitor reviews for Gulmarg Ski Resort

Gulmarg Ratings

Overall: 3.6. Based on 29 votes and 63 reviews.

Rate this resort

Snowsure: 4.4

  • Occasionally gets enough snow for skiing
  • Is often closed due to a lack of snow
  • Occasionally suffers from a lack of snow
  • Rarely suffers from a lack of snow
  • Gulmarg is snowsure even in the poorest seasons

Variety of pistes: 4.3

  • The ski runs are featureless and unvaried
  • The ski runs are varied but not extensive enough for a week
  • Gulmarg has diverse and interesting pistes including forests and high alpine terrain

Off-piste: 4.8

  • No off-piste worth mentioning
  • Off piste is out-of-bounds
  • Some varied offpiste that stays fresh for one or two days
  • A vast array of off-piste routes that can stay untracked for several days

Scenery: 4.8

  • An ugly resort in a bland setting
  • Average mountain views and resort
  • A spectacular setting and a beautiful / historic resort town

Access: 3.7

  • At least one overnight stop
  • Requires a whole day
  • Requires more than half a day – you may have time for a few turns
  • Arrive by lunchtime and ski all afternoon
  • There is a main airport within an hour of Gulmarg

Public Transport: 3.2

  • There are no buses or taxis to Gulmarg
  • There are slow or infrequent buses / trains available
  • Getting to the resort is easy with frequent bus / train connections

Accommodation: 4.2

  • No places to stay in/near Gulmarg
  • A few places to stay in the resort
  • A wide variety of accommodation suitable to suit all budgets

Cheap Rooms: 3.8

  • No budget accommodation available
  • Just one or two hostels so book ahead
  • Several cheap hostels and pensions available

Luxury Hotels: 3.5

  • No luxury accommodation available
  • Just one or two luxury hotels so book ahead
  • Several up-market hotels in Gulmarg

Ski in/Ski out: 4.2

  • The ski area is located far from any accommodation
  • A free ski bus takes you to the ski area in a short trip
  • Ski-in ski-out accommodation is available

Childcare: 2.2

  • There are no child care facilities at Gulmarg
  • The resort has limited child-care facilities
  • the resort has excellent child-care facilities including at least one reasonably priced creche

Snowmaking: 2.1

  • Gulmarg relies entirely on natural snow
  • There are just a few snow cannons
  • There are snowmaking facilities on all pistes

Snow Grooming: 3.1

  • There are no snow groomers at Gulmarg
  • Occasionally some pistes are left ungroomed and in a poor state
  • All the runs at Gulmarg are groomed daily

Shelter: 3.8

  • There is nowhere to ski when it is windy or visibility is bad and lifts often shut
  • There are some trees for poor visibility but main lifts sometimes close
  • Gulmarg is mostly in forest where you can ski in flat-light and windy days, lifts rarely close

Nearby options: 2.5

  • If snow conditions are poor at Gulmarg, it will be poor everywhere nearby
  • There are good alternatives within an hours drive
  • Other locations on the same lift pass provide a rich variety of snowsure ski conditions

Regional rating: 4.7

  • Gulmarg usually has poor snow conditions compared to other resorts in region
  • Has average conditions for the region
  • Usually has the best snow conditions in the region

Lift Staff: 3.5

  • The staff at Gulmarg are rude or unhelpful
  • Lift staff at Gulmarg are pleasant, cheerful and eager to help

Crowds/Queues: 4.2

  • The resort is always busy and there are usually long lift queues
  • It is quiet apart from occasional weekends and school holidays
  • It is uncrowded and lift queues are very rare

Ski Schools: 3.1

  • No ski schools available
  • One or two ski schools but local language only
  • A few ski schools but book early for multi-lingual instructors
  • Plenty of ski schools and multi-lingual instructors available
  • Excellent ski schools with friendly multi-lingual ski instructors

Hire and Repairs: 3.5

  • Nothing can be sourced, not even ski-wax or ptex
  • There are some ski shops but rentals need to be booked in advance
  • Good quality ski equipment can be purchased or hired and overnight repairs are possible

Beginners: 3.4

  • Beginners can only watch others ski and snowboard
  • A few gentle slopes but beginners will get bored in less than a week
  • Vast areas of gentle terrain

Intermediates: 3.9

  • No intermediate terrain at Gulmarg
  • Intermediate skiers will get bored after a few days
  • Vast areas of cruising runs

Advanced: 4.6

  • Nothing for advanced skiers and snowboarders
  • Enough steep terrain for a few days with some good offpiste
  • Enough steep terrain and offpiste areas to entertain advanced skiers for at least a week

Snow Park: 2.4

  • Not even a kicker at Gulmarg
  • Average sized park quite well looked after
  • Huge park area and expertly crafted pipes, jumps and boardercross trails

Cross-country: 3.5

  • There is nowhere to go for cross-country skiing around Gulmarg
  • There are some cross country trails available
  • The area features many spectacular and well maintained cross-country trails

Luge/Toboggan: 2.7

  • No designated luge or toboggan runs
  • There are toboggan runs that open quite often
  • Gulmarg has long and well maintained luge / toboggan facilities suitable for all ages

Mountain Dining: 3.4

  • Nowhere to buy food by the pistes
  • Some places to eat up on the mountain but they are often busy and expensive
  • There is a variety of excellent mountain eateries right next to the slopes to suit all budgets

Eating: 3.7

  • Bring your own food, there isn't even a shop
  • There are a few places to eat in the resort but nothing special
  • A wide variety of places to eat and drink in the resort, from fast food to fancy restaurants

Apres-Ski: 3.0

  • Nothing to do, not even a bar
  • There are a few bars in the resort but nothing special
  • Clubs and bars stay open until very late and have a friendly atmosphere

Other Sports: 2.4

  • No sports facilities at all apart from ski lifts
  • Resort has just a small public swimming pool
  • Resort has all kinds of sports facilities, including a full-size swimming pool

Entertainment: 3.5

  • Besides the snow and walking there is nothing to do here
  • The non-skier will find things to do for few days but may become bored after a week
  • The resort area is a fascinating place to visit, regardless of winter sports

Winter Walks: 3.8

  • Very limited walking and no snowshoe trails
  • A couple of designated scenic walking/snowshoe trails
  • Extensive and diverse winter walking trails for all abilities

Ski Pass Value: 4.3

  • A 1 week ski pass is overpriced compared to the number of lifts available
  • The ski pass is averagely priced and covers a reasonable number of lifts
  • Ski passes are excellent value for money and cover a lot of lifts spanning a big area

Value (National): 4.5

  • Overall, Gulmarg is one of the most expensive ski resorts in the country and not worth the money
  • Overall represents average value for money
  • Overall offers the best value resort in the country

Value (Global): 4.5

  • Overall, Gulmarg is one of the most expensive ski resorts in the world
  • Overall it offers pretty average value for money compared to resorts from other countries
  • Internationally the resort offers excellent value for money

Show all 35 ratings

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November 24, 2009
Martin Jones from Ski New Zealand New Zealand
Gulmarg Heliski.com will be launching 10 Jan - 20 Feb 2010 with 5 mountain guides from NZ and a Swiss pilot with AS350 B3 Squirrel.
June 19, 2009
Chris Werren, Free Ski Himalaya from Ski Switzerland Switzerland
For visitors interested in Gulmarg our website provides comprehensive information on lodging, guiding, avalanche precaution, trail maps and safety.
January 14, 2009
Zack from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
Went to Gulmarg last winter and had a fantastic time, the powder is the best in the world. Stay at Highlands Park for the most comfortable experience and wonderful ambience. Best time to go is late Jan or early Feb.
December 18, 2008
Don Poustis from Ski Switzerland Switzerland
Gulmarg is amazing. If you love it steep and fast, then get your skis/board to Gulmarg - it's the latest place to ride. A credible Australian company called Currypowder.com.au have been operating there for the past few years. I'm going back there in Feb 09 via these guys. They organised my 1st trip there a couple of years ago, and can easily organise everything for you, especially if you're a 1st timer in Kashmir (very recommended). The terrain is just mind-blowing so make sure you bring your own gear though to guarantee enjoyment.
February 05, 2008
Debbie from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
This place is what dreams are made of if you like perfect untracked powder, back country and you don't mind some inconveniences e.g breaks in water and electrical supplies (which includes lift access at times). Do not go if you do not have a sense of humour - you have to take each day as it comes, not be afraid of relatively hazardous road journeys, not need your hair dryer, and not be too squeamish about less than adequate sanitation on the mountain. You eat a lot of spice...every day. This is a place where you can ski your dream and meet some great people from a very different culture and economic platform to that of most typical ski locations. If you need groomed pistes, long lunches and gallons of wine-do not go to Gulmarg- you will not find any-leave it to us!
November 10, 2006
Matthew McKaig from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
I visted Gulmarg in 1979 when the (skiing) resort was fairly basic and had only recently decided to exploit the evident winter sports potential. I remember staying in a DAK bungalow where it was so cold that the water froze in the loo bowl and whilst the rooms were better than the standard 'back packing' standard, it was still quite spartan. After a few days (and snow storm which dumped 6ft of snow) I clubbed together with some Aussies and Kiwis and rented what could only be described as mini chalets which were part of a hotel owned by an ex-Indian Army character called Benji, who was most accommodating. Although it was a tense time politically between India and Pakistan Benji was able to make us feel most welcome - and at a very reasonable price! The chalets were perfect with the staff delivering loads of sweet smelling logs to burn in the wood burning stoves to keep us all cosy. And the skiing?... well low profile then, but most enjoyable with one 'tourist' chairlift, a simple rope drag - and that was about it. We did go off-piste one day, which was interesting, not least to see snow monkeys(?) in the pine trees and lose a friend (only to return much later after a hazardous search for the guy) and then a relaxing week or two in the fastness of a Dal lake House Boat. Would be interested to hear of any other remininces of this area at this time or thereabouts...Matthew McKaig; [email protected]
September 10, 2006
Peter Robinson
SRINAGAR, KASHMIR – Thursday 7 September 2006 HIMALAYAN SKIING AND SNOWBOARDING SET TO BOOM The Himalaya’s only resort with international scale ski-lift infrastructure, Gulmarg in Kashmir, has announced snow safety and grooming plans for its 2nd winter of full operation. “International experts from the USA, with experience in high altitude snowpacks similar to Gulmarg, will monitor safety over the 2006-2007 winter” says Farooq Shah, Director of Jammu & Kashmir Tourism. Seven international Ski Patrol and Snow Grooming experts will lead mountain operations over the peak winter period from 20 December 2006 to 20 March 2007. The team of international experts has been assembled by Peter Robinson, an Australian who is assisting the resort in an honorary capacity. Says Robinson: “Gulmarg already has a mountain and lift-accessed ski and snowboarding terrain equal to anywhere. In winter 2006-2007 Gulmarg will have world-class ski patrol and snow grooming expertise to match its fantastic terrain and abundant snowfall”. “The increase in snow grooming this winter significantly broadens Gulmarg’s appeal to the intermediate skier and snowboarder market. Grooming of Mt Apharwat’s mid level and lower slopes this winter will also benefit advanced riders.” “Even in paradise, not every day is perfect, and the bigger investment by the resort in grooming this coming winter will improve riding conditions on non-powder days for advanced as well as intermediate skiers.” Background Gulmarg’s gondola, designed by Poma of France, was completed in May 2005, and offers skiers and snowboarders a bigger lift-serviced vertical rise than any ski resort in the USA. As an idea of its scale, the vertical rise of Gulmarg’s gondola is on par with any comparable single lift at Whistler-Blackcomb, which is famed for having the biggest vertical rise of any ski resort in North America. For further facts on Gulmarg see www.jktourism.org and www.skihimalaya.com Inquiries Specialist snow-sports and snow-travel journalists who wish to inquire about Gulmarg’s media policy for journalists visiting Gulmarg during the 2006-2007 winter should contact Peter Robinson care of www.skihimalaya.com Authorisation This press release is jointly authorised by Farooq Shah of Jammu & Kashmir Tourism and Peter Robinson of Ski Himalaya.
August 29, 2006
Jim
Travelled to Gulmarg in Jan 06 and had fantastic snow and a few blue sky days that were as good as it gets - nice dry powder up top - below the village it was bit heavy when we tried to go backcountry. It's worthwhile getting a guide for a day at the start to get the hang of the way the place works. Bila is good and can be contacted through Kashmir Alpine. You will find their website on the net. This place will take off when the position stabilises politically - if you don't mind sharing the gondola with the soldiers (they made me feel safe) - get amongst and ski one of the rarest most beautiful mountains on offer. The gondola can be frustrating so take your skins and get ready to do some hiking if it's not running. Don't get frustrated at all about anyting - this is India/Pakistan (I'm not taking sides) and you have to let it wash over you with a smile. It's all part of the experience. If you can give yourself 3 weeks - the weather can close in - we had around 2m in three days. There is only a new program looking at avalanche control so be careful and talk to the other skiers. Take as much booze in with you as you want to drink - it's not easy or cheap getting a beer. The Green Punjabi Dhaba serves great food at cheap prices.
July 13, 2006
Peter Robinson
FYI Our web address does not appear on my post below. It is: www.skihimalaya.com Last winter (2005-2006) Ski Himalaya provided direct employment 7 guides, 2 drivers and 4 contract drivers, all from the local communities surrounding Gulmarg. Kind regards Peter Robinson Kind regards
June 14, 2006
Peter Georgiou
"Gulmarg is absolutely magical! The terrain is incredibly raw and untamed. A true free-rider’s paradise! The quality of snow is nothing short of powder bliss!"