Author Archives: admin

Gulmarg 2010 Organized Ski Tours

Believe it or not, this year (Dec 2009/Jan 2010) sees an explosion of organized Ski or Skiing tours to Gulmarg – mostly by people/companies from outside India. You apparently get the benefit of ‘Ski Travel Consultants’ with specific trips organized between specific dates by different companies. The slots are limited and can be filled up using the online websites easily.

A week’s trip costs about USD 2000, generally including return flights from Delhi, local transfers, twin sharing hotels, Lift costs, food, guide, etc. Equipment may or may not be covered.

So looks like market forces are taking over. What if the government could not exploit the potential; savvy people from the field the world over are coming in and filling the void.

The costs seem somewhat high for Indian visitors – but compare it to a vacation to Kerela or Goa, and it could still make sense. Not to forget that this is about guided skiing tours to one the most beautiful places on the earth, and not merely a vacationing, take it easy kind of trip. More adventure than one could ever dream of…when you combine the powder fun with the fun of travelling to Kashmir in a peculiar India kind of way – who’d clear the snow from the roads? no one; would there be electricity? who can tell; and so on…

Check out these sites:

http://www.sevendescents.com.au/trips/india/gulmarg.php

http://ski-gulmarg.co.uk/trips/

http://www.trekclimbski.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=53&Itemid=85

http://www.gulmargheliski.com

http://www.skihimalaya.com

Gulmarg Skiing

http://www.freeskihimalaya.com

(if there are any others that anyone would like to suggest, please contact or add them below to the comments section).

Finally, if you have been to one of these trips and would like to share your suggestions, comments, or feedback for the benefit of others, you are welcome to add your comment below.

Skiing Courses in Gulmarg by Department of Youth Services and Sports

The Jammu and Kashmir state Department of Youth Services and Sports (DYSS) organizes courses every winter in collaboration with Jammu Kashmir Tourism Department.
They can accommodate a maximum of sixty students at one time after some selection process. The boarding and lodging expenses are borne by the department.
The ski equipment ise provided by the Tourism department and DYSS together.
On Feb 7, 2009, a girls only 15 days skiing course organized by the department of Youth Services and Sports concluded at Gulmarg with Sixty students participated in three-tier course.

Feb 17, 2009: The department of Youth Services and Sports is organizing a state-level ski-championship at Gulmarg in the first week of March.
 Skiers of various age groups, both boys and girls, would be participating in different events. All the intended skiers wishing to participate have been asked to register their names at the office of the deputy director, Youth Services and Sports, old Secretariat Srinagar latest by February 25. They will have to produce their certificates at the time of registration.  
 All arrangements have been made for the event in which around 200 skiers are likely to participate.

All set for Gulmarg Snow Festival starting Feb 2, 2009

The 2-day food and snow festival is starting in Gulmarg from February 2. New for this year, the festival will be held near the base station of world’s highest Gondola, in tented accommodations, so that skiers can participate as soon as their last run off the mountain concludes.
The festival will include night skiing, snowboarding, ice-skiing, snow-cycling and international food festival. Its widely believed that the quality of snow and the slopes at Phase 2 surpasses those in Europe and North America
The food festival will give an opportunity to savour traditional Kashmiri cuisine like Wazwaan, Harissa, Masala, fish and Kashmiri snacks. This year, also expect some Italian and Russian dishes, sponsored by tour operators from other countries. According to Carin Jodha Fischer, tourism consultant to J&K Tourism Department, compared to the last two years, everything at Gulmarg has improved in terms of infrastructure. Apparently the tarrif for the Gandola ride has been reduced, its been running on time and snow removal has been better. Advance bookings for accomodations are always better, especially to guard against unexpected arrival of domestic tourists.
J&K Cycling Association is expected to organize snow cycling event on the first day of the 2-day festival.

Gulmarg Winter sports to be held in January 2009

Excerpted From GK: Srinagar, Dec 20: The winter sports scheduled to be inaugurated at the Christmas Eve have been postponed due to less snow at Gulmarg, the department of Tourism head, Farooq Ahmad Shah said. It may be held from January 10 to 15, though the dates have not been finalised yet.
Events would be snow boarding, skiing, snow rugby, snow cycling, ice-skating, snow scooter racing, night skiing and ice hockey. Besides there will be exhibition of handicrafts, Kashmiri classical music, etc.
The department would announce the calendar of winter sports activities during the festival – involving coaching courses by various institutes and departments. “Apart from local trainers available for tourists, various institutes like Biscoe School, Youth Services and Sports Department, Sports Council, Kashmir University, Indian Institute of Skiing and mountaineering will organise more than 20 coaching courses,” he said.
About the facilities, he said, ski and snowboarding equipments would be available for skiers in the ski shop at Gulmarg. Gulmarg Gondola, world’s highest cable car would be available for high altitude skiers.