Tag Archives: Skiing

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.