Kashmir is famouse for its four distinctive seasons, each with its own peculiar character and charm, each extravagantly beautiful. Spring (March-May) sees a million blossoms carpeting the ground when the weather can be pleasant at 23 C or chilly and windy at 6 C. In summer (June - August) the whole vally turns into a mosaic of varying shades of green.In autumn (September - November) the green shades turn gold, and then russet and red as the season advances. Winter (December - March) presents Kashmir in an entirely different mood as the landscape becomes bare, soon to be covered by the white mantle of the first snowfall. Watching the, snow – covered landscapes from the window of a heated room is a joy that cannot be described, but only experienced.

Srinagar:- Winter is off-season in Srinagar, but it is the time of the year when you’ll be able to enjoy the clear, crisp air and the luxury of a heated room in a houseboat or a lakeside hotel. Trees are bare, skies are blue, and if the famous Mughal Gardens lose their colour for a few month, the experience of being rowed in a shikara over the Dal Lake in the cold is an experience not to be missed. While Srinagar receives snowfall almost every year, the timing cannot be predicted with accuracy. For all thise who come to Kashmir to experience the snow, the action shifts to Gulmarg and Pahalgam, where you are guranteed to see during winter. Winters is Gulmarg’s high season.

Gulmarg (2,730m/56 km):- Gulmarg’s legendary beauty,prime location and proximity to Srinagar naturally make it one of Asia’s premier hill resort. Originally called ‘Gaurimarg’ by shepherds Gulmarg was discovered in the 16th century by Sultan Yusuf Shah who was inspired by the sight of its grassy slopes emblazoned with wild flowers. It was also a favourite resort of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir.Today, Gulmarg is not merely a mountain resort of exceptional beauty but also the country’s primer ski resort in winter when it is civered in snow and takes on the appearance of a picture postcard.

Skiing & Winter Sports:- Gulmarg was first established as a ski resort by the British who had set up the Ski Clube of India here in 1927. Skiing at Gulmarg had become very popular During the preindependance years. The resort used to host two major skiing events, one each during Christmas and Easter. In 1938-39, about 500 skiers are said to have participated in Christmas and Easter ski races. Gulmarg atmosphere was identified with Europeon ski resort of the 1940’s and 50’s – the AQlps of god old days’. It has good sunshine as well as good snow.
The skiing season usually commences just before Christmas (mid Decenber) and continues till early April. During 1998, Gulmarg hosted the first National Winter Games of India, for which the facilities were enormously improved and upgraded Modern equipment like Kasse Bohrer Snow Beating Machines (For preparing skiing slopes) and snowmobiles were imported, as also the Gulmarg Gondola Cable Car was commissioned. The resort facilities were also held here during 2003-2004.
Gulmarg is well suited for learning skiing. It has some of the best slope for beginners and intermediate skiers, all serviced by ski lifts and chair lifts Most of the skiing activities are centred on these slopes,which have ski runs ranging from 200 to 900 mts.Good quality equipment including skis boots, sticks, gloves and goggles,are all available on hire from the Government-run ski shop. Trained instructors are at hand for guiding amateur skiers.

However, not all tourists who visit Gulmarg in winter come for skiing – some are simply there to watch the skiing or to enjoy a holiday in the snow . Many of them infected with the excitement of the skiers don their first pair of skis within a short while of their arrival.

Among the numerous slopes are some which are not serviced by ski lifts. Trained skiers take to these slopes and even trek in the snow for several hours to the top of the these slope and even trek in the snow for several hours to the top of the Apharwat range, to make a descent lasting no more than 30 minitues.And now with the setting up of the Gondola Cable Car Gulmarg has become the highest lift-served ski resort in the world providing a downhill ski run of 5.2 km from a height of 14,000 ft in the Apharwat range. It is also the longest gondola served ski-lift in Asia.

Gulmarg also offers a host of other snow sports at this time of the year. The most popular among the tourists is riding a seldge and being pulled along the snow coverd road or gentler slopes. Tobogganing also does not require any skill – a flat wooden board is taken up the hill and then allowed to slide downhill. Snowboarding, another exiting winter sport is also being introduced and promoted here. Making a snowman and holding camp fires around it amidst music and feasting is another popular activity indulged by the tourist. But the most enjoyable aspect of a winter sojorm in Gulmarg is the friendly atmosphere. It is like being in a family where everybody knows everyone else.

Heli-Skiing:- Heli- skiing was introduced is Gulmarg, for the first time in India during the mid 1980s in collaboration with the world renowned French skier,Sylvain Saudan of Himalaya Heli-Ski Club of France. For this highly exciting sport, skiers are taken to the top of mountain ridges by helicopters from where they ski down the immense Himalayan slopes. Initialy, the programme was started at Apharwat in Gulmarg. Subsequently, other Sites in the Kashmir Himalayas were also used for the purpose. The programme was suspended during the 1990s, but now it is being revived again collaboration with Sylvain Saudan,s Himalaya Heli Ski Club.

Phalgam:- Pahalgam is the other well known mountain resort of Kashmir, which receives heavy snowfall during the winter. Pahalgam lies on eother side of the Lidder River as it gushes down from its source in the Himalaya range. In winter when the snow is deep, the resort provides for skiing and tobogganing as additional attraction for winter visitors.

F A C T F I L E

By Air:- All major airlines operate regular daily flights to Srinagar from New Delhi and other major cities in India. Srinagar Airport is 14 kms from the city.

By Rail:- Jammu Tawi , a mojor railway junction of northern India, and Srinagar’s nearest railhead, receives a large number of trains from most parts of India. Srinagar is also being connected by rail with Jammu and the project is expected to be commissioned in the near future.

By Road:- National Highway, 1-A connecting Srinagar with Jammu(300 kms) is an all weather road Jammu in turn is connected to many parts of North India, including New Delhi. The famous Jawahar Tunnel and pass fall on the Jammu Srinagar Highway. Buses and all types of taxis to Srinagar are available from the Jammu railway station and city centre.

Accommodation:- Srinager has a wide variety of accommodation, including deluxe hotels, guest houses and houseboat. J&K Tourism Development Corporation (JKTDC) runs a number of self-contained alpine cottages and bungalows in Srinagar Pahalgam & Gulmarg.

Clothing:- While the summer (June-August) temperatures of Srinagar are between 20 deg and 30 deg C, temperatures in the hill resorts are considerably lower. In the evening, light woolens are required for Gukmarg, Pahalagam & Sonamarg but not for Srinagar. Spring (March-May) and autumn (October-November) are cold. With minimum temperatures plunging down to 7 deg C, woolens are necessary. During winter (December-February), most places are below freezing point and temperatures sometimes reach minus 10 deg C in Srinagar and heavy woolens are required.