IF YOU ARE PLANNING FOR KASHMIR, FOLLOWING TIPS WOULD BE VERY USEFUL.

1. PLAN YOUR TRIP AROUND MID OF MARCH AS YOU WOULD GET SNOW IN ALL PLACES ( EXCEPT SHRINAGAR). ALSO
YOU WOULD ENJOY OFF SEASON BENEFITS ( UPTO 40 % DISCOUNTS IN ROOM TARIFFS). IT WOULD BE BETTER IDEA
TO CONTACT A LOCAL PERSON AND GET A IDEA OF SNOW IN GULMARG. AVAILABILITY OF SNOW WOULD GUIDE YOUR
OVERALL EXPERIENCE OF KASHMIR.

2. IF YOU ARE NOT GOING BY ANY TOUR AND MAKING YOUR OWN ARRANGEMENTS. FOLLOWING TIPS WOULD BE
FURTHER USEFUL :

3. STAY FOR AT LEAST GULMARG-2 DAYS, PHALGAON - 2DAYS. SHRINAGAR - 3 DAYS. SONMARG - 1 DAY .

4. HIRE A SUMO FOR SHRINAGAR TO SHRINAGAR FOR YOUR ENTIRE STAY . NORMALLY CHARGES 1400 - 1500 PER
DAY.

5. STAY AT LEAST A DAY IN HOUSE BOAT. GO FOR A SHIKARA RIDE.

6. SHRINAGAR - AVOID STAYING AT LAL CHOK AREA. GOOD FOR SHOPPING. BARGAIN A LOT .. DISCOUNTS VARY
FROM 20 - 40 %. AVOID GETTING OUT AFTER 7 PM , JUST A SUGGESTION.

7. KESHAR- WOULD GET GOOD QUALITY AT PAMPORE, BUT THE PRICES ( RS 300 PER GRAM)A BIT HIGH. BUT THE
QUALITY IS ASSURED. DONT FALL IN TRAP OF CHEAP RATES FOR KESHAR.

8. PHALGAON : GO FOR HORSE RIDES. ASK THEM THAT YOU WANT TO SEE THE PLACE WHERE KING USED TO HUNT.
ASK THEM TO TAKE YOU THROUGH THAT ROUTE. THOUGH NOTHING GREAT IN THAT PLACE , BUT THE ROUTE WOULD
GIVE YOU DAMM GOOD EXPERIENCE..

9. GULMARG : ENJOY GANDOLA, GO TO SECOND STOP. DO LOTS OF SKYING. PLEASE NOTE PROPER PLACE FOR
SKYING IS AT SKYING LIFT SIDE. ITS PROMOTED BY GOVT.

IMP - AS YOU ENTER IN GLUMARG, ON YOUR WAY TOWARDS YOUR HOTEL ( HILL TOP, HEEVAN, MUMTAZ, PINE
RESORT) THERE IS A BARRIER. THESE PEOPLE WOULD STOP YOUR VEHICLE ON PRETEXT THAT ITS NOT ALLOWED
TO GO FURTHER. SHOW YOUR HOTEL BOOKING TO THEM TO ENTER. ( IF YOU DONT HAVE A HOTEL BOOKING GET
SOME DOCUMENTS FROM WEBSITE OF THESE HOTELS BEFORE YOU PROCEED FOR THE TOUR)

10. SONMARG - THERE IS A HOTEL TO SAY IN SONMARG. ENJOY SLEDGING.

11. REACH SHRINAGAR AIRPORT AT LEAST 2 HRS BEFORE DEPARTURE.
Updated Apr 4, 2010
if you are reaches Srinagar at 1 P.M., you had practically no time available to visit Srinagar.
You can visit Shankaracharya temple and any of Mughal garden, based upon time available
with you
The price for Taxi to each destination is fixed by taxi union, however you can negotiate
witht he taxi driver directly. In Sept end, the price shall be
Gulmarg - 1400-1500 INR
Sonmarg - 1800-2000 INR
Pahalgam - 1800-2000 INR

It is best that you negotiate taxi from airport to airport basis, keeping this rate in mind. Taxi
drop charges from Dal lake to airport is 500/-.
Srinagar full day tour cost around 1000-1200.
On your day trip to Gulmarg, please ensure by 10.00 a.m. you will be at Gandola station. So
that you can visit Phase II and go directly to Phase-II, as Phase I you can visit while
returning from Phase II.
So that you can reach base station by 2.00 P.M. and reach Srinagar by 4.00 P.M.
In Gulmarg enjoy Gandola ride and visit phase-I and phase-II. If you are lucky and sky is
clear you can see the LOC.

In Pahalgam Visit Betaab Valley & Aru ( By taxi time required is 3 hrs) and Baisaran ( by
Pony, time required is 3 hrs).

On Sonmarg day trip you can visit lakes and enjoy the beauty of path from Ganderbal to
Sonmarg. Their is no need to visit Thajawis glacier
Local sightseeing in Pahalgam can be done through local cab only those are available from
taxi stand. The rate for each spot is mentioned and combined rate are also mentioned.
Based upon which places you want to visit, you can hire the cab. Betaab valley is approx 5
KM from Pahalgam Main Market area. Aru Valley is 11 KM from Main market area.

From Srinagar to Pahalgam, if you want to visit some places enroute, you can do the same
by taking slightly diversion route

Pahalgam - Avantipur ruins - Achabal - Martand sun temple ruins - Matan - Pahalgam.
If you left early from Srinagar, you can comfortably cover these points as well local sight
seeing in Pahalgam. But remember it will be full day travelling with short stop overs.
There are three phases to Gulmarg Gondola.
Phase 1 : Gulmarg to Kungdoor
Phase 2 : Kungdoor to Aparwath
Phase 3 : Kungdoor to Mary's shoulder by chair lift. This has just started recently.
Timings for Phase 1 is fixed and starts at 9:30 Am, timing for the second phase depends on the weather.
There is what I would suggest to everyone
1. Book tickets online as queue at the counter can be very long especially during summer holidays.
Please book both phase 1 (Gulmarg to Kungdoor) and Phase 2 (Kungdoor to Aparwath) online. There
is some risk in buying phase 2 tickets online as service is suspended if the weather is bad. So, if you
are very particular of not wanting to waste phase 2 ticket charges, do not book phase 2 ticket online.
2. In case you have not booked tickets, go to the special counter for credit card payments as the queue in
that counter is normally shorter.
3. Once you reach gondola station, collect boarding pass for phase 1 and join the boarding queue. It is
getting the tickets that are a pain but not boarding the car. Phase 1 cars can transport upto 1,500
people in an hour, so there is no need to worry. Each gondola car can carry six passengers.
4. Once you reach Kungdoor, do not stop there but proceed to collect boarding pass for phase 2 and
board phase 2 car. You can enjoy Kungdoor on your way back. There are restaurants at Kungdoor and
you may want to eat on your way back. Kongdori Restaurant at the mid station is particularly
recommended but on way back.
5. Gondola tickets will speak about slots with 3 hour duration - you can safely ignore them. Enjoy ski and
scenery for as long as you want.
Some additional tips:
Most people come to Gulmarg as a day trip from Srinagar. Thus, crowds begins to collect from 11:30 AM.
Please start early from Srinagar so that you can beat the crowds


GONDOLA
TICKETS


Phase 1


Ticket Adult Child (3 to 10 Year) Child Below (3 Year)
Gulmarg to Kungdoor 400 400 Free



Phase 2


Ticket Adult Child (3 to 10 Year) Child Below (3 Year)
Kungdoor to Aparwath 600 600 Free



Chair Lift


Ticket Adult Child (3 to 10 Year) Child Below (3 Year)
Kungdori to Marry Shoulder 300 Not Allowd Not Allowd



Accessible from
Srinagar.



You can reach Gulmarg by car or bus from Srinagar (Capital of Jammu & Kashmir) in about 1
hour.During summers the SRTC daily sightseeing coaches are available in the morning at Tourist
Reception Centre. Local buses are available only upto the Tangmarg market from where the mini
coaches can be hired upto Gulmarg. Taxi can be hired from any taxi stand at fixed one way or
return journey charges. During winter a jeep type vehicle (Scorpio, Qualis or Sumo) is
recommended as the regular snow fall and minus temperatures makes the Tangmarg-Gulmarg
road portion highly slippery with narrow passage. Travel agents assistance can be useful.


By Bus.


Available from Srinagar (Batmaloo bus stand) buses operate to Tangmarg which is just few miles
away from Gulmarg. From Tangmarg there is a regular service of buses and taxi to Gulmarg.


Taxi / MUV / SUMO


Direct Taxi / MUV service is also available from Srinagar (Batmaloo bus stand).
Prepaid Taxi / MUV is available from Srinagar International Airport and Tourist Reception Center.
Click here for the Driving Directions for Gulmarg from Srinagar