Gulmarg Gondola Ride: Phases, Timings, Price & Booking (2026)

Gulmarg Gondola ride at a glance

Fare (Phase 1 / Phase 2): Rs 800 to Kongdoori, Rs 1,000 on to Apharwat, Rs 1,800 for both

Timings: boarding from about 8 am, upward gate closes around 3:30 pm, last ride down around 5 pm, weather permitting; shorter in winter

Ride time: about 10 minutes for Phase 1, about 12 minutes for Phase 2

Top altitude: Kongdoori around 10,000 ft (about 3,050 m); Apharwat top station around 13,050 ft (3,980 m)

Closed: reported 2nd and 4th Monday each month for maintenance

Best time: December to February for snow, May to August for green meadows

Booking: online only, in advance, on the official JKCCC portal (etickets.jammukashmircablecar.com); offline counter sales have been discontinued

Worth it? yes; even Phase 1 alone gives the snow-and-meadow views most visitors come for

Gulmarg Gondola ticket price (2026)

Tickets are sold by phase, so you can ride only the lower leg or go all the way up. The headline 2026 fares are below. For the full breakdown, including tatkal rates, the chairlift ticket and the child policy, see our Gulmarg Gondola ticket price guide.

Peak-season slots sell out, so a limited tatkal quota is released for the next day (reported around 5 pm) at a higher rate, roughly Rs 1,100 for Phase 1 and Rs 1,300 for Phase 2. Prices are set by the JKCCC and can change; check the full fare page before you travel.

Gulmarg Gondola timings and maintenance days

Boarding slots on the official portal open at about 8 am, the gate for upward rides closes around 3:30 pm and the last ride down is around 5 pm, but the mountain, not the clock, has the final say. High wind or heavy snow can pause or stop rides at short notice, and the last ride up is called earlier than the last ride down. Winter hours are shorter than summer. Full slot-by-slot timings for both phases are on our Gulmarg Gondola timings page.

Phase 1 vs Phase 2: which one to ride

If your time or budget stretches to only one leg, this is the decision that matters most. Phase 1 lands you at Kongdoori, a broad bowl of meadow in summer and a beginner ski slope in winter. Phase 2 lifts you far higher, onto the flank of Apharwat, where the snow lingers into summer and the views open onto the Pir Panjal range.

Short version: nervous first-timers, families with small children and anyone tight on time are happy stopping at Phase 1. If you came for snow in summer or the highest view, pay for Phase 2.

How to book the Gulmarg Gondola online

Booking ahead is the difference between riding at 10 am and standing in a queue that has already sold out. Tickets are issued through the official JKCCC portal (jammukashmircablecar.com). Here is the process.

1. Open the JKCCC booking portal on the official website and create an account or log in.

2. Choose your travel date, then pick Phase 1, Phase 2 or the combined ticket.

3. Select a time slot; morning slots go first, so book the earliest one that suits you.

4. Enter passenger details for every rider. Children may need ID; carry it.

5. Pay online. You get a confirmation with a QR code or reference number.

6. Save the confirmation on your phone and reach the base station early to clear the queue and security.

If the day you want shows sold out, watch for the tatkal quota released online the evening before (reported around 5 pm). The JKCCC has discontinued offline counter sales to curb touting, so do not count on buying a ticket at the base on the day. In peak winter and the May to June rush, advance booking is strongly advised.

Best time for the Gulmarg Gondola ride

The gondola runs year round, weather permitting, but the experience changes completely with the season.

December to February brings deep snow, skiing off Apharwat and the postcard white landscape most people picture. It is the busiest and coldest stretch, and rides pause in bad weather.

May to August is the green season: Kongdoori turns to meadow, wildflowers appear and Phase 2 still holds patches of snow. Comfortable and very popular with families.

Autumn (September to October) is quieter, with clear mountain air and golden slopes, a good window if you want the views without the peak crowds.

For a month-by-month view of the whole valley, see our best time to visit Gulmarg guide.

What you will see and do up top

The ride is only half the point; the stations open onto some of the best high country in Kashmir. From Kongdoori (the Phase 1 top) you look back over the Gulmarg bowl and across to Khilanmarg, the meadow ridge that doubles as the nursery ski slope. Phase 2 climbs to the shoulder of Apharwat Peak, around 3,980 metres (13,050 ft), just below the 4,200-metre-plus summit, where the snow can lie into July and the view runs to the Pir Panjal and, on a clear day, distant Nanga Parbat.

From the top stations you can ski and snowboard the marked winter runs, try tobogganing or a snow-slide with the local operators, hike toward Alpather Lake in the warmer months, or simply photograph the peaks. Ski gear and guides can be hired at the base and at Kongdoori. A chairlift from Kongdoori runs up towards Mary's Shoulder as a round-trip scenic ride (you stay seated and come back down to Kongdoori), giving a higher vantage without the full Phase 2 climb.

About the Gulmarg Gondola

The Gulmarg Gondola was conceived by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir in 1988. Phase 1, from Gulmarg to Kongdoori, opened in 1998, and Phase 2, up to Apharwat, became operational on 28 May 2005. Built with French cable-car technology and run today by the JKCCC, the system uses a line of towers along the Gulmarg to Kongdoori stretch and ranks among the highest operating gondolas in the world. It serves double duty: everyday transport up the mountain, and the headline attraction that brings most visitors to Gulmarg.

Getting to the base station

The gondola base is in Gulmarg town, about 50 km from Srinagar and a short walk or pony ride from most hotels. If you are planning the journey in, our how to reach Gulmarg guide covers the drive from Srinagar and the nearest railhead. Gulmarg pairs naturally with the rest of the valley, so many travellers fold the gondola into a wider Kashmir tour package.

Plan your Gulmarg trip

The gondola is the highlight, but Gulmarg rewards a proper stay, with skiing, alpine walks and the golf course. When you are ready, browse our Kashmir tour packages to build the gondola into a full valley itinerary.

Edited by TravelTriangle