Gulmarg Gondola Ticket Price 2026 (Phase1&2)

Gulmarg Gondola Ticket Price 2026 (full fare table)

Fares are per person and apply to the 2026 season. Rates are set by JKCCC and can move with government or seasonal revisions, so confirm the live price when you book.

The old counter rate of roughly Rs 370 to Rs 480 you may still see quoted online is out of date. The chairlift is a separate ride from the gondola, and children under 11 are not allowed on it for safety.

What each ticket covers

Phase 1 carries you from the Gulmarg base station up to Kongdoori at around 3,050 m in roughly 8 to 10 minutes. Most families and first-timers stop here, ride the small chairlift, play in the snow and head back. Phase 2 climbs on from Kongdoori to the upper station on the shoulder of Apharwat Peak at about 3,950 m (the true summit, above 4,200 m, is a trek beyond), where the views open out over the Pir Panjal range and, on a clear day, toward Nanga Parbat. Buy the combined ticket only if you intend to go all the way up. If the weather closes in at the top, Phase 2 is the first thing JKCCC suspends, so keep your plan flexible.

Infants under 3 travel free. There is no separate discounted child fare on the gondola itself, so an older child pays the adult rate. Carry a government photo ID; the online booking asks for one, and the same name has to match at boarding.

How to book Gulmarg Gondola tickets online

Book on the official portal as soon as your dates are firm. In peak winter and on snow weekends, standard slots often sell out well in advance. The steps take about five minutes.

1. Open the official JKCCC site, jammukashmircablecar.com, and open its e-ticket booking portal (etickets.jammukashmircablecar.com).

2. Pick your visit date, then select Phase 1, Phase 2 or the combined ride.

3. Choose a time slot. Morning slots (before noon) have the clearest views and the shortest lift queues.

4. Enter each traveller's name and ID exactly as it reads on the photo ID you will carry.

5. Pay online. You get an e-ticket with a QR code by email and SMS.

6. Show the QR code at the base station to collect your boarding pass. Reach 30 to 45 minutes before your slot in peak season.

Tickets are sold only through the official JKCCC online portal. There is no authorised third-party booth, so ignore touts near the base station who offer to sell you a slot. If a date is sold out online, some quota is held back for the tatkal window described below.

Tatkal (last-minute) gondola tickets

When advance slots are full, JKCCC releases a limited tatkal quota online at 5 pm each evening for the next day's rides. Tatkal costs more than the standard fare, roughly Rs 1,110 for Phase 1 and Rs 1,310 for Phase 2 in 2026, and it sells out fast on snow weekends. It is a genuine fallback if you land in Gulmarg without a booking, but treat it as plan B. Booking the standard ticket in advance is cheaper and far less stressful.

Phase 1 or Phase 2: which should you take?

If you have kids, older parents or only a couple of hours, Phase 1 to Kongdoori is enough. There is snow to play in most of the winter, a chairlift, and cafes at the top. Phase 2 is worth the extra (about Rs 1,000) if you want the high-alpine view from Apharwat, want to ski the upper bowls, or are chasing the widest snowscape. Two honest caveats: Phase 2 is noticeably colder and thinner on oxygen, and it is the section most often shut for wind or poor visibility. Check the weather forecast and JKCCC's running updates before you book the combined ride.

Is the Gulmarg Gondola open in winter? Timings and weather

Yes. Winter, roughly December to February, is peak gondola season, when Gulmarg turns into a full ski resort and both phases run whenever the weather allows. Boarding usually opens around 8 to 9 am, gate entry closes at 3:30 pm, and the last return ride runs until about 5:00 pm. The gondola shuts on some maintenance days, reported as the 2nd and 4th Monday of the month, and it pauses whenever high wind or heavy snow makes the cable unsafe, so build a spare half-day into a winter trip.

Dress for real cold at the top: thermals, a waterproof jacket, gloves, a woollen cap and sunglasses for the glare off the snow. Waterproof shoes matter more than you think. You can rent gum boots, jackets and gloves at the base if you are not carrying your own. For the wider seasonal picture, see our guide to the best time to visit Gulmarg and snowfall in Jammu & Kashmir.

Reaching the gondola from Srinagar

Gulmarg sits about 50 km from Srinagar, a scenic 1.5 to 2 hour drive by taxi through Tangmarg. In winter, after fresh snow, ordinary cars are often stopped at Tangmarg, about 13 km below Gulmarg, where you either fit snow chains or switch to a local chain-fitted 4x4 taxi for the final climb, so start early. The gondola base station is a short walk from the main Gulmarg market and hotels. For the full route, stops and where to stay, see the Gulmarg travel guide.

Plan your Gulmarg trip

The gondola is the highlight of Gulmarg, but it is a half-day of a much bigger Kashmir trip that usually pairs Srinagar, Pahalgam and Sonamarg with it. Rather than booking each ride, hotel and cab separately, you can have a verified local agent build the whole itinerary around your dates and budget. TravelTriangle has planned trips for 40 lakh plus travellers since 2011, and every quote comes from vetted Kashmir specialists with free customisation and 24/7 on-trip support.

Browse customisable Kashmir tour packages, or, for a snow-season trip built around Gulmarg, our Kashmir family packages that bundle the gondola, transfers and stays.

Fares on this page are compiled from JKCCC notices and 2026 traveller reports. Small revisions happen, so confirm the live rate on the official portal before you pay.

Edited by TravelTriangle