Skiing in Gulmarg: Guide to India's Top Ski Resort (2026-27)

There is terrain here for every level. First-timers learn on gentle nursery slopes beside the village, intermediates ski from Gondola Phase 1 at Kongdori, and experts ride Phase 2 for ungroomed bowls with Nanga Parbat on the horizon. One thing surprises most visitors. According to skiresort.com, 70% of the marked terrain here is rated difficult, which is why serious skiers fly in from Europe and why beginners need a plan.

Gulmarg Ski Resort at a Glance

Current gondola and ski-pass fares sit on our Gulmarg skiing price, ski pass and entry fees page, which is updated separately from this guide.

Gulmarg Ski Slopes by Level

Where you ski in Gulmarg depends on which lift you are ready for. You start on the small slopes and move up only when an instructor says you are ready. The resort is laid out in three tiers, each one a lift higher than the last.

Beginners: the village nursery slopes (about 2,650 to 2,750 m)

First lessons happen on the gentle, groomed slopes of the Gulmarg bowl near the golf course. Short surface lifts pull you back up, so you spend your energy on turning rather than climbing. IISM batches and private instructors both teach on these slopes, and children as young as ten join IISM courses. Expect queues of snow-play tourists on weekends; lessons that start by 9 am get the quietest snow.

Intermediates: Gondola Phase 1 to Kongdori (about 3,050 m)

The Phase 1 cabin climbs from Gulmarg to the Kongdori plateau in about nine minutes. From the top, wide runs drop back through pine forest to the village, and JKTDC describes the gondola as giving a downhill ski run of about 3 km. The Kongdori chairlift takes you higher towards Mary's Shoulder for longer intermediate laps, and confident skiers drift into the tree runs around Monkey Hill. Kongdori is also where the snow events of the Khelo India Winter Games are held.

Advanced and experts: Gondola Phase 2 to Mount Apharwat (3,980 m)

Phase 2 runs from Kongdori to the Apharwat top station in about 12 minutes and is one of the highest cable cars in the world. Nothing up here is groomed. You get open alpine bowls, steep couloirs such as the Shark Fin, and descents that can run all the way back to the village. On a clear morning the view west takes in Nanga Parbat. This is avalanche terrain: ski it only with a certified local guide and a beacon, shovel and probe. More on that in the safety section below, and see Apharwat Peak if you are also going up for the view.

Gulmarg Gondola and Ski Lifts (Phase 1, Phase 2 and Chairlift)

The Gulmarg Gondola was built with technology from the French firm Pomagalski. Phase 1 opened in 1998 and Phase 2 began running on 28 May 2005. Tickets are sold online only on the official Jammu & Kashmir Cable Car Corporation (JKCCC) portal, and the old counters have closed. A limited tatkal quota is released around 5 pm for the next day, but on powder days Phase 2 sells out well before that, so book as soon as your dates are fixed.

Gondola timings change with the season. Boarding usually starts around 8 am, the upward gate closes at about 3:30 pm and the last cabin down leaves around 5 pm. The cable car also stops in high wind and for scheduled maintenance days, which have been reported as the second and fourth Monday of the month. Plan your hardest ski day for the middle of your trip so you have a spare day if the lift shuts. Our Gulmarg Gondola ride guide covers cabins and views, and the gondola ticket prices page lists sightseeing fares.

Best Time for Skiing in Gulmarg (Month by Month)

The best time for skiing in Gulmarg is mid-January to late February, when the base is deep and every lift is snow-safe. Opening dates depend on snowfall every year, so treat this table as a pattern, not a promise.

If you are planning a general Kashmir trip rather than a ski trip, read our best time to visit Gulmarg guide for summer meadows and the monsoon months. For snowfall across the valley, see snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir.

Skiing in Gulmarg for Beginners: Lessons, Instructors and IISM Courses

Gulmarg is a good place to learn to ski, as long as you start in the right spot. There are three ways to do it.

1. Private instructors by the hour or day. Hire only instructors registered with J&K Tourism; a full day of one-to-one coaching is roughly Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000, and small-group classes cost less per head.

2. A ski package. Instructor, gear, gondola and hotel bundled in one booking, which is the easiest route for a first trip. Browse Gulmarg tour packages and ask for ski lessons to be added.

3. An IISM course. The Indian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering in Gulmarg runs Ministry of Tourism snow-skiing courses of about two weeks. Its admission page lists courses for ages 10 to 40, at Rs 10,000 per course up to age 25 and Rs 20,000 above 25, covering boarding, lodging, training and ski equipment. Booking for the 2026-27 season opens on 12 November 2026 at 10 am, and seats go quickly.

With an instructor, most first-timers are making controlled snowplough turns by day two or three. Give yourself five days and you can link turns on the easier runs from Kongdori. Snowboarders follow the same path, and boards and lessons are offered by the same shops and instructors.

Ski Equipment Rental and What to Wear

You do not need to bring skis to Gulmarg. Skis, boots, poles, snowboards and ski clothing can be hired from the government ski shop and the private shops clustered near the gondola base. A standard beginner set costs about Rs 800 to Rs 1,200 a day, while wide powder skis for Phase 2 run about Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,500. Ask for a helmet with every rental, and check the boot fit before you pay, since a bad boot ruins a lesson faster than bad snow.

Pack these, or rent them on arrival:

• Thermal base layers (top and bottom) and a fleece mid-layer

• Waterproof ski jacket and pants, which are also available to hire

• Waterproof gloves plus a thin liner pair, and woollen socks

• UV-rated goggles and SPF 50 sunscreen, because the glare at 3,000 m burns in an hour

• A helmet, and for Phase 2 an avalanche beacon, shovel and probe

Experienced skiers usually bring their own boots and rent skis locally. Beginners should rent everything.

Off-Piste, Backcountry and Heli-Skiing in Gulmarg

Off-piste skiing is why Gulmarg is known worldwide. From the Apharwat top station, guided groups reach long, untracked descents, and fit ski tourers skin further along the ridge for terrain nobody else has touched. None of it is patrolled or avalanche-controlled the way European resorts are. That makes a certified local guide, a beacon, a shovel and a probe non-negotiable, along with the training to use them.

Heli-skiing returned to Gulmarg in February 2024 after a break of about four years, and the J&K government flagged it off again in February 2025. Operators and permits change from season to season, so confirm that a heli-ski operator is flying this winter before you build a trip around it.

How Much Does Skiing in Gulmarg Cost?

A beginner should budget roughly Rs 2,800 to Rs 4,200 a day for gear hire plus a private instructor, before gondola tickets and lodging. Your four cost blocks are:

• Lifts: gondola tickets per phase, or a ski pass. See the current Gulmarg skiing price and ski pass fares.

• Gear: about Rs 800 to Rs 1,200 a day for a standard set; Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,500 for powder skis.

• Instruction or guiding: about Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 a day for a private beginner instructor; more for a certified off-piste guide.

• Stay: from JKTDC huts to resorts beside the gondola, with rates peaking over Christmas, New Year and February.

A package can bundle the hotel, instructor, gear and gondola tickets in one booking. Gondola tickets are online-only and Phase 2 sells out on powder days, so that also takes the hardest booking off your list.

Avalanche Safety and Rules on Gulmarg's Slopes

Gulmarg is safe on the beginner slopes and Phase 1 if you pace yourself. Phase 2 and the backcountry are serious mountain terrain, and avalanches hit the Apharwat slopes most winters.

• Read the day's avalanche bulletin before going up. Warnings for Gulmarg and Baramulla district come from the Defence Geoinformatics Research Establishment (DGRE) and the J&K Disaster Management Authority.

• On Phase 2, carry a beacon, shovel and probe at all times, and know how to use them before you need to.

• Never ski Phase 2 or the backcountry without a certified guide, and stay within sight of your group.

• Take your first day slowly. The air at Kongdori and above is thin, so pick an easy run, ski it in short controlled sections and stop to catch your breath. Most people adjust within a day or two.

• Rest on arrival day, drink plenty of water and skip alcohol the night before a Phase 2 day.

• Gulmarg lies close to the Line of Control. Obey every no-go sign and instruction from the army, and carry a photo ID, since checks are common.

• Stay inside marked areas on Phase 1, and heed lift closures when the wind picks up.

Other Snow Activities in Gulmarg

Gulmarg also hosts the snow leg of the Khelo India Winter Games. The 2026 edition ran from 23 to 26 February at Kongdori, with alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, ski mountaineering and snowboarding. Dates for 2027 are usually announced a few weeks before. For more snow-day ideas, read 10 things to do during snowfall in Gulmarg and our full list of things to do in Gulmarg.

How Many Days Do You Need? 3, 5 and 7-Day Gulmarg Ski Itineraries

To book a ready plan, start with our Gulmarg tour in December package, or compare Gulmarg honeymoon packages and Gulmarg family packages. Every package can be customised to add lessons, gear and gondola tickets. For a longer valley trip, see all Kashmir tour packages.

How to Reach Gulmarg Ski Resort

Fly into Srinagar (SXR), then drive about 50 km, roughly 2 hours, through Tangmarg. After a heavy snowfall the last climb from Tangmarg needs snow chains or a 4x4, and local taxis switch over at Tangmarg, so leave Srinagar by mid-morning. Our how to reach Gulmarg ski resort page has the winter road details, and how to reach Gulmarg covers flights, trains and buses.

Where to Stay for Skiing in Gulmarg

Gulmarg is small, so where you stay comes down to how far you want to carry skis each morning.

• Near the gondola base: the upper-end resorts and hotels a short walk from Phase 1 save the most time on ski days.

• Around the golf course and market: mid-range hotels within a short taxi or sledge ride of the slopes.

• Budget: JKTDC huts and the government tourist accommodation, good value but booked out early.

Rooms for Christmas, New Year and February fill months ahead, so book your stay as soon as your gondola dates are fixed.

Gulmarg vs Auli vs Solang (Manali): Which Ski Resort in India?

Gulmarg is the clear pick if skiing is the point of the trip. Auli suits families and first-timers coming from Delhi, and Solang works for a day of snow on a Manali holiday. Compare them in detail in skiing in Manali vs skiing in Gulmarg, skiing in Auli and our round-up of skiing in India.

Planning Notes from Our Kashmir Desk

Lift, season and course details on this page were checked by our Kashmir desk against JKTDC, the JKCCC gondola portal and IISM's admission page in October 2026.

Edited by TravelTriangle