Gulmarg : The Paradise Under Snow

Gulmarg is turning into Mecca of winter sports in the Himalayas – Ski thrill starting soon in the paradise under snow writes Mohammad Yousuf

All the activities come to an abrupt end when white mantle covers all our mountains and valleys in winter and people just think of huddling round the Bukharis or gas stoves etc. unaware of the fact that a vast sea of adventure lies open to us. The valleys where one treks in summer become excellent ski spots. Our mountains offer dozens of ski resorts but the most familiar among them is Gulmarg.

Before emerging Gulmarg as a winter sports resort it was used as a rest place by the tourists and shepherds to graze their cattle in summer. For winter sports there is no other place like Gulmarg in the entire Himalayas. It is in fact an enchanting abode of powder snow. Ski as a refined and great sport is of very recent origin in Kashmir. No doubt it started in Gulmarg during British Raj in 1927 but it was actually introduced to general public in early 1970’s. The British soldiers had formed a Ski Club at Gulmarg and large number of British was coming to Gulmarg during Christmas holidays. With the establishment of Gulmarg Winter Sports Project the ‘valley of flowers’ gradually developed into a major winter sports destination of the country. For the last forty years Gulmarg in winter grew slowly a playground of exciting snow sports and a winter holiday place. From middle of December and middle of April every year, the green slopes turn into natural white snow turf for the action packed game of skiing here. The ski slopes at Kongdori and Khilanmarg are rated as one of the finest in the world where skiing is possible up to late May. Over the years Gulmarg was regarded as a highest ski resort but also the cheapest in the world. The first snow fall invites the ski enthusiasts in the field. From 10 am to 4 pm every skier tries for more and more excitement out of the slopes on skis without any break.

There are number of winter Olympic sports such as alpine and cross-country ski, ski-jumping, bobsleighing, tobogging, ice hockey, ice skating curling derby, Olympic rodeo, biathlon, disabled skiing and luge etc. Presently only alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboarding and ice skating events are conducted at Gulmarg. Gulmarg could offer host of other events like luge, bobsleigh, ski jumping and tobogganing if necessary infrastructure is raised there. Tourism department is also promoting snow cycling and snow rugby here for last few years. Some Heli-skiers also zoom down nearby mountains here.

Mount. Apharwat, 13,500 feet in Gulmarg, is considered the Mecca of winter sports in India. It offers best skiing and snowboarding on different challenging ski runs, the most famous among them are Lily White, Bihari Pole and Marry Shoulder etc. Zooming down from top of the mountain over cornice could be most fascinating for extreme skiers. Keeping in view the degree of difficulty and gradient of Apharwat the first National Winter Games were held here under the auspices of Indian Olympic Association and Winter Games Federation of India in 1998. The 4th and 5th National Games were consecutively held here in 2004 and 2008 respectively. Some more competitions of national and international significance were also conducted here in recent past. The resort is well equipped with snow beating machines, ski doos, ski equipment and number of subsidiary puma ski lifts for novices and intermediate skiers.

In its endeavor to promote winter tourism in Kashmir the Tourism Department is organizing snow festival at Gulmarg for last two years in which competitions are held in snowman making, snow rugby, snow cycling, sledge race, alpine ski race ad ice skating competitions, Last year the Snow Baseball was also introduced. Besides, night ski demonstration, Band Pather (folk dance) and many other cultural activities are held to provide amusement and recreation to the tourist. This year there would be many other attractions to woo the tourists.

Ski-touring is growing fast in the resort because most of the foreigners are lured to go for wilderness skiing here. A trip to Mount Tatakoti, Mount Sunrise and Mount Sunset in Tosa Maidan of Pirpanjal range offers high adventure and great challenge. Every tour to these mountains reveals a new facet of the Himalayas to the foreigners. One can also undertake still longer trips to Yusmarg, Poonch and Varmul. For wilderness skiing the Alfredo Outer Circular Road, Nagatop (Gulmarg to Baba Reshi), inner circular road via Thandi Sarak and Monkey hills, Bud Pathri and Tangmarg via Ferozpur Nallah etc could also be ideal for day touring. The Mountain skis and snowboards are available with a private Hire Shop “Kashmir Alpine Shop”, looked after by two great adventurers, Mr. Yaseen Khan and Mr. Abdul Hameed Dar. The highly t trained and experienced Guides are also available there.

For routine day tourists Gulmarg is equally a paradise, particularly when there is about 8 to 10 feet of snow and huge icicles hanging on rooftops. While seeing who Gulmarg under snow they feel themselves in some mysterious and wonder land. Surprisingly, the soon tourists reach Gulmarg they start fighting with each other, no matter how close the relation is. It could be son to mother or father, wife to husband, or sister to brother but with “soft snow balls”. The excitement and the pleasant atmosphere perhaps lead them to hold snow fighting among them. Throwing snow balls at one another, winning or losing forts in face to face fights is joyful for every tourist. A trip on sledge around Gulmarg in winter has a soothing effect on soul.

The unique features make Gulmarg Asia’s premier ski resorts, such as; it receives good quantity of snow which is powdery and of good quality for skiing. Gulmarg is a bowl shaped resort, guarded by mountains all around. The surrounding mountains restrict cold winds to enter inside the valley. While as, the ski resorts in Alps and Rockies etc. are exposed to extremely cold winds and frequent avalanches which don’t usually occur here. From Gulmarg one can have a panoramic view of majestic mountains extending to the distant horizon, like Mt. Nanga Parbat, K2,, other Karakoram group of peaks in other part of Kashmir. From here one can also see Harmukh, Kolahoi, Nun & Kun (Zanaskar massif), Brahma groups of peaks, Sickle Moon in Kishtwar Himalayas etc. Besides there is a wonderful view of whole Kashmir valley beneath which make Gulmarg a wonder land of the Great Himalayas. Gulmarg has naturally well groomed ski runs suitable for a novice to advanced skier. It has good sunshine as well as good snow. The longest Gondola (5.2 Km) of Asia and highest (13,500 feet) in the world lies in Gulmarg which is the prime attraction of the resort.

Different organizations organize short and long ski courses for the youth here which include J&K Youth Services and Sports, University of Kashmir, Indian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering, Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering and Winter Sports and J&K State Sports Council. Some private schools are also conducting training programs for their students. Three types of courses are conducted i.e. Basic, Intermediate and advance course, usually of 14 days duration. The Tourism Department (Kashmir) has come up with a big programme this year. They intend to organize National Snow Rugby championship, Derby championship, 3rd Annual Snow Festival, Ice Skating camp for local boys and girls and National Junior Alpine Ski championship etc. Besides, the Winter Games Association of J&K shall hold Annual State Winter Games Championship in alpine and cross-country skiing, snowboarding and ice-skating events etc. District Winter Games Association, Srinagar is also planning to organize a coaching camp and feedback completion for its members at Gulmarg.

This is now right time for Government of India to declare Gulmarg as winter sports capital of India, as we have all sorts of natural facilities available here. Allotting Common Wealth Winter Games to a lesser popular resort of Uttaranchal is a step motherly treatment towards Kashmir. It is learnt that the Government of India has sanctioned hundred of crores of rupees to Uttaranchal for hosting the forthcoming Winter Common Wealth Games.

The article was published in Daily Rising Kashmir on December 12, 2008