Gulmarg : Where diazepam runs in the air

Tripoto
8th Jun 2017

Gulmarg

Photo of Gulmarg : Where diazepam runs in the air by Saloni G
Day 4

Gulmarg : A heartland of winter sports in India

A town situated in Pir Panjal range in the Himalayas.

Gulmarg means "Meadow of flowers"

There are 21 different varieties of wild flowers growing here

It's a place worth visiting in winters when the natural meadows of Gulmarg are covered with snow and Skiing and other winter sports in Gulmarg are carried out on the slopes of Aphrawat peak.

beauty of Gulmarg in winters.

Photo of Hotel Rotana, Sonwar Bagh, Srinagar by Saloni G

Gulmarg is rated as Asia's 7th best skiing destination.

Honestly speaking with didn't had any planned night stay here. It's a popular saying among people that there is a diazepam in Gulmarg's air.

"Yahan ki hawayon mein nasha hai""

At that time , i just did a call to Abid bhai to arrange a night stay for us at Gulmarg.

Being a medical student or you can say out of curiosity , I honestly wanted to experience that.

Way to Gulmarg:-

56 kms from Srinagar via Tangmarg. From Tangmarg it is 12 kms uphill to Gulmarg, with serpentine roads passing through forest of Pine and Fir.

From Tangmarg you are supposed to hire raincoats and gumboots because Gulmarg has the most unpredictable weather so you should be well armed with all the weapons for those changing weather conditions.

( It will cost you around 300-400 for a raincoat + gumboots per person.)

#Advice

Do take a government guide from Tangmarg to Gulmarg . This helps you to save a lot of money from horse owners as well as from the Gondola ride.

( There are fixed prices for the government guides - about 900 - 1000 INR)

Local sightseeing :-

Firstly we decided to hire the horses which will take you to all the spots.

On to the horse..

Photo of Gulmarg by Saloni G

**Here comes the role of the government guide**

Without any government guide the horses will cost you about 500 for a ride per person.

But with the help of the guide you don't have any need to negotiate as he will arrange everything for you and it costed us around 900 for the right of four horses.

1. Gondola ride

Honestly the recent news of gandola accident was really very very devastating and it has affected me so much.

Because when you have visited a place and then something happens, you keep on getting flashbacks of that place.

But apart from all the,

Gondola ride is one of the best thing which you can get in Gulmarg.

Gondola ..

Photo of Gulmarg Gondola, Baramulla by Saloni G

Highest gondola in world

Photo of Gulmarg Gondola, Baramulla by Saloni G

Gulmarg Gondola is one of the highest in the world reaching 3,979 m.

Phase 1 Gondola

It's from Gulmarg at 8,530 feet to 10,050 feet Kongdoori.

view from gondola

Photo of Gulmarg : Where diazepam runs in the air by Saloni G

the height can't just be imagined

Photo of Gulmarg : Where diazepam runs in the air by Saloni G

Weather -By the time we started our ride it was raining a bit.

At Phase 1 ,we saw the changing colors of Gulmarg weather.

By Mid Day, there were light breezes with wispy clouds. This mountain range is banked with rain clouds.

By the time, we could see mist, fogginess all around with growing cold( that's when those coats helped us).

phase 1

Photo of Kongdoori, Gulmarg by Saloni G

mist and fog

Photo of Kongdoori, Gulmarg by Saloni G

Seven Springs- It's a small well that lets out water from some unknown small 7 holes to a large trench which is full of water .

It's really quiet amazing.

Photo of Gulmarg : Where diazepam runs in the air by Saloni G
Photo of Gulmarg : Where diazepam runs in the air by Saloni G

There are Shelters at Phase 1 ,with some eating hubs, so enjoy the spicy , zestful, hot food there.

Photo of Gulmarg : Where diazepam runs in the air by Saloni G

Maggie for such an awesome weather

Photo of Gulmarg : Where diazepam runs in the air by Saloni G

Phase 2 Gondola

Starts from Kongdoori to Apharwat peak at about 13,000 feet.

We didn't went for phase 2 gondola because of many reasons,

-Because there are no Shelters there to save you from Harsh weather.

-There is less oxygen available at such a high altitude.

-And the most important reason why people visit phase 2 is to see the snow and because we've already visited Sonamarg the previous day, we were least interested to visit Phase 2.

Ride of phase 1 will cost you around 600 to 700 INR a person and a ride of phase 2 will cost you 90o INR extra.

Back from Gondola onto the The horse rides

paved paths.

Photo of Gulmarg : Where diazepam runs in the air by Saloni G

flat terrain

Photo of Gulmarg : Where diazepam runs in the air by Saloni G

The pave path,

the flat Terrain ,

and Sunshine

It can't get any better than this

place where song " jiya re " of jab tak hai jaan was shot

Photo of Gulmarg : Where diazepam runs in the air by Saloni G

2. St. Mary's Church

church

Photo of St. Mary Church, Gulmarg by Saloni G

It's a Roman Catholic Church there and it is only accessible by trekking.

3. Fishing farm

Photo of Gulmarg : Where diazepam runs in the air by Saloni G

And I didn't fish , just posed..

Photo of Gulmarg : Where diazepam runs in the air by Saloni G

This point is famous for it's Rainbow Trout fishing. You can actually fish there and you can take a maximum of 3 fishes with you by paying for them.

4. Bobby Hut

A scene of the movie Bobby was shot here in a hut and that came to be known as the Bobby Hut. Not actually a scene , but the popular song in bollywood

"hum tum ek kamre mein bandd hon "

was shot here.

Photo of Gulmarg : Where diazepam runs in the air by Saloni G

5. Golf Course

Situated at an altitude of 2,650 m, it is the highest green golf course in the world.

Photo of Gulmarg Golf Course, Gulmarg by Saloni G

6. Shiv temple

jai jai shiv shankar

Photo of Gulmarg : Where diazepam runs in the air by Saloni G

This temple is situated on a slight Hill Top with greenery and is visible from all the corners of Gulmarg. Best part is that the Muslim priests perform all the rituals here.

It's when Kashmir gives you the best example of reaching above all the religions for the cause of humanity.

This them is again popular for being featured in the song

" jai jai shiv shankar"

Hotel Green park:-

A little hut (hotel ) in the mountains, Crisp clear skies ,cool breeze , a rainy day , endless cups of adrak chai and when night falls, it's chilling cold.

best hotel

Photo of Gulmarg : Where diazepam runs in the air by Saloni G

Heaven?

Quiet right.

It was indeed a heaven.

adrak chai

Photo of Gulmarg : Where diazepam runs in the air by Saloni G
Photo of Gulmarg : Where diazepam runs in the air by Saloni G

The rooms had a high ceiling and a decor in multi shades with all Kashmiri style, a cool,yet crisp ambiance warmed by the smiles of the polite serving staff.

Kashmiri influenced room decor

Photo of Gulmarg : Where diazepam runs in the air by Saloni G

Diazepam feels

The rooms were so relaxing, so tranquilizing, so wonderful ,with mountains just staring at you from windows.

It wad so chilly outside and with heating pad on, we didn't even realise when we fell asleep.

That thing of "hawayon mein nasha "was coming out to be true.

After a sleep of about 4-5 hrs , we had an amazing dinner and and

Again fell on the beds..

It was like the beds are calling.

A person so insomniac like me , could actually feel the diazepam effect.

So a night stay in Gulmarg is a must.

The mornings were never so beautiful for me

Photo of Gulmarg : Where diazepam runs in the air by Saloni G

Those mountains where my heart still resides

Photo of Gulmarg : Where diazepam runs in the air by Saloni G
Photo of Gulmarg : Where diazepam runs in the air by Saloni G
Photo of Gulmarg : Where diazepam runs in the air by Saloni G

For bookings in hotel green park :- http://www.hotelgreenparkgulmarg.com/

MOBILE : 9622441518

EMAIL : HOTELGREENPARKGUL@GMAIL.COM

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