Facts & Figures
Area :5000sq.kmof kashmir+ladakh+jammu
Altitude : 1200m to 4000 m
Temperature Range : -6C to 14°C
Best time to Visit : any season

About Kashmir

Winter in Jammu and Kashmir starts in the month of December and it is extremely cold then. Even though the trees have a bare look and the beauty of the hued gardens no longer catches the eye, there is an altogether different charm in the surroundings. The snow covered landscape is a visual treat as well

Through December, to the beginning of March is winter time, which presents Srinagar in yet another mood. Bare, snow-covered landscapes being watched from beside the warmth of a fire is a joy that cannot be described to anyone who has not experienced it. Some houseboats and hotels remain open in winter-these are either centrally heated or heated with ‘bukharis', a typically Kashmiri stove kept alight with embers of wood, quite effective in the winter.

Winter In Kashmir

By December the winter season starts to fall and covers the valley to hibernate. But at the same time skiing at Gulmarg and the Himalayan chakore & Wild duck shooting season starts which tourists have been enjoying since the British Raj. Also if by any chance the Dal-lake freezes then one can enjoy the ice skating too. From 1987 heli-skiing has also started in certain new areas.

SRINAGAR

The Capital of Jammu & Kashmir, it is situated at an altitude of 1730 metres above sea level. Dal, Nagin and Anchar are some of the well-known lakes here. River Jhelum also runs through Srinagar. Dal is a very large lake requiring `shikara' ride to reach houseboats. a couple may like a houseboat in the interior of the lake, needing half-an-hour shikara ride, to reach far enough from glare. A houseboat has two to four bedrooms, attached bathroom and common sitting/dining room. Nishat, Cheshmashahi, Shalimar Gardens and Hazratbal are accessible directly by shikara. Mughal Gardens, with stepped terraces, were built by Mughal emperors who liked Kashmir. Hazratbal is said to have preserved the hair of Prophet Mohammed. It was damaged about 10 years ago in violence involving militants. Perching at the top in srinagar is the Shankaracharya temple, a Lord Shiva temple rebuilt about a 1000 years ago by the patriarch of all godmen, Adi Shankara. The site itself dates back to 2500 BC. It is said the philosopher visited Kashmir as part of his pursuit of propagating Sanatan Dharma

Gulmarg (Jammu and Kashmir)

Introduction: Gulmarg (or "Meadow of Flowers") is a town and a notified area committee in Baramula district in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. It is a hill station in Jammu and Kashmir.

History: British discovered the hill resort of Gulmarg in 1927 during their colonial rule in India. Originally called ‘Gaurimarg’ by shepherds, its present name was given in the 16th century by Sultan Yusuf Shah, who was inspired by the sight of its grassy slopes emblazoned with wild flowers. Gulmarg was a favourite haunt of Emperor Jehangir who once collected 21 different varieties of flowers from here. Today Gulmarg is not merely a mountain resort of exceptional beauty- it also has the highest green golf course in the world, and is the country's premier ski resort in the winter. During the early part of the 20th century, the famous Central Asian explorer Sir Marc Aurel Stein (1862 – 1943), made his home here in a tent between his expeditions. It was a favourite summer holiday destination for the British stationed in India. The surrounding areas were politically restive during the 1990s uprising in Kashmir, but after a ceasefire between India and Pakistan in 2003, the town is now enjoying a period of relative peace and quiet.

Description: With the abatement of militancy in the area, Gulmarg has quickly become one of the state's most visited destinations. The slopes of the Afarwat Hills of the Pir Panjal Range of the Himalaya Chain boast one of the longest and highest ski slopes in Asia. The total distance covered by ski lift is five kilometres and the resort peaks at an altitude of 3,747m/12,292ft, accessed by an aerial gondola (telecabine). The entire hill is guarded by the army at all times. The army, which is seen everywhere in the cities of Kashmir, is not in the town or the actual hilltop. Gulmarg does not have any permanent residents. All living in Gulmarg are hotel employees and guests. Everyone else is required to leave the village by sunset, as per curfew set by the army in 1990.

HOW TO REACH ?

Access From Airport

The nearest airport is Srinagar located in Kashmir valley. Direct flights are available from Mumbai,delhi.

Access From Railways

The nearest railway station is at jammu 280km from Srinagar.