Gulmarg Top Destinations

Gulmarg travel guide series, in this article I will provide some information on tourist attractions in Gulmarg and its nearby areas. To be honest, natural beauty and vistas capable of leaving you mesmerized is what the main attraction of Gulmarg is. It is one of the top tourist destinations of our country; and thousands of people flock here each year to spend some time in the lap of Mother Nature. The calm of the place and its meadows will leave you wanting to stay here for as long as you could. Come winter, it turns into the most famous ski resort of our country. Just about everything about this little town is beautiful. With that being said, there are a few spots here that deserve a mention and a visit definitely; places that can be considered as of interest for people visiting.

Gulmarg Gondola
Without any doubt, a Gondola ride is by far the biggest tourist attractions of Gulmarg. It not only draws tourist here from other parts of the country but even from Kashmir itself. The cable car brings tourists from Gulmarg to the top of Apharwat peak and the views that it offers of other snow capped peaks and the valleys is definitely worth the journey. I have discussed Gulmarg Gondola in details in a different article; How to Plan Your Gulmarg Gondola Ride.

Alpather Lake
This lake is also known locally as Frozen lake due to the fact that it freezes completely in winter season. It is situated at the top of Apharwat Peak and is about 1 hour steep walk from the point where Gondola Phase 2 drops you. It is about 3 kilometers only but will definitely take it out of you due to the steep climb. To know more, please read How to Plan your Trek to Alpather Lake.

Apharwat Peak
Apharwat Peak is a summit, situated at a height of 4,390 meters (14,403 ft) above the sea level. It receives heavy snowfall and remains covered with snow for much of the year. The Line of Control (LOC) is barely a few kilometers away from here. The peak is actually visible from everywhere in Gulmarg. It is just the biggest mountain right in front of your eyes. You don’t even need to go anywhere or plan a trip here separately; as the Gondola ride itself is all about climbing up the Apharwat peak.

Maharani Temple
Also known simply as Rani Temple, the temple was built by Maharaja Hari Singh and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is named as Maharani temple because the queen Maharani Mohini Bai used to perform prayers here everyday. The most extraordinary thing about this temple however is that the priest here is actually a Muslim, Ghulam Mohammad Sheikh. Yep, you read that right !!!

Gulmarg Golf Course
It is considered as one of the highest golf courses in the world. The entry is free for tourists. You can just walk through the golf course and for Rs. 300 per hour, you can even play some golf here. The workers at the Golf Club will be more than eager to have you come and play.

St. Mary’s Church
This beautiful church was built here in Gulmarg during the British rule in India. This Victorian Architectural Wonder is located quite close to the Golf course and Maharani temple.
Maharaja Palace
This palace was built by Maharaja Ranbir Singh of Kashmir and was once his residence. It is now open for tourists for a nominal fee. There are some ancient weapons on display inside the palace which are worth seeing.

Children’s Park
OK so this is not really much of a tourist place. It is actually just a children’s park but is located in the meadows and is quite beautiful. The entire set up of the park actually is quite calm and peaceful making it great for a small walk.

Strawberry Valley
When I heard about it first, I had really high hopes for this place but it turned out to be a complete disappointment. This is not actually a valley or anything but just a part of Gulmarg where there is a small strawberry plantation. Even the plantation is alive during winter season only; rest of the time it is just a bunch of dried up plants, nothing more. There is a camp site here though by the name of Gulmarg Meadows. So if you are interested in camping and want to stay a bit out of main Gulmarg town then go to Strawberry valley. Else, you may as well just skip it.