Gulmarg is a small village located in the Northern part of India, in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. It's located in the Pir Panjal peaks in the Western edge of the Himalayan Mountains. The nearest city is Srinagar (52 kilometers from Gulmarg), which is Kashmir's state capital.

International travelers will most likely fly into Delhi, India and then take a flight to Srinagar (there are several land options available too). From Srinagar, you can take a taxi to Gulmarg. Approximate travel time (by air) from Delhi to Gulmarg is about 5 hours including flight and taxi to Gulmarg.

For more info, see these pages: flying to India, getting to Kashmir and getting to Gulmarg.

Let us know if you want us to book your domestic flight.

All foreigners traveling to India and Kashmir must possess a valid national passport (which must be valid for at least 6 months) and obtain a Visa for India. See our India Formalities page for complete details.

The road from Srinagar to Gulmarg is paved. During the winter months (and especially after a snowstorm), the roads in higher elevations (from Srinagar to Gulmarg) can be icy. However, road conditions have improved over the years, and there are more snowplows available to clear the roads quicker. All our taxi drivers carry chains for the last 12 kilometers.

The currency in India and Kashmir is the Rupee (INR).

The larger and nicer hotels, Kashmir heliski and Kashmir Alpine Rental Shop accept Credit Cards. India is a cash-oriented country. You will need to pay cash for lift tickets, food, and drinks in most places. Your hotel might agree to run a tab for all your meals and purchases and then allow you to pay at the end of your stay with a Credit Card. I say, "Get as much cash as you can before you get to Gulmarg!"

I have used Traveler's Checks all over the world but never in Gulmarg. I also never heard of anybody using Traveler's Checks in Gulmarg. It may be possible to use them, but I would try other options.

Yes, but they are not always reliable and do not always accept debit cards. See our village map for the Bank Location. We recommend getting as much cash as you can before you arrive in Gulmarg. It is possible to get Rupees in your home country; you can also change money or use an ATM Machine at the Delhi Airport, in Delhi, and in Srinagar. There is also an ATM Machine in Tangmarg, which is 12 km from Gulmarg.

Now that Gulmarg has a Bank, you can exchange foreign currencies in rupees. Other than at the bank, there are little or no places to exchange your money once you are in Gulmarg. It's best to exchange your money when you arrive in India at a bank in the airport. Make sure you ask for small denominations like R100 Notes as you will need them for small purchases, and it may be hard to get change in Gulmarg. See our village map for the Bank Location.

The official language is Urdu, but the main languages spoken are Kashmiri and Dogri. Hindu is spoken as a second language. English is widely spoken too.

Gulmarg is located in IST (India Standard Time) or UTC/GMT + 5 1/2 hours. There is no daylight savings time in Gulmarg. Gulmarg is 5 ½ hours behind Australian Summer Time and 10 ½ hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time (America).

Yes, travel insurance is mandatory for your trip to Gulmarg. There has been political unrest in Kashmir (which has subsided over the past decade), and Gulmarg Ski Resort is basically a backcountry ski resort that is not controlled. For these reasons, travel insurance is mandatory. See our travel insurance page for more info.

Most major airlines (Air India, Jet Airways, and Virgin Atlantic) have a free baggage allowance of 2 pieces of luggage that must not exceed 158 cm (62 inches) or 20 to 23 kilograms (50 pounds). Please be sure to always double check your airline carrier's website for up-to-date information. See our flying to India page for more details.

Most domestic airlines in India accept 20 kilograms plus a small carry-on bag. Extra luggage costs about 100 Rupees per extra kilograms and/or 1000 Rupees for sport equipment.

We recommend that you place the following items in your checked baggage rather than your carry-on luggage: Cameras, video cameras, walkie talkies, batteries, and any type of safety equipment (transceivers, shovels, and probes). It will make things go smoother when they check your bags.

Most of the nicer hotels will have telephone, TV, radio, and laundry services, but don't expect flat screen TVs or personal Internet connection in your room. One new hotel, Khyber Mountain Resort & Spa, will have a gym, indoor pool, and a spa.

India is 110 volts with an English type of plug. It might be a good idea to bring a converter and an adapter with a fuse to prevent problems with your expensive electronics as there could be a power surge. After coming back from India, I had to get a new power pack for my Macbook. I always buy a multi-plug extension cord when I go to Srinagar or Tangmarg.

As of 2011, all of Gulmarg has WiFi service – making it India's highest WiFi zone! But don't forget: it is still India… It will work sometimes… Most hotels offer WiFi but it is slow (as all guests are sharing the same slow connection) and unreliable.