A Kashmiri Photo Story (5) – Getting to Gulmarg
![gulmarg kashmir winter gulmarg kashmir winter](https://thetravellingsquid.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMG_2558-1024x768.jpg)
If you’re visiting Srinagar during the winter, going to Gulmarg is a must. From Srinagar, a return taxi costs about RS1,000 – 1,500 in low peak season. You can get a taxi easily from the road by the side of the Dal Lake. Remember to haggle.
I remembered taking a shared-mini van to Tanmarg, then to Gulmarg by bus. Took me about 3 hours to get there and cost RS200 (SGD5, USD4) in total. It cost the same for the way back. If you’re with a big group, it’s best to hire a taxi. It saves all the hassle and the cost when split between each person is only slightly more expensive than if you were to take the bus.
![getting to gulmarg kashmir winter getting to gulmarg kashmir winter](https://thetravellingsquid.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMG_2539-1024x768.jpg)
Total travelling time to and fro can take up to four hours, so try to start off early in the morning. The bus I was on met a vehicle which had broken down along the two-way mountain pass to Gulmarg, and it that took some time for the vehicles to squeeze their way pass. The congestion took some time to clear and I thank my good fortunes no car slipped down what seemed to me, a rather narrow mountain pass. But the local Kashmiris did not bat an eye. It seem from their looks, chatter (and whistles) that this sort of thing happened every other day.
![getting to gulmarg kashmir getting to gulmarg kashmir](https://thetravellingsquid.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMG_2548-768x1024.jpg)
![getting to gulmarg kashmir winter getting to gulmarg kashmir winter](https://thetravellingsquid.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMG_2549-768x1024.jpg)
If you’re not into ski-ing, there’s nothing much to do in honesty, except to take chill, have a chai and take the cable car up. It was pretty cold I remembered but what I took away was not the frost-bitten fingers but the beauty of a cold winter’s day.
![gulmarg kashmir cable car gulmarg kashmir cable car](https://thetravellingsquid.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMG_2615-1024x768.jpg)
I remember thinking to myself, some people travel thousands of miles to Europe to find a winter destination, and I thank my lucky stars for discovering Gulmarg, possibly the most economical and beautiful winter destination in all of Asia.
The photos below are a testament to Gulmarg’s beauty. It was so cold that my digital-camera’s shutter had some difficulty opening and closing, hence the black shadows surrounding the side of the photos. Nonetheless, they are still beautiful. Do enjoy.
![gulmarg kashmir houses winter gulmarg kashmir houses winter](https://thetravellingsquid.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMG_2562-1024x768.jpg)
![gulmarg kashmir ski trails gulmarg kashmir ski trails](https://thetravellingsquid.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMG_2571-1024x768.jpg)
![gulmarg kashmir ski trails gulmarg kashmir ski trails](https://thetravellingsquid.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMG_2573-1024x768.jpg)
![gulmarg kashmir fir trees gulmarg kashmir fir trees](https://thetravellingsquid.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMG_2574-1024x768.jpg)
![gulmarg kashmir cottages houses gulmarg kashmir cottages houses](https://thetravellingsquid.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMG_2596-1024x768.jpg)
![gulmarg kashmir cable car gulmarg kashmir cable car](https://thetravellingsquid.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMG_2612-768x1024.jpg)
![gulmarg kashmir winter ski slopes gulmarg kashmir winter ski slopes](https://thetravellingsquid.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMG_2621-1024x768.jpg)
![gulmarg kashmir winter ski slopes gulmarg kashmir winter ski slopes](https://thetravellingsquid.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMG_2629-1024x768.jpg)
![gulmarg kashmir winter cable car gulmarg kashmir winter cable car](https://thetravellingsquid.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMG_2613-1024x862.jpg)
![gulmarg kashmir winter cable car gulmarg kashmir winter cable car](https://thetravellingsquid.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMG_2606-1024x768.jpg)
![gulmarg kashmir winter ski slopes gulmarg kashmir winter ski slopes](https://thetravellingsquid.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMG_2624-1024x768.jpg)
![gulmarg kashmir winter cable car gulmarg kashmir winter cable car](https://thetravellingsquid.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMG_2628-1024x704.jpg)
![gulmarg kashmir winter cottages gulmarg kashmir winter cottages](https://thetravellingsquid.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMG_2651-1024x747.jpg)