The Hindu Business Line : Gulmarg, it’s cool!

Projecting Gulmarg as a world-class winter tourist destination, Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation recently started a snow festival in the area, to coincide with the beginning of the winter tourism season.

The festival started with a Christmas mass at the historic St Mary’s church with Santa Claus distributing sweets to children. Excited tourists later watched a group of daredevil skiers in action under the moonlight and with torches in their hands.

Gulmarg or ‘meadow of flowers’ was recognised as a skiing spot by the British living in India during early 19th century.

Since then the hill-station has become a favourite among tourists as well as sportspersons.

The three-day snow festival attracted visitors from all over the world. Ice-skating, snow rugby, snow cycling, making of snowmen, and other cultural events were the highlights of the festival.

Arabhi, a tourist said, “It’s really exciting being in Gulmarg, it feels just like in heaven.” She also took part with her family in the various competitions.

“I loved making a snowman; though it was cold I enjoyed myself,” she said.

Situated at an altitude of 8,700 ft, Gulmarg has been a regular favourite with winter tourists.

“Our aim is to project Gulmarg as the ultimate tourist and winter sports destination in India. The response from leaders in tour and travel industry has been encouraging,” said Naeem Akhter, secretary of the State tourism department.

“Tourists love the events and one could see everybody enjoying themselves with snow in different ways,” said Yasir, a local tour operator.

To add to the festivity, the department roped in various cultural groups to entertain visitors. Local artistes performed during the carnival in the evenings.

Director of Tourism, Farooq Shah, expressed optimism that the snow festival would bring in more tourists to Gulmarg. The season is also a favourite visiting time for newlyweds, he added.

This year, the early snowfall added to the visitors’ joy.

Alex, a tourist from Switzerland, who was visiting with his family said, “We really enjoyed being here at a time when the snow festival is being celebrated. The slopes of Gulmarg resemble those in Switzerland, we really feel at home.”

Alex has been a regular visitor to Gulmarg over the past few years and intends to return in the future too.

An added interest in the Gulmarg valley is the 5-km long Gondola cable car project that goes up to an altitude of 13,500 ft in the Afarwat hills. This cable car project is said to be the highest in the world.

An eight-hole golf course, among the highest in the world, is another highlight of the place.

In the 1960s Gulmarg was a favourite shooting spot among Bollywood directors and several memorable films like Junglee, Mere Sanam and Andaz were shot in picturesque locations here.

A plan to link the Gulmarg valley with similar tourist spots in Pakistan-administered Kashmir is also finding increasing favour among the officials.

Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Tourism Muzaffar Hussain Baig while confirming the plans said tourism development was one of the major agendas of the ongoing dialogue process between India and Pakistan.

“Once the modalities are sorted out, we can have a common sector of tourism which will include Gilgit and other areas of Pakistan. Political will is a must for the Valley to become an international tourism arena,” Baig said during a chat with newspersons.

The department also plans to hold a food festival where tourists can relish the traditional formal Kashmiri meal or wazwan.

To promote adventure tourism, several steps are being planned such as installing a ski-lift at a much higher point, import of ski equipment, hosting the fifth National Winter Games in Gulmarg, and organising a Federation of Skiing approved race in the Valley from the first week of March.

Accommodation is available here at reasonable rates, says Shah, dubbing Gulmarg “one of the world’s most affordable hill-stations.”

In 2007, the Kashmir valley received a little over 3 lakh tourists.

The department hopes that with normalcy returning to the State, the valley will host more than half a million tourists in the coming year.

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