Gulmarg Gondola is one of the world’s highest-operating cable cars, ferrying tourists from Gulmarg town to the top of nearby Apharwat Peak. A joint venture between the J&K government and a French firm Poma, this two-stage ropeway is capable of ferrying about 600 people per hour.
It is divided into two stages, more popularly known as two Phases. What these phases are and how you can plan for this cable car ride is what I will explain in the article below. For other details on visiting Gulmarg, you can also take a look at How to Plan your Trip to Gulmarg?
A Gondola ride is one of the biggest attractions that Gulmarg has to offer. There are plenty of other places to see as well but Gondola is what really draws thousands of tourists here each year, both local and also from other parts of the country.
During the peak tourist season, you may have to get in line and wait for hours before you will be able to board a Gondola. Not just the tourists but it is also a star attraction even for the local families of Kashmir.
For getting the best hotel rates, and taxi charges, and to organize your trip to Kashmir, you can speak with Kunal @ 9910 402 252. Give him my reference and you will surely get a discounted rate.
Quick Navigation
What is Gulmarg Gondola?
Gulmarg Gondola is a cable car system that ferries tourists from Gulmarg town to the top of the nearby mountains of Kongdori and Apharwat.
The word Gondola is not the name of any company as some people believe. A gondola is actually a traditional, flat-bottomed rowing boat that they use to ferry passengers in Venice.
The same name then got used for several other means of transport like Rail, Balloons, Airplanes, Ferris wheels, etc. In the case of a cable car, the word used is ‘Gondola Lift’ because this is what it actually is.
Like a regular lift in a building that takes you up and down between floors, a Gondola in Gulmarg is also a lift that will take you up and down a mountain. It is a word that actually means boat but is also used for all cable cars across the world.
Also Read: How to Plan a Trip to Kashmir – A Complete Travel Guide
About Gulmarg Gondola
There are two phases of the Gulmarg Gondola, or in simpler words, there are two stops of the Gondola. Gulmarg town is the starting point of the ride and the top of Apharwat peak is the endpoint. Kungdoor is the center point in between. Let me post a picture of it.
In the above picture, the spot where I have written # 1 is the starting point of the Gondola ride. This is where the booking station is and the ride starts. The entire mountain that you see in the picture is Apharwat peak.
Number 2 is the middle spot, the Kungdoor station where Phase 1 ends. A lot of people just prefer to go till this point. There are some dhabas there where you can get something to eat, relax, have fun, and return.
Number 3 is the finishing point of the Gondola ride, the end of Phase 2. It is at the top of Apharwat peak. If you want to go all the way to the top, you will have to buy another ticket for Phase 2.
Number 4 is actually where Alpather Lake is located at the top. It is a small lake that you can trek to from the Gondola station.
How to reach Gulmarg Gondola
The gondola station is located on the main market road, at the far end of it. If you are sitting somewhere near the Maharani temple, then you are at the other end of the road and need to start walking in the other direction.
So while planning a ride, the first thing you will have to do is to reach the Gondola boarding point. Depending on where you are staying in Gulmarg, you may have to do a bit of walking to get here. From Maharani temple, it is about 2 kilometers of a walk. If you did not want to walk that much, you can also hire a pony to take you there.
Just ask anyone for directions and you will get pointed toward where to go. If you are here during peak tourist season then just follow the crowd. In the end, you will arrive at this building.
Boarding Point
It looks like a hotel but is actually the entry gate of Gulmarg Gondola. They have the entire setup inside including the huge waiting hall and the boarding point. I will post a few pictures again.
This is the waiting room.
This is the spot where you jump on the Gondola. It is inside the building. The Gondola actually continues to remain in motion and never stops. So yes, you will actually have to get in while it remains in motion. It will not halt and wait for you to get on board.
The ticket counter however is outside so make sure you buy the tickets first before getting inside the building. This is the booking window.
Phase 1
So once you have the tickets in hand, you will board the Gondola for phase 1. If you were there during the off-season, there will be no waiting time involved.
I for example was there in mid-August and we were the only ones buying tickets. In tourist season though, I have heard that people had to wait in long queues both while buying tickets and then at the boarding point.
Once you get on board, it will take about 10-12 minutes at most and you will arrive at the Kungdoor station, the endpoint of Phase 1. Yes I know, it is too short but that is all there is to it.
At Kungdoor station, you will get off the Gondola and step out. This is what will be waiting for you outside.
The ride may be short but the view is what makes it all worth it. There are a lot of small tea stalls, and restaurants as well so you can step out, walk around, enjoy the vistas, and have something to eat.
There is also a small waterfall nearby at about 2 kilometers of walk. Do note though that it is actually a very small one and nothing too great. The 2 kilometers of the walk however is quite steep and will definitely take it out of you.
Phase 2
A lot of people and most families travel only till Phase 1 and go back from there. If you however want to go further then you board another Gondola to the top of nearby Apharwat peak. This is Phase 2.
You will have to buy tickets for both Phase 1 and 2 from the booking counter at Gulmarg only so keep that in mind. There is no booking counter at Kungdoor.
For people going to Phase 2, do not step out at Kungdoor station. Get off the 1st Gondola and right next to it is the boarding point for the 2nd one. Phase 2 is also a 10 – 12 minutes ride and will bring you to the top of Apharwat peak.
The vistas however will improve tremendously and you will really enjoy the natural beauty around you. There are no eating points here.
If you are a bit adventurous type, then you can trek to the nearby Alpather Lake, about 4-5 kilometers of walk away. Do remember though that this is another steep climb and is a bit difficult. I have explained this trek in another post on How to Plan a Trek to Alpather Lake.
This is the place where you catch a Gondola for Phase 2. As you can see, it is a different lift but like the previous one, this one too remains moving while you will step inside.
This is where Phase 2 ends. The green building is the Gondola station. Once you step out, you can then start walking to your right for Alpather Lake, as we did.
How to Plan Your Ride
A better way of doing the trip would be that you come straight to Phase 2 from Gulmarg first. Walk around and enjoy the beauty at top of the mountain. Trek to Alpather lake if you wish to.
Then on your way back, get off at Phase 1 and step out. See the meadows here, eat around, and then take the Phase 1 Gondola back to Gulmarg.
Good to know information is that the end of Phase 2 is not really the top of the Apharwat peak. It actually is at Kongdoori Mountain, a shoulder of nearby Apharwat Peak.
The top of Apharwat is again 5 kilometers of trekking towards Alpather Lake, to your right as you will notice in the first picture I posted on this page. Standing up here, you can see the actual line of Control and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
Also Read: How to Plan a Journey to Aharbal?
And that is pretty much it. That is your Gulmarg Gondola ride which by the time it ends will definitely leave you wanting for more.
Sitting in a small cabin at such a great height with nothing beneath for several hundred feet is quite a thrill. Views you get from the Gondola and then from Kungdoor and Apharwat will blow your mind away.
Gulmarg Gondola Online Booking
There are two ways that you can buy tickets for the Gondola ride. You can either get it in person upon arriving at the counter. Or you can buy it online from the official Gondola Website.
Before COVID, you could either buy tickets online or from the counter. During COVID, the entire process was moved online and it has remained so since then.
As of now, you will have to get your tickets online. You cannot buy one from the counter anymore. In the future, they may bring back this option but I cannot confirm that as of now.
At the time of writing this article, I just checked the portal and it gives me the option of booking my ride 75 days in advance. Due to this, the tickets for Gondola are sold out for weeks sometimes.
There is really no way around it. You will have to plan your trip well and book the tickets online accordingly. If you weren’t able to do so, you will have to keep Gondola ride out of your travel plans.
Gulmarg Gondola Ticket Price
The ticket price for Phase 1, from Gulmarg to Kungdoor, is Rs. 740 per person. The fare for the second phase, from Kungdoor to Apharwat peak is Rs. 950 per person.
The fare of Gulmarg Gondola is different for both phases. You will have to book the ride for Phases 1 and 2 separately and will receive two different tickets.
Gulmarg Gondola Opening Time
During summer, the Gondola ride for Phase 1 starts at 9 AM and at 10 AM for Phase 2. During the winter season, the ride starts at 10 AM for Phase 1 and at 10:30 AM for Phase 2.
Gulmarg Gondola Closing Time
During summer, the ride is closed at 5 PM for Phase 1 and at 4 PM for Phase 2. During winter, this time is changed to 4 PM for Phase 1 and 3:30 PM for Phase 2.
Altitude
For phase 1, you will start from Gulmarg at an altitude of 2,650 meters and arrive at Kungdoor station, at a height of 3,100 meters.
For Phase 2, you will then climb up to a height of 3,980 meters at the top of Kongdori mountain. From here, if you are up for it, you can then trek to the top of the Apharwat peak at 4,200 meters.
Also Read: The Life & Legend of Habba Khatoon
Hotels
There are plenty of hotels in Gulmarg and you can easily find a hotel nearby. The entire town to be honest is not that big and no matter where you were staying, you can easily just walk to the entry point of the Gondola ride. Or else, you could just catch a Pony ride which is available here in plenty.
Is Gulmarg Gondola Safe?
This question actually now gets asked after the accident that claimed 7 lives including 4 tourists and 3 local guides. A tree nearby uprooted, fell on the cable, and swung it so hard that everyone inside the gondola fell out to their deaths.
Yes I know that sounds scary. The fact however is that it was an unfortunate accident, but the tourist rush for gondolas is still the same. I am inclined to say that yes it is completely safe, but I know the families of the deceased will never agree to this.
Best Time to Visit Gulmarg Gondola
If snow is what you seek then the best time would be the month of February when the entire region is buried under a thick sheet of snow. For green valleys, you can visit either in April or August.
I will however not recommend a Gondola ride in the months of April, May, and June because it tends to get too crowded at this time. You will end up waiting in long queues, will spend an entire day, and will get more frustrated than enjoying the ride.
Gulmarg Gondola in January
It is really the time for skiing and you will see plenty of skiers around. Gulmarg is known as one of the best skiing spots in our country.
The Chair car is specially built to take skiers to heights with all the equipment so they could then Ski down. There will be plenty of snow and the weather too can sometimes turn unpredictable closing the ride temporarily.
Gulmarg Gondola in February
It will be pretty much the same deal as January except for the fact that the amount of snow would be far much greater in February. February is the best time for a winter trip to Gulmarg. The chances of a blizzard and the gondola getting closed due to bad weather will also be very less.
Gulmarg Gondola in March
The snow would start to melt from the ground and would mostly be limited to upper areas by end of the month. Very little chance of the ride closing due to bad weather. This is when the snow in Gulmarg usually gets limited to Phase 1 or 2 of the Gondola.
Gulmarg Gondola in April
There will be plenty of greenery around and snow will be limited to upper areas like Phase 2. The views at this time will be a mix of green and white. The weather will also be pleasant will moderately warm days and cold nights.
Gulmarg Gondola in May
It is not really a good time because visiting in May means hours of waiting in lines. A Gondola ride of just about 20 to 25 minutes will see you spending the entire day waiting in line to get on a lift. But in terms of visiting Gulmarg with family, it is also one of the best times.
Gulmarg Gondola in June
June sees a bit of a dry season in Gulmarg. Greenery will be limited just to the golf course and the views will not be that great. But with that being said, the weather at this time will be just about perfect.
Gulmarg Gondola in July
The monsoon season hits the region by the end of June. It will start to be less crowded in July. It will start raining in July and if the weather turned bad, the ride may be closed temporarily. The Gondola accident that killed 7 people in Gulmarg happened towards the end of June.
Gulmarg Gondola in August
This is the month when the ride is the least crowded. When I was there in August, we were the only ones buying tickets. As a matter of fact, we were the only tourists in the entire Gulmarg I think. There was hardly anyone around.
Gulmarg Gondola in September
It is one of the best times to enjoy a Gondola ride. The weather will not be that bad and the views will be lush green. If you were in luck, phase 2 may even receive some snow towards the end of the month.
Gulmarg Gondola in October
Autumn is here and the vistas will turn more Orange. However, It tends to get a little crowded again in October. The weather will get colder with a high chance of a light spell of snow.
Gulmarg Gondola in November
There will not be much snow but the weather will be too cold. It won’t be too crowded at this time though. It is a good time to plan a budget trip to Gulmarg.
Gulmarg Gondola in December
December will again be a dry month, same as November, except for the fact that after Mid-December, it can snow in Gulmarg anytime.
Other Tips & FAQs
Mentioned below are some other tips that can be of help in planning a gondola ride in Gulmarg.
Gulmarg Gondola Guide
The entire town of Gulmarg is infested with guides and pony owners. They will attach themselves to you and won’t give up no matter how many times you say no. You cannot walk here 100 meters without a pony owner offering you a ride.
The same is the case with guides. The moment you enter a hotel, they will be waiting for you there. There are two problems basically. The first is that they have absolutely nothing to offer.
There is nothing in Gulmarg that they can show you that you can’t see on your own. For the Gondola ride as well, a guide will just tag along, walk with you and charge you money for it. There is no huge history here that they can tell you. No hidden place that only the guide will know about. He will just be walking with you and that is pretty much it.
The second problem is that they ask for way too much money. I mean I don’t mind giving a small amount of money to a local guide and letting him accompany me just in order to help someone in need.
But I am not going to pay Rs. 1,000 to someone just to let him walk with me for no reason. These guys will lie between their teeth; telling tall tales about places they can show you, viewpoints that only they know about. The truth however is that they got nothing.
Guide Charges
This one guide asked me for Rs. 2,500 to show me the way from Phase 2 to Alpather Lake, which they call ‘Frozen Lake’. I realized later on that there was no need for a guide.
You just need to stay walking to your right from the Gondola station and you will reach the lake anyway which even I did on my own. If I had paid him Rs. 2,500 then I would have cursed myself for being a fool that big.
Also Read: How to Plan a Trip to Doodhpathri?
Arguments & Fights with Local Guides
And then they have the audacity to even argue and fight with you. There have been incidents of fights between tourists and guides here because they asked for too much money and lied about what they were going to offer.
The tourist, unaware of the reality, agreed only to realize later on that he was being cheated and getting overcharged. When they refused to pay the agreed amount, it resulted in all the guides ganging up on the tourist.
My advice is to avoid them at all costs. Just walk your way and act like you can’t see or hear them around. They will be all around at the booking counter but just ignore them.
When to Hire a Guide
The only time when you can hire a guide is if you are there during peak tourist season. When it gets too crowded, they can then go stand in the queue on your behalf and arrange the ticket.
I have heard that they can even manage to let you bypass other waiting tourists and get your ride done quicker. But this again is a hassle for the tourist who refused to pay money; because then he is going to have to wait even longer because guides will keep breaking the queue and bring people to the front.
When is Gulmarg Gondola Closed?
The Gondola ride remains open throughout the year except for the times when the weather is a bit extreme; especially during winter and monsoon season. If it is snowing a bit too much or raining with high winds then the ride is closed for safety reasons.
Alpather Lake
Frozen Lake is what the guides call it; even in the months of July and August. The fact is that this lake is frozen only in winter; not in summer.
In order to get to the lake, after you arrive at the Phase 2 Gondola station, just start walking to your right and you will get there. The fun fact is that there is actually a motorable road up here to the lake that Army uses.
So you don’t even need to climb anywhere. Just keep walking to your right on the road and it will bring you to the lake. I have posted a step-by-step trek guide with pictures at How to Trek to Alpather Lake on Your Own Easily?
How to Book Gulmarg Gondola Tickets?
The tickets for Gulmarg Gondola can be booked at the online portal. I have found this portal to be non-operational a lot of times. If the link tells you that the website is down, it means that the portal is down and you will have to check back later.
Conclusion
I hope the information above on planning a ride on Gulmarg Gondola was of help. If you have any questions, you can contact me on Instagram and I will be happy to answer. You can also consider subscribing to my YouTube channel and asking a question there.
50 comments
Dear Mr. Khan, your blog has been very helpful. Pls advice if the Gondola ride is wheelchair friendly. Planning to bring my Dad along. He is usually on a wheelchair; but can walk few steps or even few stair steps if needed. Pls let me know if I can plan to bring him on a wheelchair. Will that be a good idea?
It is not wheelchair friendly. The gondola never stops moving and you literally have to step into a Gondola as it continues to move at a slow pace.
Need your help. As we are planning to visit Gulmarg in January 24 is it good time? And also can we get both phases of gondola ride?
Yes it is a good time. Book Gondola online in advance though
Hey, if you’ve recently returned from a Kashmir trip, could you please help me? My family and I are planning a trip in May 24, and the tour guide stated he can purchase tickets for the Gandala ride online this month. Should I give him the advance money so he may do so? Additionally, I saw a text that stated that ticket availability is frequently closed.
Hi Vargis I am planning a family trip to gulmarg this may with my little daughter and she is two and half years,is there any restrictions on children aged below three
Please help me
Hi Vargis ,
Amazingly written and well described blog , I could read from a comment that Gondola Ride needs to be booked Online , which has become mandatory??
1. Would you have any idea whether it needs to be done online or you can directly buy it from counter there.
2 . also i could not see any mention to chair lift – after Phase 2. – Not available onlibne for purchase
3.8 IS it worth taking Chair lift – 3rd phase?
Hello Mr.Khan, firstly many thanks for your detailed blogs on various aspects of Kashmir travel. It is extremely useful for anyone planning a trip here.
I would like to add my experience basis my visit to Gulmarg from 20-22nd April. It appears now the booking process for Gondola is ONLINE ONLY. There are no more physical selling of tickets over the counter. Since I did not book online tickets reading your (and several other bloggers) advice, I could not eventually ride the Gondola, as tickets were all sold out by the time I came to know of this development. This is a very recent development (started about 3-4 weeks back). I thought of letting you and others who follow your blog know so that they can plan their trip better.
Thank you so much Mr. Banerjee for making me aware of this situation. I will find out about the latest booking details and update the article accordingly.
Hi Mr Khan
Any update on this online booking only development?
Regards
Rakesh
Hi Vargis, let me know where does a driver drops us in Gulmarg and how to proceed to the gondola ride, we have purchased online tickets, but your information about collecting boarding passes is a matter of concern, any way your information is wonderfully useful
Sir, 28/10/22 ko ja rahe hai. Tkts online book karna chaiye ya vaha jaake? Or phase-2 ja sakte hai is time pe.
Hi Vargis
I just wanted to ask a few things.
Due to any bad weather conditions or due to some other reason, if the cable ride doesnot operate.
So will the tickets be refundable ?
And if I reach gulmarg by 12pm, then will I be able to cover both the phases ?
Hi Ayushi – I am guessing you are asking about online booking. The answer is yes, if the ride was canceled, then the money will be refunded. Yes, to your second question as well. You can cover both phases if you reach there by 12 noon.
Hi Vargis,
Loved this write up with required information, thanks for sharing your knowledge and travel expereience.
Edward
Thank you Edward !!!
This is the best guide i have read so far on Gulmarg/Alpather lake. Thanks for so details.
Thank you for taking the time to drop a note
Thanks a lot Mr.Vargis Khan for ur detailed information about Gulmarg Gondala ride! Is it necessary to carry boots?. We r planning to travel in the second week of Nov 2021 as it is too costly to hire there. First of all is it necessary at all?
Hi vargis I’m from Hyderabad.
Pls help me how to booked gondolaride booking.
I am not able to book gondola ride online
Please help me
Which is the website through which i can book
I not able to find any official website to book gulmarg gondola ride , http://www.gulmaggondola.com has been expired its not working from last 1 year
Hi Harman , same question is by me. I am not able to get website for gulmarg gondoa online booking. Did du got anyhelp or answer for your question from anywhere
Hi Vargis, thanks for sharing this beautiful yet informative article.
Please let me know 1) Is there any parking lot for private car parking near gondola base station at Gulmarg? Is it safe to park there? 2) is it possible for old aged man to ride gondola?
Hi Vargis, Thanks for the blog and info. However can we travel from Pahalgam to Gulmarg around 4pm and reach around 8/9 pm or vice versa on 15 Dec? Also Phase 2 open and worth visiting around 15 Dec?
Hi Prasham – Yes you can cover the distance in 5 hours but reaching that late is not advised. Yes, both phases will be open on 15th Dec.
Hi Vargis, I have seen your responses and really impressed by your help which you are doing.
I need some help to plan my trip. My Return tickers are booked and main station is Jammu. (24th Nov- Jammu stations and return from 30th Nov)
I will be visiting Vaishno Devi first and then I havent decided about any plans.
1) Maximum hours for Vaishno Devi from Katra (By Walk)
2) Which options are available if we dont want to walk ?
3) Prices for cars/etc to reach Vaishno Devi
4) Cheaper hotels if you can provide
5) Should I book it in advance or I can get it easily as it will be last week of November.
6) Best places to visit during these days
7) Maximum budget for couples
8) How to reach Gulmarg from Jammu stations ?
I am planning to visit Alpathar Lake on end of December’19.
(1) Is this considered peak season or off-peak?
(2) I will purchase phase 1 & 2 Gondola tickets from the counter there. But, after actually reaching phase 2 via gondola, will there be ponys/pony ride service (to go to Alpathar Lake) available upon exiting the phase 2 Gondola station at this time of the year? I mean after reaching phase two and coming out of the gondola, will there be pony rides available to go to Alpathar lake or will i have to get a pony ride service before phase one gondola near the ticket counter or something? I definitely do not want to trek, so pony ride is the only option for me.
(3)And if there will be pony ride service uopn reaching & exiting phase 2 gondola, then do i still need to hire a guide or the pony guy will be sufficient?
1. This is off-season and if there was an ongoing snowfall, you may not even be able to trek to the lake.
2. There are no ponies from Phase 2. Trekking is the only way. If you want to go for a pony ride, you will have to ask for one from Gulmarg but I don’t think anyone would agree or they would charge you a fortune for it.
3. Pony owners are also the tourist guides there.
Thanks Vargis for sharing
your experience, it gonna help a lot of tourists who plan to visit kashmir
I need some more information from your side while visiting kashmir. Tell me about transport as we are heading by train . Do we really need to take a private cab during all the journey or can we take sharing cab. How much it will cost either way for 2 persons. It will be very helpful if u drop ur reply. Thankyou.
Private cab is the best choice Deepak. It will cost about 2k per day. Shared cabs are not a regular thing and Buses are infrequent.
Hi Vargis,
Thanks for all the valuable crisp information. Could you please help me with below queries, as I will be visiting in second week of September.
– What is the ideal time to start from Srinagar (since i would be staying there) , in order to reach Gulmarg Gondola on time ?
– What is the advisable time to go for the Gondola ride ?
– Should i book tickets online or as mentioned in your post, September wont be crowded and i can book the tickets at the counter directly ?
– Can senior citizens do the trek to the Alpather lake or is it too steep?
Generally how long does it take from Srinagar to Gulmarg (only for gondola ) and back in a same day?
Many thanks in advance for your reply.
Hi Sneha,
1. As early as possible.
2. Any time in the day is OK really since you are not staying in Gulmarg.
3. Buy on the spot. Even if you buy online, you will still have to get in the line so no point really.
4. Not at all. It was a tough walk even for us.
5. It will take an entire day.
Thanks a lot Mr. Vargis!
Very useful and I can say a complete article that can guide anybody for the purpose. One of thee non commercialized blog I had seen for helping travel geeks.
Thank you so much for taking the time to drop a note Sowmya
VERY GOOD INFORMATION U GIVE
THANKS.
Thanks Nishad
Thanks Vargis for sharing all the details about Gondola ride .It has indeed been very helpful and warded off all my apprehensions regarding the ride.
Would appreciate if you could answer some of my queries
Is it ok if I take only one ride?. Say phase 2
I am planning to go in mid June?
Will I get to see snow during this time?
What time should I reach the booking counter for Gondola?
Hi Rashmi,
You cannot go to Phase 2 without riding Phase 1 first.
Mid June is good
No
Before 10
Much thanks
You are welcome !!!
Hi Varghis.
I wanted some clarification on the cost of gondola ride.
So if we pay 700+900 till phase 2.
Then for coming down also, do we have to pay the same amount again ?
Which means total 3200 for a person ?
Hi Utkarsh – No, 1600 is for both ways.
Okay thanks 🙂
And I am planning in 1st week of August.
So is that time appropriate ?
We are on our way to do Gandola and really the whole right up is so so helpful . Love the simplicity of your writing and clear to point without making any long long stories . Thanks for sharing much helpful . Only if possible you can answer this . We would be reaching Gandola possibly by 2pm so should we do one phase today and one phase tomorrow since tomorrow also we have to leave Gulmarg by 12:30pm our hotel is close to Gandola or if no choice and we can do only one phase which one should we do Phase 1 or Phase 2 ?
Thank you
Thanks Jyoti. Reaching 2 is fine, you should do both Phase 1 and 2. And you cannot go to Phase 2 without going for Phase 1.
Thanks a lot for sharing your views. Could you please let me know if it is worth doing Gandola in the month of August since we will be seven family members.
Further could you please suggest a scenic place to stay in Gulmarg.
Need your help. I have purchased tickets for phase 2 only. Do I have to have phase 1 gondola tickets in order to reach phase 2 or can it be done via road. Am tripping on December 23rd 2018 so need a quick response please.
yes you will have to buy tickets for Phase 1 as well. There is no road leading there to the Phase 2 boarding point.
I went to gulmarg in april 2018 and felt like a harassment by the guides and pony owners… I was aware that one doesnt need a guide so never took one…but they torcher u like hell…it took us three hours to reach phase 1 with 1.5 hrs in getting the boarding pass plus 1.5 hr in waiting queue to board phase I gondola… There was a huge crowd and felt like a stampede could occur any moment coz the crowd was going out of control..anyways this all was then overpowered by the mesmerising views and the ride to phase II… U were lucky vargis to find no queue at all 🙂
Thanks Ritu and yes, I completely agree on the guides and the pony owners part. They are actually a nuisance for tourists. Won’t let you walk in peace even for 100 meters.