All about the Gulmarg Ski Resort

Gulmarg is not your standard, hyper-groomed ski resort. It is a raw, massive, and beautifully untamed Himalayan playground. Whether you are clicking into bindings for the first time or hunting for waist-deep powder in the bowls, Mt. Apharwat has a zone tailored to your skill level.

Zone 1: The Base & The Beginner Slopes (2,650m)

If you are completely new to the sport, your journey starts at the base. The terrain here is specifically designed for mastering your snowplow, edge control, and parallel turns.

• Bunny Slopes & Lifts: Seven button (Poma) lifts are scattered across the naturally graded lower meadows, offering a safe environment for building foundational confidence.
• Progression Runs: Once you master the basics, you can progress to the Highland Slope or the iconic Church Slope for slightly longer, scenic runs. The steeper 85 Slope serves as a final test before you head up the mountain.

Zone 2: Kongdori Phase 1 & Mid-Mountain Lifts (3,050m)

After mastering the base, you will unlock the first stage of the famous Gulmarg Gondola and the Kongdori plateau, which acts as the resort's massive mid-mountain hub.

• The Cruiser Run: The Phase 1 Gondola drops you at Kongdori, giving you access to 400 vertical meters of naturally graded terrain. The run back to the base is nearly 4 kilometers long, winding beautifully through pine forests.
• Mary's Shoulder Chairlift: For advancing skiers, this 4-person chairlift transports you from the mid-station up to 3,600 meters. Lapping this lift provides access to some of the best tree skiing and protected powder bowls on the mountain during heavy snow days.
• Asia’s Longest Drag Lift: Inaugurated in late 2025, this 726-meter surface lift is a massive game-changer for the mountain's flow. It spans the Kongdori plateau, allowing intermediate and advanced skiers to rapidly cycle through mid-mountain snowfields and avoid main Gondola bottlenecks during peak winter weeks.

Zone 3: Phase 2 (Mt. Apharwat) – The Alpine Expert Zone (3,980m)

This is why expert skiers flock to Kashmir. Phase 2 is an entirely different beast, strictly reserved for advanced and expert riders.

• The Summit: The second stage of the Gondola propels you up to the shoulder of Mt. Apharwat at a breathtaking 3,980 meters.
• The Descent: Dropping into massive, unpatrolled powder fields, you must navigate narrow, loosely groomed trails to return to the mid-station. It offers some of the steepest and most exceptional in-bounds freeride terrain in the region.

Zone 4: The Legendary Backcountry

For true adventurers, Gulmarg offers some of the most accessible lift-assisted big mountain terrain on the planet.

• The 17 Bowls: Streaming off the main ridgeline north and south of the summit are 17 massive alpine bowls, yielding up to 1,500 vertical meters of descent.
• Terrain Warnings: This is pure, uncontrolled avalanche terrain. Anyone venturing out here needs complete avalanche safety gear (beacon, probe, shovel) and, ideally, a local guide who understands the complex Himalayan snowpack.