Best time to visit Gulmarg — snow, flowers and the winter festival
When to visit Gulmarg: heavy snow and skiing in winter, flowering meadows in spring and summer, a March winter festival, and what weather means for the gondola.
ArticleVerified 2026-10-14
How to reach Gulmarg — the road from Srinagar via Tangmarg
How to reach Gulmarg from Srinagar by road via Tangmarg, with measured distances and times from the airport and railway, Baramulla and the winter road.
Gulmarg stands at about 2,650 m in the Pir Panjal Range, and the last part of every journey is a mountain road.
By road from Srinagar
It is about 51 km and 61 minutes from Srinagar on our routing, via the town of Tangmarg, which is about 11 km and 25 minutes from Gulmarg. Wikipedia gives about 56 km and notes a 12 km uphill segment through forests of pine and fir. Anantnag is about 106 km and 99 minutes away, Sonamarg about 118 km and 137 minutes, and Pahalgam about 137 km and 139 minutes.
Air and rail
The nearest airport is Srinagar International, about 59 km and 69 minutes by road on our routing; Wikipedia says about 53 km. The nearest railhead is Baramulla, which Wikipedia puts about 53 km away, while we measure 36 km and 67 minutes to the town. Srinagar's own railway station, at Nowgam, is about 58 km and 66 minutes away.
In winter
Heavy snow falls here, and the road is slower afterwards. Leave early, carry warm clothing, and ask locally whether the road and the gondola are open before you set out.
Once there
The one-day plan and the meadows half-day put the resort in order; read when to visit Gulmarg and things to do in Gulmarg.
Places around Gulmarg
The Gulmarg guide →
Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary — the forest and meadows around the resort
The Gulmarg Gondola — the two-stage cable car up Apharwat
Maharani Temple, Gulmarg — the Shiva temple of 1915 on the meadow's rise
St Mary's Church, Gulmarg — the 1902 church in the valley of shepherds
Apharwat Peak — the mountain above Gulmarg and its ski slopes
Jama Masjid Srinagar — the great wooden Friday mosque of the old city
Khanqah-e-Moula — the wooden shrine of Shah-e-Hamadan on the Jhelum
Hari Parbat Fort — the hill fort above Srinagar's old city
More stories to read
All stories →
Things to do in Gulmarg — the gondola, skiing, the meadow and two landmarks
Things to do in Gulmarg: the gondola up Apharwat, skiing in winter, the flowering meadow, St Mary's Church, the Maharani Temple and the wildlife sanctuary.
Ten mistakes people make on a first trip to Manali
Snow in the town in December, Rohtang without a permit, a May weekend from Delhi, Lahaul as a day trip. Ten things that go wrong on a first trip, and the fixes.
How many days do you need in Manali? Two, three, four, five and seven, compared
How many days Manali needs depends on one question — the pass, a trek, or neither. What two, three, four, five and seven nights each buy, with a plan for each.
Jalori Pass, Serolsar lake and Raghupur Fort — the pass day, walk by walk
The pass day from Banjar and Jibhi: the road to Jalori, the ridge walk to Serolsar lake, the climb to Raghupur Fort, the dhabas, a tent at the top.
The best time to visit Dalhousie
Dalhousie by season, using its own IMD weather record: when the roads to Khajjiar and Chamera Lake are driest, and how cold winter here actually gets.
Nearby destinations
All destinations →
Today on HimLocal
Been here?Help the next traveller — our team checks every contribution.
Questions people ask
How far is Gulmarg from Srinagar?
About 51 km and 61 minutes by road on our routing, through Tangmarg. Wikipedia gives about 56 km. The last stretch includes a 12 km uphill segment through pine and fir forest. In snow the road is slower, so leave early in winter and allow a buffer for the return journey.
What are the nearest airport and railway station?
Srinagar International Airport, about 59 km and 69 minutes by road on our routing; Wikipedia gives about 53 km. The nearest railhead is at Baramulla, which Wikipedia puts at about 53 km from Gulmarg; we measure 36 km and 67 minutes to the town. From either, the last part is by taxi or bus.
Is there public transport to Gulmarg?
Buses and shared taxis run from Srinagar, but we have no verified timetables or fares. Most visitors hire a car or taxi, usually as far as Tangmarg and then up the hill. Ask locally, and check the road and the gondola status the morning you travel, since both depend on the weather.