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Visitors walking across the snowy Kongdoori bowl beneath a ridge on a bright winter day
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Photo: Slyronit · CC BY-SA 4.0
Day planFirst visitnaturerelaxed

One day in Gulmarg — the gondola, the church and the Maharani Temple

A one-day Gulmarg plan: the gondola up Apharwat in the morning, then St Mary's Church, the Maharani Temple and the golf meadow, with times. Free to copy.
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A relaxed day built around the Gulmarg Gondola. It rides the cable car up Apharwat in the morning and spends the afternoon on the meadow at St Mary's Church and the Maharani Temple. For a quieter day without the cable car, see the meadows half-day.

Photos: Slyronit (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Maheshkumarrathi (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Deepank Ranka (CC BY-SA 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.

Who this is for

First-time visitors in snow season or in spring and summer, who want one big mountain moment and a gentle afternoon.

Day by day

Day 1

The cable car first, then the meadow's landmarks

4 stops · 20 min on the road

Ride the gondola in the morning while the weather holds, then walk the meadow in the afternoon.

  1. 09:30
    Gulmarg Gondola
    viewpoint · 4 min from Gulmarg · 8 min walk from the road · about 3 h there
    The two-stage cable car up Apharwat, about 4 minutes from the centre. The first stage takes about 9 minutes and the second about 12; operation depends on the weather.
  2. ↓ 9 min by road · 4 km
    13:00
    St Mary's Church
    temple · 7 min from Gulmarg · 13 min walk from the road · about 30 min there
    The 1902 church in the meadow, with its green roof.
  3. ↓ 7 min by road · 3 km
    14:15
    Maharani Temple
    temple · 5 min from Gulmarg · 4 min walk from the road · about 30 min there
    The Shiva temple of 1915 on a rise above the meadow.
  4. ↓ 4 min by road · 2 km
    15:30
    Gulmarg Golf Course
    viewpoint · 7 min from Gulmarg · 19 min walk from the road · about 1 h there
    The golf course in the meadow, for a walk around its edge and the view back to the forest.

Getting there

Gulmarg is about 51 km and 61 minutes from Srinagar by road. See how to reach Gulmarg for the arrival table.

Where to stay

Stay in Gulmarg, or return to Srinagar the same evening. We have no verified lodging, prices or booking rules.

Know before you go

  • Go to the gondola first; it can close in wind or cloud, and the weather is usually better in the morning.
  • Carry warm layers and sun protection; the top station is far above the resort.
  • Gulmarg is near the Line of Control: check current local conditions and your government's travel advice before you go. We have no verified hours or fares; ask locally.

Places on this route

The Gulmarg Gondola — the two-stage cable car up Apharwat
The Gulmarg Gondola — the two-stage cable car up Apharwat
viewpoint · 4 min from Gulmarg
Maharani Temple, Gulmarg — the Shiva temple of 1915 on the meadow's rise
Maharani Temple, Gulmarg — the Shiva temple of 1915 on the meadow's rise
temple · 5 min from Gulmarg
St Mary's Church, Gulmarg — the 1902 church in the valley of shepherds
St Mary's Church, Gulmarg — the 1902 church in the valley of shepherds
temple · 7 min from Gulmarg

Going together

No one has started a group going on this plan yet. Start one and other travellers can ask to come along.

Start a groupHow groups work

Other ways to do it

All Gulmarg itineraries →
A half-day on Gulmarg's meadow — the sanctuary, the golf meadow and two landmarks
A half-day on Gulmarg's meadow — the sanctuary, the golf meadow and two landmarks
Day plan · families · nature
A relaxed half-day in Gulmarg without the gondola: the meadow in the wildlife sanctuary, the golf course, St Mary's Church and the Maharani Temple.
Best Apr–Jun · Sep
See the plan →

More places nearby

All of Gulmarg →
Apharwat Peak — the mountain above Gulmarg and its ski slopes
Apharwat Peak — the mountain above Gulmarg and its ski slopes
peak · 4.7 km away
Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary — the forest and meadows around the resort
Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary — the forest and meadows around the resort
area · 5.4 km away
Kheer Bhawani Temple — the spring shrine at Tulmulla near Srinagar
Kheer Bhawani Temple — the spring shrine at Tulmulla near Srinagar
temple · 36 km away
Khanqah-e-Moula — the wooden shrine of Shah-e-Hamadan on the Jhelum
Khanqah-e-Moula — the wooden shrine of Shah-e-Hamadan on the Jhelum
temple · 38 km away
Jama Masjid Srinagar — the great wooden Friday mosque of the old city
Jama Masjid Srinagar — the great wooden Friday mosque of the old city
temple · 38 km away
Hari Parbat Fort — the hill fort above Srinagar's old city
Hari Parbat Fort — the hill fort above Srinagar's old city
fort · 39 km away
Shankaracharya Temple — the hilltop Shiva temple above Srinagar
Shankaracharya Temple — the hilltop Shiva temple above Srinagar
temple · 41 km away
Hazratbal Shrine — the white-domed Sufi shrine on Dal Lake
Hazratbal Shrine — the white-domed Sufi shrine on Dal Lake
temple · 42 km away

Nearby destinations

All destinations →
Two shikara boats on calm Dal Lake with snow-covered mountains rising behind the far shore
Srinagar
41 km away · 3 itineraries · 12 places
A green forested valley with a stream winding through meadows below snow-capped peaks and white clouds near Pahalgam
Pahalgam
87 km away · 2 itineraries · 4 places
A rocky mountain stream running through a green valley beneath snow-covered peaks at Sonamarg
Sonamarg
88 km away · 1 itineraries · 2 places
Dalhousie hill station across its five hills
Dalhousie
224 km away · 2 itineraries · 5 places
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Questions people ask

What can you do in Gulmarg in one day?

Ride the gondola in the morning, then walk to St Mary's Church, the Maharani Temple and the golf meadow in the afternoon. They are 4 to 7 minutes from the centre on our routing, so the day is relaxed. The gondola is the main event and depends on the weather, so do it first.

Can you visit Gulmarg as a day trip from Srinagar?

Yes: it is about 51 km and 61 minutes from Srinagar by road on our routing. In snow the road is slower, so leave early and allow a buffer for the return. Many visitors stay a night to see the meadow in the morning and avoid the hurry. Check the road and the gondola's status that morning.

Is the gondola always running?

No. Wikipedia says its operation depends heavily on the weather at both stages, so it can close in wind, cloud or storm. We have no verified hours or fares. Ask at the base station, go early, and keep the church and temple as a fallback for the rest of the day.