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A snow-covered mountain ridge under a deep blue sky seen from the slopes of Apharwat above Gulmarg
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Photo: Malikjavid · CC BY-SA 4.0
peak12 min from Gulmarg8 h 36 min walk from the road

Apharwat Peak — the mountain above Gulmarg and its ski slopes

Apharwat Peak above Gulmarg: 4,267 m by one account, with views of Nanga Parbat and Harmukh, the gondola to its shoulder and the winter ski slopes.

What it is

Apharwat, also spelt Afarwat, is the peak that overlooks Gulmarg from the Pir Panjal Range. The Wikipedia article on Gulmarg gives its height as 4,267 m and says the peaks Nanga Parbat and Harmukh can be seen from it. Other Wikipedia pages give 4,260 m or 4,200 m, so the sources disagree slightly.

Photos: Shabir Dar (CC BY-SA 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.

Skiing and the gondola

In winter its slopes are used for skiing, tobogganing, snowboarding and heli-skiing. The Gulmarg Gondola climbs to a shoulder of the mountain, not to the summit; Wikipedia gives that top as 3,980 m in one article and 4,100 m in another. The slopes are served by lifts above Kongdoori for skiers.

Summer

In spring and summer the natural meadows around Gulmarg flower with daisies, forget-me-nots and buttercups, and the mountain is a backdrop to walks on the meadow. Al Pathri, a small lake in the sanctuary on the mountain's flank, is mapped about 5 km from the resort.

Combine it with

The one-day plan uses the gondola as its anchor. Read when to visit Gulmarg and things to do in Gulmarg.

Plans that include this

All Gulmarg itineraries →
Visitors walking across the snowy Kongdoori bowl beneath a ridge on a bright winter day
One day in Gulmarg — the gondola, the church and the Maharani Temple
Day plan · First visit · nature
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.
Best Jan–Mar · May–Jun · Sep
See the plan →
A wide green alpine meadow with a forested ridge and a clear blue sky above in Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary
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 →

Nearby places

All of Gulmarg →
Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary — the forest and meadows around the resort
Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary — the forest and meadows around the resort
area · 4.5 km away
The Gulmarg Gondola — the two-stage cable car up Apharwat
The Gulmarg Gondola — the two-stage cable car up Apharwat
viewpoint · 4.7 km away
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 · 6.1 km away
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 · 6.8 km away
Kheer Bhawani Temple — the spring shrine at Tulmulla near Srinagar
Kheer Bhawani Temple — the spring shrine at Tulmulla near Srinagar
temple · 42 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 · 44 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 · 44 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 · 45 km away

Nearby destinations

All destinations →
Two shikara boats on calm Dal Lake with snow-covered mountains rising behind the far shore
Srinagar
45 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
91 km away · 2 itineraries · 4 places
A rocky mountain stream running through a green valley beneath snow-covered peaks at Sonamarg
Sonamarg
93 km away · 1 itineraries · 2 places
Dalhousie hill station across its five hills
Dalhousie
225 km away · 2 itineraries · 5 places
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Questions people ask

What is Apharwat Peak?

The mountain that overlooks Gulmarg in the Pir Panjal Range. Wikipedia's Gulmarg article gives its height as 4,267 m and says Nanga Parbat and Harmukh can be seen from it. Other Wikipedia pages give 4,260 m and 4,200 m, so the sources span 4,200 m to 4,267 m.

How do you get up Apharwat?

By the Gulmarg Gondola, which reaches a shoulder of the mountain at 3,980 m or 4,100 m by Wikipedia's two figures, not the summit. In winter its slopes serve skiing, tobogganing, snowboarding and heli-skiing. We have no verified route or permit details for the summit, so treat it as a skiing and viewing place.

When is Apharwat at its best?

In winter for skiing, with deep snow on the slopes, and in late spring and summer for the meadows and wildflowers below it, according to Wikipedia's description of the area. The weather at height changes fast, and the gondola can close in wind or cloud, so keep a spare day.