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Gulmarg

Coordinates: 34°03′N 74°23′E / 34.05°N 74.38°E / 34.05; 74.38
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Gulmarg
Hill station
View of Gulmarg During Winters.
View of Gulmarg During Winters.
Gulmarg is located in Jammu and Kashmir
Gulmarg
Gulmarg
Coordinates: 34°03′N 74°23′E / 34.05°N 74.38°E / 34.05; 74.38
Country India
Union territory Jammu and Kashmir
DistrictBaramulla
Elevation
2,650 m (8,690 ft)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total1,965
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
193403

Gulmarg is a town, a hill station, a popular skiing destination and a notified area committee in the Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir, India.[1][2] The town is situated in the Pir Panjal Range in the Western Himalayas and lies within the boundaries of Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary.[3]

Road to Gulmarg in winters.

Etymology

Originally called Gauri Marg (गौरी मार्ग) (meaning "the path of Devi Gauri"),[4] in the 1500s it was changed to 'Gulmarg' by Yousuf Shah of the Chak dynasty.[5]

History

Yousuf Shah Chak, who ruled Kashmir from 1579 to 1586, frequented the place with his queen Habba Khatoon and renamed it 'Gulmarg' ("meadow of flowers").[6][7] Wild flowers of 21 different varieties were collected by the Mughal emperor Jahangir for his gardens in Gulmarg.[6][8] In the 19th century, British civil servants started using Gulmarg as a retreat to escape summers in North Indian plains. Hunting and golfing were their favorite pastime and three golf courses were established in Gulmarg including one exclusively for women.[9][8] One of the golf courses survives and at an altitude of 2,650 metres (8,690 ft) is the world's highest golf course.[9] In 1927, British established a ski club in Gulmarg and two annual ski events were hosted one each during Christmas and Easter.[10][11] Central Asian explorer Aurel Stein also visited Gulmarg during this period.[7]

After the end of British rule in India, Gulmarg became a part of the independent princely state of Kashmir and Jammu. Pakistan planned an invasion of the state called Operation Gulmarg. One of the routes used by the invading militia of Pathan tribesmen, armed and supported by Pakistani regular troops, passed through the Haji Pir pass and Gulmarg onto the state capital Srinagar. Gulmarg fell to the invading army, but the Indian army led by the 1 Sikh Regiment, which had been airlifted to Srinagar only after the Dogra ruler of the state Maharaja Hari Singh had signed an Instrument of Accession with India on 26 October 1947, successfully defended the outskirts of Srinagar.[12][13] Thereafter, Indian counterattacks pushed the tribesmen back and many towns including Gulmarg were recaptured.[14] In 1948, Indian Army established a ski school in Gulmarg which later became the High Altitude Warfare School of the Indian army specializing in snow–craft and winter warfare.[15] On 1 January 1949, the war ended under UN supervision and a Ceasefire line (CFL), which was rechristened the Line of Control (LOC) by the Shimla Agreement of 1972,[16] came into being close to Gulmarg.[17]

After Indian Independence, Indian planners sought to develop a destination for Winter sports in India. The Department of Tourism of the Government of India invited Rudolph Matt, in 1960 to select a suitable location for such purpose. Matt zeroed in on Gulmarg as a suitable location for development of a winter sports destination in India. In 1968, Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering was established in Gulmarg to train ski instructors. Over the next decade Indian planners invested ₹30 million (US$360,000) to transform Gulmarg into a world-class ski destination. Gulmarg became a centre for skiers from Asian nations.[18] In mid-1980s, heli-skiing was introduced in Gulmarg in collaboration with the Swiss skier Sylvain Saudan of Himalaya Heli-Ski Club of France.[11]

Gulmarg in August 1969

In the 1990s, the rise of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir affected tourism in Gulmarg.[18] With the abatement of terrorism in the area, tourism started to recover in late 1990s. Work on the cable car project between Gulmarg and Apharwat Peak, which was commissioned in 1988 by Government of Jammu and Kashmir but was subsequently abandoned due to militancy in 1990, was resumed in 1998. In May 1998, Phase 1 of the project, between Gulmarg and Kongdori, began its commercial operation. In May 2005, Phase 2 of the project was also inaugurated making it one of the longest and highest rope ways of Asia. The chairlift installed as a part of Phase 3 of the project began its operations in 2011. The National Winter Games were held in Gulmarg in 1998, 2004 and 2008.[19] In 2014, Government of Jammu and Kashmir drafted a Master Plan–2032 for Gulmarg. The plan includes development of a solid-waste treatment plant on 20 acres of land close to Gulmarg.[20]

Geology and geography

Gulmarg lies in a cup-shaped valley in the Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas, at an altitude of 2,650 m (8,694 ft), 56 km from Srinagar.[9] The soil in Gulmarg comprises glacial deposits, lacustrine deposits and moraines of Pleistocene age covering shales, limestones, sandstones, schists and other varieties of rocks.[21] The natural meadows of Gulmarg, which are covered with snow in winter, allow the growth of wild flowers such as daisies, forget-me-nots and buttercups during spring and summer.[9][6] The meadows are interspersed by enclosed parks and small lakes, and surrounded by forests of green pine and fir.[9] Skiing and other winter sports in Gulmarg are carried out on the slopes of Apharwat peak at a height of 4,267 m (13,999 ft).[11] Many points on Apharwat peak and Khilanmarg offer a panoramic view of Nanga Parbat and Harmukh mountains.[9]

Climate

Due to its high elevation, Gulmarg has a humid continental climate where the wet winter season sees heavy snowfall, especially for its latitude. Summers are moderate in temperature and length, whereas shoulder seasons are relatively cool.

Climate data for Gulmarg (1981–2010, extremes 1951–2012)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 11.5
(52.7) 		11.4
(52.5) 		18.0
(64.4) 		23.6
(74.5) 		28.0
(82.4) 		29.4
(84.9) 		29.4
(84.9) 		27.6
(81.7) 		26.0
(78.8) 		23.4
(74.1) 		20.0
(68.0) 		15.8
(60.4) 		29.4
(84.9)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 0.5
(32.9) 		1.3
(34.3) 		4.8
(40.6) 		10.3
(50.5) 		15.4
(59.7) 		19.5
(67.1) 		20.7
(69.3) 		20.6
(69.1) 		18.8
(65.8) 		14.1
(57.4) 		9.2
(48.6) 		4.4
(39.9) 		11.6
(52.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −7.7
(18.1) 		−6.6
(20.1) 		−2.8
(27.0) 		1.8
(35.2) 		6.1
(43.0) 		9.5
(49.1) 		11.9
(53.4) 		11.8
(53.2) 		8.5
(47.3) 		3.7
(38.7) 		−0.7
(30.7) 		−4.7
(23.5) 		2.6
(36.7)
Record low °C (°F) −19.8
(−3.6) 		−18.0
(−0.4) 		−14.8
(5.4) 		−8.7
(16.3) 		−3.2
(26.2) 		−3.9
(25.0) 		2.8
(37.0) 		2.7
(36.9) 		−2.8
(27.0) 		−6.5
(20.3) 		−10.0
(14.0) 		−14.0
(6.8) 		−19.8
(−3.6)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 158.2
(6.23) 		223.5
(8.80) 		251.7
(9.91) 		168.6
(6.64) 		153.3
(6.04) 		103.7
(4.08) 		110.8
(4.36) 		93.1
(3.67) 		62.4
(2.46) 		50.3
(1.98) 		55.7
(2.19) 		103.8
(4.09) 		1,535
(60.43)
Average rainy days 8.4 10.8 12.2 11.1 10.9 8.9 9.4 8.0 5.5 3.6 3.4 5.3 97.5
Average relative humidity (%) (at 17:30 IST) 72 74 72 66 64 63 73 73 64 59 60 66 67
Source: India Meteorological Department[22][23]

Demographics

At the 2011 Indian census, Gulmarg had a total population of 1,965 over 77 households. Male population in the town stood at 1,957 while there were only eight females and no children between the ages of 0 and 6 years. Gulmarg had an average literacy rate of 99.24%, compared to the state average of 67.16%, of which male literacy was 99.23% and female literacy was 100%. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes constituted 0.61% and 0.15% of the population respectively.[24] Gulmarg has few permanent residents with most residents being tourists or those involved in the tourism industry.[9]

Tourism

The Shiva temple of Gulmarg was previously the royal temple of Dogra kings[citation needed]

According to CNN, Gulmarg is the "heartland of winter sports in India" and was rated as Asia's seventh best ski destination.[25][26] The town is accessible from Srinagar by road via Tangmarg.

An abandoned GOI hotel structure in Gulmarg

The road climbs uphill in the last 12 kilometres to Gulmarg passing through forests of pine and fir.[9][6][8] Winter sports like skiing, tobogganing, snowboarding and heli-skiing take place on the slopes of Mount Apharwat reachable by a Gondola lift.[11]

Maharani Temple

Maharani Temple (commonly known as Shiv Temple of Gulmarg) was built by a Hindu ruler Maharaja Hari Singh for his wife Maharani Mohini Bai Sisodia who ruled till 1915. This temple was considered as the stately possession of Dogra kings. The temple is dedicated to Shiva and Parvati. This temple is situated on a slight hill top with greenery. This temple is visible from all corners of Gulmarg.[27]

St Mary's Church

St Mary's Church in Gulmarg

The St Mary's Church is located in the valley of Shepherds in Gulmarg.[28][29] It was built in 1902, during the period of British rule, and was constructed in a British style. Made of grey brick with a green roof and decorated wooden interior walls, it has been described as a "Victorian architectural wonder".[30] In 1920 the church saw the wedding of the brother of Bruce Bairnsfather; Miss Eleanor Hardy Tipping married Capt. T. D. Bairnsfather, with newspapers describing the church as "very prettily decorated" and with the service conducted by Rev Canon Buckwell in the presence of both organ and a full choir.[31][32]

St Mary's was closed for years, but was renovated and reopened in 2003, holding its first Christmas service there for 14 years.[33] The church belongs to the Diocese of Amritsar, Church Of North India.

Gulmarg Gondola

Gulmarg Gondola

Built by the French company Pomagalski, the Gulmarg Gondola is one of the highest in the world reaching 3,979 metres.[34] The two-stage ropeway ferries about 600 people per hour between Gulmarg and a shoulder of nearby Apharwat Peak (4,200 metres (13,800 ft)). The first stage transfers from Gulmarg at 2,600 metres (8,500 ft) to Kongdoori at 3,080 metres (10,100 ft). The second stage which has 36 cabins and 18 towers, takes passengers to a height of 3,950 metres (12,960 ft) on the Apharwat Peak 4,200 metres (13,800 ft). A chair lift system connects Kongdoori with Mary's shoulder for taking skiers to higher altitude. The high inflow of tourists has had an effect on the fragile eco-system of Gulmarg and activists have demanded tighter regulation to save the environment of the area from over tourism.[35]

Ski Resort Terrain Map showing Gulmarg Gondola, lift, and terrain

[36]

An accident occurred on 15 June 2017 due to an enormous pine tree being uprooted by a gust of wind and breaking the perspex windows on one of the gondola cabins, causing it to swing violently and its seven occupants to fall 100 ft (30 m) to the ground.[37]

Sport

Gulmarg Winter Games 2020

The first ever Khelo India Winter Games will begin from March 7 at Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir. Around 900 participants will take part in the 5-day event. Organised by Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council in collaboration Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the Games will be held in various sports disciplines at famous ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir from March 7 to 11.[38]

Golf course

Situated at an altitude of 2,650 m, it is the highest green golf course in the world. The historic Gulmarg Golf Club was started in 1911 by the British who used the place as a holiday resort. The origin of Gulmarg as the golfing centre of India goes back to the late 19th century when a 6-hole course was made in 1890-91 by Colonel Neville Chamberlain. The first golf championship was played at Gulmarg in 1922. The Nedou's Cup was introduced in 1929.

Avalanche information center

In 2008 an American avalanche forecaster named Brian Newman began a NPO named Gulmarg Avalanche Center. The purpose of this organization was to dispense daily avalanche risk bulletins to visitors entering the unmanaged backcountry surrounding Gulmarg ski area. The center provides avalanche education including a free weekly avalanche awareness talk during the winter season.

Events

An annual three-day Gulmarg Winter Festival is held in March. Budding artists in the fields of music, films and photography are given an opportunity to showcase their work during the festival.

Gulmarg in Bollywood

Gulmarg has been the shooting location many Bollywood films like Bobby, Jab Tak Hai Jaan,[39] Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Highway, Phantom, Haider, etc.[40][41][42][43][44] A scene in Bobby was shot in a hut in Gulmarg that later come to be known as 'Bobby Hut'.[45][46][47]

See also

References

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Gulmarg.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gulmarg.
  1. ^ "A Family Ski Adventure in the Himalayas".
  2. ^ Gopal, Madan (1990). K.S. Gautam (ed.). through the ages. Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. p. 178.
  3. ^ "COMPLIANCE REPORT of Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary: A Biodiversity Hotspot" (PDF). jkwildlife.com. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  4. ^ Kumar, Brajesh (2003). Pilgrimage Centres of India. Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd. ISBN 9788171821853.
  5. ^ Lovell-Hoare, Max; Lovell-Hoare, Sophie (1 July 2014). Kashmir: Jammu. Kashmir Valley. Ladakh. Zanskar. Bradt Travel Guides. ISBN 9781841623962.
  6. ^ a b c d Chaturvedi, B.K. (2002). Tourist Centers Of India. Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd. p. 82. ISBN 978-81-7182-137-2.
  7. ^ a b "About Gulmarg". Jammu and Kashmir State Cable Car Corporation. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  8. ^ a b c Lovell-Hoare, Sophie; Lovell-Hoare, Max (1 July 2014). Kashmir: Jammu. Kashmir Valley. Ladakh. Zanskar. Bradt Travel Guides. pp. 208–11. ISBN 978-1-84162-396-2.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h Mitra, Swati (2013). Jammu & Kashmir: Travel Guide. Eicher Goodearth Limited. pp. 30–36. ISBN 978-93-80262-45-1.
  10. ^ Lang, Thomas. "Gulmarg - Kashmir - India" (PDF). Canadian Ski Year Book 1934. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  11. ^ a b c d "Gulmarg". Official Website of Jammu and Kashmir Tourism. Archived from the original on 6 February 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  12. ^ Krishna, Ashok (1998). India's Armed Forces: Fifty Years of War and Peace. Lancer Publishers. pp. 12–15. ISBN 978-1-897829-47-9.
  13. ^ Sarkar, Bhaskar (1 November 2014). "Defence of Srinagar 1947". Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  14. ^ Prasad, Shankar (2005). The Gallant Dogras: An Illustrated History of the Dogra Regiment. Lancer Publishers. pp. 93–97. ISBN 978-81-7062-268-0.
  15. ^ Pandit, Rajat (1 May 2004). "High-altitude warfare school takes global aim". Times of India. New Delhi. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  16. ^ Karim, Afsir (1991). Counter Terrorism, the Pakistan Factor. Lancer Publishers. pp. 142–145. ISBN 978-81-7062-127-0.
  17. ^ Rafiq, Zahid (26 February 2009). "Ski respite for war weary Kashmiris". BBC News. Gulmarg. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  18. ^ a b Seth, Pran Nath (1 January 2006). Successful Tourism: Volume I: Fundamentals of Tourism. Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd. pp. 175–176. ISBN 978-81-207-3199-8.
  19. ^ "About Gondola". Jammu and Kashmir State Cable Car Corporation. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  20. ^ Wani, Arif Shafi (30 May 2014). "Draft Master Plan-2032 for Gulmarg". Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  21. ^ Vaidya, Balkrishna C. (1 January 2003). Geography of Transport Development in India. Concept Publishing Company. p. 354. ISBN 978-81-7022-957-5.
  22. ^ "Station: Gulmarg Climatological Table 1981–2010" (PDF). Climatological Normals 1981–2010. India Meteorological Department. January 2015. pp. 301–302. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  23. ^ "Extremes of Temperature & Rainfall for Indian Stations (Up to 2012)" (PDF). India Meteorological Department. December 2016. p. M75. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  24. ^ "Gulmarg Population Census 2011". Census Commission of India. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  25. ^ "Kashmir ski paradise beckons". CNN.
  26. ^ "Gulmarg rated Asia's seventh best ski resort". Daily Bhaskar.
  27. ^ "Maharani Temple Gulmarg Kashmir".
  28. ^ "St. Mary's Church Gulmarg India Travel Guide | Location | History | about & facts of St. Mary's Church | Gulmarg | Buzzntravel.com". Buzzntravel. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
  29. ^ http://www.globalvisiontours.com/. "St Mary Church|tourist attraction in gulmarg". www.globalvisiontours.com. Retrieved 16 May 2017. {{cite web}}: External link in |last= (help)
  30. ^ "St Mary Church - Gulmarg". www.kashmirhills.com. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  31. ^ "Wedding at Gulmarg - Bruce Bairnsfather's Brother". The Pioneer Mail. 17 September 1920. p. 38. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  32. ^ Holt, Major Tonie; Holt, Valmai (1995). The Biography of Captain Bruce Bairnsfather: In Search of the Better Ole (2014 ed.). Milestone Publications. ISBN 9781473827233. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  33. ^ "Gulmarg". www.holidaymine.com. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
  34. ^ "Gulmarg among 7 top ski resorts in Asia: CNN Int'l". greaterkashmir.com. Greater Kashmir.
  35. ^ Choudhury, A.U. (2011). Tourism pressure on high elevation IBAs. Mistnet 12(1): 11-12.
  36. ^ "K-line Adventures - Gulmarg".
  37. ^ "Gulmarg Gondola claims 7 lives in tragic accident | K-Line Adventures". K-Line Adventures. 26 June 2017. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  38. ^ https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/gulmarg-to-host-5-day-national-winter-games-from-march-7-2020/as74285557.cms
  39. ^ Holiday, the Bollywood way
  40. ^ This is cheating! The Manali in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani is actually Gulmarg, fumes Omar on Twitter
  41. ^ "Omar Abdullah disappointed over Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani projecting Gulmarg as Manali". The Times of India. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  42. ^ "Kalki enjoys skiing in Gulmarg". The Times of India. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  43. ^ "Saif goes from Beirut to Gulmarg". The Times of India. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  44. ^ "Outlook Photogallery". outlookindia.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  45. ^ "NDTV Movies". ndtv.com. Archived from the original on 4 April 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  46. ^ "Kashmir First - The Gulmarg Nostalgia-X". kashmirfirst.com. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  47. ^ "Movies Filmed in Kashmir". jktourism.org. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
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