Gulmarg India. Ski resort - Gulmarg, India. Lifts and slopes

Very few articles have been submitted so far. We hope that this is because everyone wants to write the most informative story, and is in no hurry to send until they are polished. Feel free to tell us about some freeride place!

Here is what Pavel Lavrentiev told us about skiing at the Gulmarg resort, which is very famous among freeriders.

Since there are descriptions of trips to Gulmarg, I will focus on the description of freeride routes, entries and exits, but for completeness I will add a little about the trip itself.

The idea of the trip was born a year before the trip itself, we decided to celebrate the New Year in an unusual way, and of course to ride. We began to develop a trip to India, the route turned out like this:

1. Moscow-Delhi plane, Delhi-Cochin plane, right-hand drive taxi Kochin-Allapuja (Allipi), swimming in the ocean, eating all sorts of different things, meeting NG (it was cool, several thousand stoned Indians dance on the ocean, the stage from which incendiary Indian songs sing live songs, and the sound of the surf :).

2. Taxi to Cochin, plane Cochin-Delhi, plane Delhi-Srinagar, 1 day in Srinagar for a preliminary inspection of the city, taxi Srinagar - Gulmarg.

3. Accommodation at the Payne Palace hotel, wheelchair.

4. Taxi Gulmarg-Srinagar, walk in Srinagar.

5. Plane Srinagar-Delhi, a day in Delhi (there is nothing to do there), plane Delhi-Moscow.

India also has the Internet, so all tickets for domestic flights were bought from home. The hotel in Gulmarg was booked from Moscow through a special person, but as experience has shown, there is no need for this, at the moment there are three large hotels with central heating where you can find a room.

There are no tracks there, there is a mountain and a lift to its top, in general, everything is as we like. I will describe what concerns skating, at the end, briefly everyday. The description corresponds to the moment when we were there, the first half of January 2010. There was not much snow, on January 3 there was a snowfall, after that the sun stood for 8 days.

For some reason, the myth is widespread that this place is not avalanche-prone. This is exactly a myth, we released three small avalanches, a group of Australians released 2, and after our return to Moscow and active snowfall, an avalanche came down in one of the corridors, in which about 30 people died, the Indian military, who illiterately set up a camp for their exercises . So be vigilant!

The geography is simple: a ridge, a plateau below it, a sloping forest below the plateau.

From the bottom of the forest there is a lift to the plateau, from the plateau the second stage goes to the ridge itself. In the picture, this is a vertical line, point G2-3 is the transfer point to the plateau.

This is how it looks from the satellite. Unfortunately, on larger maps, the place of interest to us is covered by clouds.

First I will describe the descents, and then the return options. What is indicated by numbers I will call the lobbies. You can ride to the right and left of the lift.

On right

To ride on the right (when viewed from below, couloirs 1-6) you must walk. Lobby 1 and 2 accessible without a pawn, from the lift, the 1st immediately, to the second one you need to cross the rib by traverse. As a result, they roll out on the first day after the snowfall, on the fifth day, in the upper part of the second couloir, there was a perfectly even surface with the hardness of ice. Entering couloir 2 from above is risky, an unpleasant cornice inflates there.

Couloir 2 from above

Couloir 3 very interesting, you have to go to it. 30-40 minutes, depending on the degree of acclimatization, the presence of traces, etc. It begins with a wide steep circus turning into a wide rollout. In the upper left part (when viewed from below) they lowered a small avalanche, passed 200 meters, and stopped by itself. As you can see from the photo, I crossed the traverse of those who climbed from the second couloir.

Couloir 4, from the third couloir go quickly, because there is a gentle part of the ridge at the top. Everything is fine there, in the upper part the potential is great, in the lower part everything degenerates into a narrow pipe. There you need to be more careful, because. if an avalanche goes along the bottom, it is very difficult to leave. It is not worth trying to get over below, over the ridge, into couloir 3 through the forest, it cost us 2 hours of picking in the forest, bushes, crossing a stream, etc., it is all flat.

Couloir 5, from couloir 4 to the beginning of the fifth one can be reached by going around the top of the ridge on the left, with little snow it is a slalom among the stones, if you feel sorry for the ski-board, somewhere you have to walk. The circus is ambiguous, when viewed from above, it is better to enter from the left, because on the right visit the cornice, and traces of natural avalanches are visible under the cornice. Wide, a large number of options for descent.

Couloir 6. From couloir 5 you have to walk for another 20 minutes, from above it looks like a circus on the 5th, on the right (when viewed from above) there is a cornice, on the left is the most optimal entry.

The snow after the circus is harsh there, the geometry is such that there is very little sun there. We descended in this place on the third day after the snowfall, the crust was scattered in pieces, perhaps if immediately after, it would be softer.

On the hard snow they lowered the board, it did not go much, 50 meters, in large hard pieces.

In all corridors, in the presence of snow, there will be places to jump, it will be possible to ride not along the walls, but along the ridges.

The hike looks like this:

If the path is full, then it’s easy to go, like steps. The most difficult section is the first to the third couloir, then everything is more or less gentle.

At the top of each couloir there are comfortable resting places if you are tired of walking :)

Departure

If you go along the corridors 1,2,3 you leave the plateau in the "green" zone, and here it is easy to get to the bottom of the second stage of the G2-3 lift. The plateau is sloping, so it is acceptable to ride on it. From there you can go to the forest, but we never left.

If you go down the corridors 4,5,6, then you get into the "purple" zone. From it, the best option is to go down through the forest. In the forest, everything is intuitive, it is difficult to miss, but you can drive into the lowlands from which you have to go out on foot. Theoretically, it is possible to move from the blue zone to the green one, but this is on foot in the snow, it will be more economical in time to go down through the forest and go up on the lift.

Left

There is no need to go, the slope allows you to get to all the corridors. You have to “pay” at the exit, there is a pawn. In general, there is less snow than to the right of the lift.

Lobby 7-8, they didn’t climb there - everything was torn off, because the simplest option. From the side it looked interesting, when there is more snow, it's fun there.

Lobby 9-10, started on the 10th, in the middle they lowered the expected avalanche into a narrow chute.

Snowboarding in Gummarg (India)

We left at the ninth and went down the ridge between the 9th and 8th.

Departure

If you go to the bottom of the 9th and 10th, then you will have to go into the forest, and then go down to the village of Tanmarg, and from there take a jeep to the top. Due to the lack of snow, this route was not attempted.

Avalanche

There are local avalanches, these are Canadians and Americans. Once a week they give a lecture, very useful to listen to. Every day they post an assessment of the factors that influence avalanche risk at the lift, so that this information can be used in the analysis on the spot.

Road, housing, etc.

The price of accommodation in Gulmarg is from 1500 to 3500 rupees per day in a hotel with central heating, I do not recommend others. The price depends on your ability to bargain. Breakfast and dinner in the hotel restaurant are cooked very tasty, but, as usual in India, you need to focus on the complete absence of pepper and spices. Otherwise, you won't eat even a spoon. J There are no entertainments in hotels except for evening parties of skiers. We lived in the "upper" part, it is a little more expensive, but also more comfortable, and they call it "Heritage". Sleep warm, clothes dry. It's cold in the bathroom, washing is a feat.

Taxi: there is a subtlety. The path from Srinagar to the hotels can be divided into three parts: along the highway to Tanmarg, along the serpentine from Tanmarg to Gulmarg, from Gulmarg to the hotel through the barrier.

We rented a car in the center of Srinagar right at the taxi stand. There was a promise to take us straight to the hotel. We were taken to Tanmarg, then transferred to a car to Gulmarg, this is a type of minibus, a jeep in which 9 people. They changed because the road was snowy, and the taxi driver had no chains. But the “minibus” refused to take us from the barrier to the hotel and wanted another 200 rupees. I would recommend discussing this at the time of hiring a car, insisting that they must be taken to the hotel entrance. The cost from the airport is about 1500 rupees.

In addition to the wheelchair

You can also go for a walk around Srinagar. There are funny neighborhoods, there are just scary ones. Right on the street there are bowls of oil and in them the Indians fry the lotus root, potatoes and nuts, in some kind of pink-transparent dough. Very tasty and nutritious, although it looks extremely unsanitary. But the most important thing is pomegranates, they are so ripe and tasty that we bought a bag and in the mountains in the evenings they ate them poured with pomegranate juice.

If you get to the right area, you can see shops where they make and sell copper utensils, we were very impressed.

There is Dal Lake, a lot of Indians offer a boat tour on this lake, between houseboats, a lot of attractions are announced in the program, as usual, the Indians lie :) But it’s worth a little ride, the settlements in houseboats on the water are very impressive. The only thing to watch out for when you sail away from the shore, boats will begin to swim up to you and offer all sorts of handicrafts. If this is not nipped in the bud, you may not sail anywhere, the payment is on time. In our case, the message to our boatman worked: “If at least one more swims up and starts to offer us something, we won’t pay you money” :)

Gulmarg for people accustomed to European and not very European ski resorts is a wonderland. Old-timers assure that yetis live somewhere in the local mountains - snow people - short creatures that look like a person, overgrown with hair and possessing great strength. Yeti we did not meet, but the monkeys are found in the trash around the hotels in abundance. This is from the manifestations of local specificity.

Gulmarg (1400-4138 m) was built in 1927 by the British. It is very far from European standards. It also looks a little like the usual domestic resorts. Some of Gulmarg's old fashionedness is fully compensated by the friendly and unobtrusive service and low prices.

The stoic attitude of the local population to difficulties and hardships contributes its own specificity and local flavor. Winter is perceived as a natural disaster. Like a necessary evil. Since winter lasts only 2-2.5 months, it only needs to be endured.

Gulmarg is probably very beautiful in summer. Highlands, Himalayan pines, monkeys, mild climate. However, in winter, local stoicism is somewhat annoying. The monkeys with the pines remain the same as in summer. The only difference is that the temperature can drop to -20 C at night.

About Hotels

Since heating in local hotels is in its infancy, this can bring some inconvenience. Double glazing is also unknown to local builders.

If you are lucky and your room is equipped with central heating (and a potbelly stove is also possible), then the temperature in the room above 17 degrees is difficult to achieve. And that's only when the heating is on. They heat in the rooms at best 17.00-20.00 and 7.00-9.00, but at this moment the hot water is turned off (if any). In the worst case (Hill Top hotel, room with electric heating), the temperature does not rise above 8 C. Water appears sometimes, but only cold. We did not have a chance to live in a room with a potbelly stove and water in basins in the morning, maybe this did not allow us to fully appreciate the fullness of the local comfort that fell to our lot.

We were lucky enough to live consecutively in 3 rooms. Room with central heating and boler - in the hotel Hill Top. Room with electric heating in the same Hill Top. At the Pain Palace Platinum Hotel.

The room at the Pain Palace Platinum Hotel was the best in the entire valley (this hotel is booked by Australian skiers for the whole season), but even there the temperature did not rise above 17 C. Since the heating pumps are electric, the heating was turned off accordingly with a power outage. But not more than 10 times a day. The cost of the room ranges from 1000 to 3000 rupees per day.

Electricity is supplied to hotels in a very peculiar way. The voltage on different phases, divorced to different sockets in one room, can range from 150 to 200 volts. The use of shoe dryers and other joys of civilization can be very difficult. Sometimes the voltage drops below the starting voltage of the fluorescent lamps.

Gulmarg is an ideal resort for the brave in spirit, fully provided with equipment and clothing. Sleeping bags at this resort is not superfluous at all.

About food

With food in Gulmarg, on the one hand, everything is simple. Every hotel has a restaurant where you are always ready to be served for your money. There are a number of outlets where you can taste local cuisine.

On the other hand, the local cuisine is quite specific. The abundance of spices makes many dishes unacceptable for Europeans. The diet is completely absent beef and pork, but there is rice in all forms and manifestations.

Alcohol is also almost completely absent. You can only find local beer at the bellboys for 200-250 rupees a bottle. 1 rupee 0.7-0.8 rubles.

About morals

Local service is simple and unobtrusive.

Leaves an imprint of the Indian mentality, their slowness and bureaucracy. The lift can work, but there is no ticket attendant (he just took it and left), the ticket seller returned - the gondola stood up (the electricity ran out). There was electricity - it started to snow. In heavy snow, the lift also does not work. The gondola is unstable, one queue can work. Only the first turn may turn on, and the second turn will turn on only, suppose at 12:00, or it may not turn on at all. In this case, the queue of the afflicted to the lower station of the second stage surprisingly resembles Cheget. But there is also a significant difference. You can get on the lift only with tickets.

About skating!!!

But all the difficulties and hardships described above can be forgiven and endured for the sake of the opportunities that the slope itself provides.

The riding (for Freeride lovers) is fantastic. Since the Himalayas block the path of warm and humid air masses from the Indian Ocean, there is no problem with snow. To say that there is a lot of snow is an understatement. Fluff!!! Lots of fluff.

Unrolled virgin soil waist-deep or more almost every day is the rule rather than the exception.

The maximum height to which the second stage of the lift rises is 4000 m. Actually, it is of interest. Large elevation changes, good slope and huge fields. Soft snow. In terms of skiing, the place is excellent. There are no tracks as such, off-piste skiing, with many variations.

Skiing can be even more diversified by walking up a little higher and orographically to the left of the upper station. Thus, you can get into the neighboring couloir having a common rollout to the lift.

You can go to the right, but from there you can only get to the lower villages, and then if you know the way. This option is quite extreme, since there have been cases of skiers wandering for several days and, accordingly, searches by local rescuers.

If the lift does not work, you can take a jeep and ride through the forest down to the village (Babareshi or Tangmarg), the feeling is indescribable. Again, snow, lots of snow. A lot of snow!

Prices for skiing pleasures are approximately the same. Lift: 1 pt. - 100 rupees, 2 pts. 200. Car - 600 rupees for one lift from Babareshi from the car (6-7 people)

Snowfall in Gulmarg is SNOWFALL capitalized. Visibility is limited to 5-10 meters. Snow pours a lot. Avalanche sensors and shovels are not superfluous at all. You shouldn't ride alone either.

About other pleasures

After the end of skating, sadness and longing sets in. There is nothing to do in the evening except for a hookah, but this is not for everybody.

In case of prolonged bad weather, you can arrange an excursion to Srinagar. At the same time, get a lot of adrenaline, ride a jeep on bald tires on an icy serpentine. But we must proceed from the fact that such an excursion will take at least two days. And there is something to see in Srinagar. Srinagar is located in a picturesque valley near a lotus lake. Srinagar is not only a city of houseboats famous for a long time, it is also the terraced Mughal gardens, the “throne of Solomon”, the tomb of Moses, the Shivalingam in the Amarnath cave and the white marble Hazratbal mosque. But this is all, again, an amateur and depends heavily on the tension in the region. You will hardly see such a number of armed people on the streets. Pakistan is actually behind the pass.

A trip to Gulmarg can also be combined with a visit to other interesting places in India.

In general, the impressions for the 10 days spent there are excellent. True, it was not possible to "ride", but this is a tribute to local specifics.

About fly in the ointment

However, each barrel, as usual, has its own fly in the ointment. In our case, the role of this spoon was played by the choice of fellow travelers and the corresponding financial losses. When the decision was made to visit Gulmarg, the question arose of how to get there. On the recommendation of mutual friends, we drew attention to a certain Mr. Petrov.

Andrey Petrov introduced himself as a guide, recruiting a group for a trip to Gulmarg. In direct communication, it was promised that for our $ 2000 we would not have any problems, within reason. Including visa. Considering that the cost of the flight Moscow - Delhi - Moscow was approximately $600. Delhi-Srinagar $100 and transfer Srinagar-Gulmarg $50-80, we fully expected that in addition to moving, this amount includes at least accommodation. How naive we were.

The first call was an offer to change at the Delhi airport for $ 1000-1500 minimum. By local standards, this is quite a lot of money, sufficient for living and skiing in Gulmarg for 10-14 days.

Upon arrival in Gulmarg, it turned out that accommodation, meals, lift and the way back to Srinagar were not included in the price. The question immediately arose, what is included? Unfortunately, this question has not yet been answered. However, as well as any financial report.

Failed to get back the rest of the amount. Not directly in India. Not upon arrival in Moscow. Meetings were repeatedly appointed, followed by oath assurances that the entire remaining amount would be returned to the last cent, but when the crucial moment came, Mr. Petrov was either unavailable or extremely busy. And so 8 times. At the moment, more than 9 months have passed since the trip to Gulmarg and probably it was possible to find a couple of hours to settle their financial obligations, but this did not happen.

The need to pay for the services of a guide is not in doubt. However, I would like to know what these services are and their cost. A commission of 100% of the cost of the trip seems a little overpriced.

Such behavior does not correspond much to the behavior of the guide, which Mr. Petrov positions himself as. It's more like the behavior of a person who wants to ride at someone else's expense.

Brief Summary

Is it worth going? Necessarily! You will hardly find such skiing and exotics anywhere else.
Comfort is quite relative.
There is nothing to do after the ride.
A trip to Gulmarg fits in well with visiting other beauties of India.
Golden Triangle, Srinagar, Leh, Goa, optional.
Communication, in Gulmarg itself, only at telephone booths. GSM is not working.

Estimated costs. 1 rupee - 0.8 rub. It is possible and necessary to change dollars not rupees at the airport upon arrival. The course is quite adequate

Moscow-Delhi-Moscow approx. 600$
Delhi-Srinagar 100 $
Srinagar-Gulmarg 50-80$
Skating 100 rupees. - 1 turn. 250 rupees - 2 turn.
Skating is mainly on the 2nd stage. It is difficult to go down more than 4 times a day.
Accommodation 1000 to 3000 rupees per day.
Meals 300-600 rupees.

P.S. to the fly in the ointment

Two days after the publication of the article on the site, Mr. Petrov contacted me and I received a financial report and the rest of the amount paid, which made it possible to clarify the costs of the trip. Provided report:

Tickets Moscow-Delhi-Moscow: $635
Visa: 245$
Tickets Delhi-Srinagar-Delhi: $135
Overweight: 15$
Transfer Srinagar-Gulmarg: 25$
Guide services: $700

What we spent directly in Gulmarg:

Accommodation and skiing expenses: $900
Return transfer Gulmarg-Srinagar: $25

Total: $2675

Guide services included:

Obtaining visas
Buying tickets
Organization of a transfer in 1 way

Reviews and comments

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Gulmarg (like India) is a different style and skill in general.

I partially agree with the material, but it is necessary to go once.

Excellent report!

Too many typos...

IMHO, it was not worth the fly in the ointment. Moreover, the spoon is highly individual-specific))

Thank you! Come in handy!

2 Sonchik: And in my opinion it was worth it. What does "individual-specific" mean? The fact that someone unfamiliar was deceived, but someone familiar will not be deceived? Individual approach? The mistake of Andrey and his company is that they did not immediately find out "where, what and for what money." However, to assume that the services of the organizer (not even a guide, as I understand it - the guys did not use his services) trips will be priced at half of its cost ... However.

In addition, this is a report on the trip, including the costs of it.

Normul report. Although I can not say that I really wanted to. So far to climb so as not to "roll out" because of the gouging Indians .. If I understood correctly about the "local specifics".

2 Sonchik. Small spoon I would even say. Address, phone number and name of Mr. Petrov's office in the studio..

Hmm .... The services of a guide (and not a travel agent) are striking in their volume ...

2 individual descents on the 1st stage
2 group descents in a big company

Or did you agree on this right away (before the trip)?

Cyril was somehow very different ...

I take my words back. The spoon turned out to be very understated ...

The total cost is 2800 USD for everything. I will follow the process. I know Petrov, we rode Cheget together.

I won't say anything yet, but $700 for 2 weeks is quite a reasonable amount. What does it include..? Well, knowing Petrov, it includes a full day of skiing.

If something goes wrong, I'll let you know.

Andrey! I rode with you in Gulmarg, only I organized the trip on my own, though Petrov also wanted to rip off ten thousand rubles from me before leaving (I went down from above with your group once), I remember I was very amazed! Very good report. And then I started to forget something, how much. Are you going this year?

For comparison - ski pass for the whole season in Val Thorens costs 707 euros.

Was in Gulmarg on the same dates. It took me $ 1,700 for the road, gurney and accommodation. Traveled with snowpro. It turned out cheaper, since the accommodation was in Greenheights. I really liked!!!

Volodya oxoma - good luck, everything will be ok. You had the opportunity to shake me for information about India during the ride in August. I didn't find out, so it will be more interesting ...

P.S. I don't know what the amount is. But my IMHO, these guys (guides) really travel at our expense, but for themselves and their families they earn mere pennies on these trips ... But without such guys, it will simply not be interesting to go to the mountains.

This report evokes conflicting feelings about the desire to go there ... This summer I visited the Chilean resorts of valenevado with elcolorado and termas de chillan - there were no fly in the ointment - maybe because without guides, and off the slopes they rode with local riders - SUPER.

Hello! All this is strange: of course, I rode in the next group with Kirill, but everything was the same for us, and what the hell is about 4 descents for 700 bucks? We rode with GOOD guides all the time and for two weeks the guided rides paid $700. Yes, I think that this is quite expensive, but it is 1200 rubles per day!!! This is exactly the same as we pay in Russia for the work of guides. Petrov is not a ticket buyer or a bus driver - he is a mountain climber and will probably pull your ass out if it gets in the wrong place. And they pay money for it - that's how it works ...

Another thing is that it really wasn’t 2 weeks, since the lift often stopped, the groups were large enough, which is also not super, and if I remember correctly there were organizational overheads, but not so much as to run into here in such a form.

and about Gulmarg, you can simply add that it’s worth going there, but most likely not more than once, so that after that you can ride in the Alps with a guide for the same money, but much more interesting.

Thank you very much for your emotional and informative commentary on my report. However, let me add my remarks to your comment.

Firstly. The report does not include skating in the group you were in. Skating in the group where you did not take part is considered.

Secondly. The report does not discuss whose or sports regalia and successes. The theme is completely different. A specific visit to Gulmarg and all the events associated with it are described.

Third. It is very difficult for any guide to quickly pull out the fifth point of the wards from extreme situations if he sees them more often in the evenings. And even then, not every day.

And fourthly. If there is a desire to breed controversy on this issue, then this site has a wonderful forum.

Gulmarg from A to Z: map of hotels and ski areas, slopes and pistes, lifts and ski passes. Bright photos and videos. Reviews of tourists-skiers about Gulmarg.

Tours for the New Year to India
Hot tours to India

One of the most famous Indian resorts, which not so long ago was chosen by our compatriots who are fond of skiing, freeride, luge and in general everything that rolls from a snowy mountain as soon as possible. In the warm season, more leisurely, not too young golfers gather here.

The winter season lasts from the second half of December to March. Then, after a short "demi-season", the active phase of summer holiday lovers begins.

Slopes and slopes

However, Gulmarg still has a much greater attraction for fans of winter sports. According to many experienced experts, the tracks in this region of the globe, like no other, are quite well suited for those who are just starting to ride. It just so happened that it is preferable for beginners to master long, not too steep and rather snowy slopes.

Experienced skiers are more attracted to the so-called "freeride", or "off-piste skiing". As many have already guessed, this does not require a large and well-maintained track: everything happens on wild slopes, under the personal responsibility of an extreme lover.

As practice shows, trails for beginners are always equipped not only with instructors, but also with specially trained people who carefully ensure that as many people go down alive as they climb the mountain.

Freeride in Gulmarg

Freeride

In the case of amateurs and freeride professionals, everything is somewhat more complicated. As a rule, in the Indian Gulmarg, no one is watching them, except for monkeys on snow-covered firs. And they are not the best helpers with an impending avalanche. That is why experienced experts strongly recommend that you first ask where you can go through a kind of "educational program" on behavior in the mountains of Gulmarg. It also helps to learn how to use walkie-talkies and other emergency communication devices that a freerider needs.

Since this area has a fairly large amount of precipitation, avalanches are also not uncommon here. But, fortunately, the bearded Indian guys from the local analogue of the Ministry of Emergency Situations are strictly vigilant so that people with skis in their hands do not run into the mountains during snowfalls.

Infrastructure

Naturally, it will not be very convenient to bring all the ski equipment with you. Therefore, local hotels offer rental of all equipment and numerous related specials. means like the same walkie-talkies. On average, all ammunition and skis directly cost 20-25 USD per day.

Prices on the page are for September 2018.

Hotels

It is worth noting that hotels in this region of India are quite diverse and differ significantly in terms of numerous comfort and cost criteria. So, a vacation in a three-star hotel will cost about 60-95 USD per day per person, in five-star luxury apartments the price tag is limited only by the imagination of the lucky owner of a bank account.

For those who feel like a person of a heroic fate, independent of the Internet, clean bed, philistinism, and also stoically endure life's hardships, a 0 * (zero stars) hotel with the pretentious name "Raja House" is highly recommended. A roof over your head, four walls on the sides, a bed - only 5-7 USD per day!

Entertainment and attractions of Gulmarg

During periods of the heaviest snowfalls, extreme lovers usually try to find more mundane entertainment for themselves. Some regretfully note their acute shortage. The bottom line is that Gulmarg is run by orthodox Muslims who don't take too well to loud music, short dresses and alcoholic drinks. However, according to eyewitnesses, in some hotels you can still find bars and discos, but there are very few of them here.

The so-called “house-bots” deserve special attention, which in Russian literal translation sounds like “house-boat”. And if Gulmarg is a mountain settlement, then immediately below it is Srinagar, a settlement on Dal Lake, which is famous for its “houses on the water”. This ancient tradition originates from hoary antiquity and has now been somewhat rethought by the bigwigs of the tourism business. As a rule, all "boats" are now converted into hotels, cafes and other establishments aimed at tourists.