India
Ski India
Skiing in India??!! Most people think of India as a hot, dusty and crowded country, where skiing would only be possible in an indoor stadium. However up in the Himalayas in Kashmir, there is an abundance of snow.
Forget
Niseko Japan, India is the new "IT" place to go skiing! India will provide you with ski travel stories for the rest of your life that will not require any embellishment!
Gulmarg Ski Resort
Gulmarg is a no-frills "ski resort" that provides a huge playground for experienced and fit riders who love powder skiing. Gulmarg is in the state of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) in northwest India at the foot of the Himalayas, 56km from the city of Srinagar. See our Gulmarg review for more information on this intriguing ski destination.
There are various tour companies that offer
Gulmarg ski tours. One reputable adventure travel company is
Trek Climb Ski. They offer 12 day tour programs that include guiding, accommodation, lift tickets, transfers and sightseeing tours.
India Heli Skiing India heli skiing is emerging as the new trend for powder addicts who are looking for something a bit spicy. Himalayan Heli Adventures are based at Manali and offer week long heli skiing packages, whilst
Gulmarg Heliski are set to commence operations at Gulmarg in early 2011.
Why Ski India?
India is a fascinating country. The local people will provide hours of people watching entertainment and this goes way beyond their obsession with cricket and Bollywood. The combination of the interesting cultural experience and an awesome skiing and snowboarding adventure makes for an inimitable ski holiday. Like the curries on offer, skiing in India is very fiery!
Ski India and Gulmarg Travel Tips
Security and Safety
The ‘Line of Control’ is a de-militarized border between India and Pakistan, which is 20km away from Gulmarg. India and Pakistan have been in conflict over the ‘ownership’ of this disputed area since the early 1900s. China is in the mix as well. Wars over this area have devastated the region and its people. During the late 1980s and 1990s, Kashmir was definitely not a safe area for tourists to visit, but since 2002 the area has been at relative peace.
Nevertheless, there are many troops based in the area, the Srinagar airport in particular has tight security, and the Srinagar to Gulmarg road has had a history of incidents involving foreigners. It is always wise to visit your government’s travel website to check the latest travel advice. The websites will generally recommend a “do not travel” to Kashmir due to the possibility of terrorism.
Many travellers to
Gulmarg have felt completely safe whilst travelling, but you need to be aware of the risks and make your own decision.
Female travellers, especially if alone, may receive unwanted attention from men. The harassment can be very intimidating, and it is advised that women should avoid walking alone in deserted areas where possible. On the houseboats in Kashmir there have been some incidents of single women being harassed by houseboat employees.
Health
There is a high incidence of food-borne, water-borne and other infectious diseases in India. Vaccinations are recommended including Hep A, Hep B, Typhoid, Cholera, Polio and Meningitis. Check with your GP but some of these vaccinations will be required at least four to six weeks before departing.
Some travellers might suffer from “Gulmarg Guts” which is the equivalent of “Delhi Belly”. Pack the Lomotil (or Immodium) and Stemetil tablets with you. Some soft toilet paper would also be worth packing.
The one thing that sets Gulmarg apart from the rest of India is that you can drink the water from the taps without major fear of repercussions of the severe bowel movement kind. A water treatment plant was recently constructed and seems to do the job. However in the rest of India it is definitely recommended not to drink the tap water, and this includes whilst brushing your teeth or taking a shower. Boil all drinking water or drink bottled water, avoid ice cubes and raw and undercooked food.
Try to avoid dogs and monkeys around the village and at Monkey Hill at Gulmarg, and definitely try not to get bitten. Occasionally snow leopards have been known to attack humans, so to escape, you might want to be able to ski or board really fast. Of course there’s also the very occasional “cougar” attack!
Altitude sickness is a potential health concern as the air up high in the Himalayas is a bit thin. Prevention is the best cure – see the
Gulmarg facilities and health page for more information.
Language
Most of the Kashmir locals speak fluent English as well as Kashmiri, their native tongue.
Money
See the
Oanda website for the latest currency exchange rates. Here are some approximate costs: bottled water is 50 Rupee; Coke/ Pepsi is 40 Rupee; and smokes about 40 Rupee. Tips of 5-10 percent are customary, but not compulsory.
Mobile Phones
Mobile phones work in Srinagar, but not in Gulmarg, unless they’re with the Indian provider BSNL.
Travel Insurance
Check your travel insurance carefully as most will not cover off-piste skiing. There is a slight risk of being a victim of terrorism, so take out the extra
ski insurance to cover these options.
Electrical Adapters
The adapter required is the same as that for South Africa.
Time Zone
The time zone in Srinagar is GMT/UTC + 05:30 hour. Gulmarg is 4.5 to 5.5 hours behind Australian Eastern Standard Time depending upon daylight savings. Australians will feel compelled to get up really early (great on powder days, but this could be wasted if gondola workers are operating on ish-time) and go to bed super early.
India Ski Gear and Clothing
The temperatures in Gulmarg are not super cold, so you probably won’t need to pack face protection. Not having to travel on cold chairlifts is also a bonus.
As good rental gear is not available, it’s wise to take your own skis or snowboard. It is possible to ski on slalom skis, but if you want to float in the moist powder, fat skis with a waist wider than about 90mm are ideal. Snowboarders may require snow shoes or ideally take a split board.
You’ll definitely need a helmet and goggles, and Powerhound essentials also include
avalanche safety equipment.
Travel Agents & Tour Operators
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Trek Climb Ski - 12 Day Gulmarg Tour
TCS are a very reputable and experienced travel company and offer a 12-day tour including guiding, lift tickets, accommodation, transfers, sightseeing tours, Dal Lake stop over.
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