Gulmarg
Gulmarg's legendary beauty, prime location and proximity to
Srinagar naturally make it one of the premier hill resorts in the country.
Originally called ‘Gaurimarg’ by shepherds, its present name was given in the
16th century by Sultan Yusuf Shah, who was inspired by the sight of its grassy
slopes emblazoned with wild flowers. Gulmarg was a favourite haunt of Emperor
Jehangir who once collected 21 different varieties of flowers from here. Today
Gulmarg is not merely a mountain resort of exceptional beauty- it also has the
highest green golf course in the world, at an altitude of 2,650 m, and is the
country's premier ski resort in the winter.
The journey to Gulmarg is half the enchantment of reaching
there-- roads bordered by rigid avenues of poplar give over to flat expanses of
rice fields interspersed with picturesque villages. Depending on the season,
nature's colours could be the translucent green of spring, summer’s rich
emerald, or autumn’s golden hues, when scarlet chillies festoon windows of
village homes. After Tangmarg, the climb to Gulmarg begins through fir-covered
hillsides. At one point, known simply as View Point, travelers generally stop
their vehicles for a few minutes and look out a spectacle of snow-covered
mountains, almost within touching distance.
What to do:
Horse riding/Hiking
Cable car riding to Khilanmarg
Golf playing
Snow Skiing during winter months (End Dec -Middle March)
0 comments:
Post a Comment