Gulmarg, Auli and Solang Valley: Top places for skiing in India

Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir

This frozen fairyland is often referred to as the ski capital of India. It boasts an impressive Gulmarg Gondola, which spans about 2.7 km and climbs from 1,280 m to a height of 3,980 m near Mount Afarwat. The location also features five international ski lifts from Poma, a French company renowned for its high quality, cable-driven systems, providing one of the safest skiing experiences available. The best way to reach Gulmarg is to take a flight to Srinagar and then travel further 60 km by road.

Auli, Uttarakhand

All eyes are on Auli as it is set to host the National Winter Games starting from January end. The ski slopes here start at an altitude of 3,000 m and extend for 3 km, with a vertical drop of 500 m. A Poma ski lift and a chairlift are also available to take you to the slopes. The best option to reach Auli is to go to Dehradun. From there to Auli it is a long drive of about 295 km. Since hotel options in Auli are limited, staying in a nearby area like Joshimath, which is just 12 km away, is the most convenient option.

Solang Valley, Himachal Pradesh

For many tourists, no trip to Manali (38 km away) is complete without a visit to Solang Valley, famous for its winter sports. A scenic drive of 70 kilometers from Bhuntar Airport will take you to this valley, with spectacular views of the Himalayas on the way. Additionally, the cable car at Solang covers a distance of 1.3 km, with a vertical rise of 500 m near the summit of Mount Fataru at 3,200 m. However, since there is only one Poma ski lift available, tourists may experience long queues and waiting times.

where to stay

For convenience it is recommended to book a ski resort. However, due to lack of proper infrastructure only a few of them have actually emerged. To be considered a proper ski resort, it must have a cable car or chairlift to take skiers to well-groomed slopes.

Is skiing safe enough?

At some of these locations, a ski patrol, often supervised by an international expert or snow safety officer, is available to maintain safety standards. However, rescue facilities are limited and not as extensive as one might expect, so one needs to be cautious.

Heli-skiing: for a higher, unique experience

For those who want to enhance their skiing experience, consider trying heli-skiing. In this adventure a helicopter takes you away from the crowds to remote, untouched snow in the mountains, where you can ski or snowboard. Heli-skiing drop-off and pick-up, lasting approximately two hours, begins 15,000 per person in Gulmarg.

from experts

According to Mohammad Ashu Khan, an experienced tour guide and ski instructor from Tangmarg, Jammu and Kashmir, a 15-minute to 1.5-hour introductory ski session with an instructor costs around 2,000. For those serious about learning, a 7-day beginners course including 3-star hotel accommodation is available 40,000.

Kamlesh Bisht, another ski guide from Auli with over 8 years of experience, explains about packing the essentials for a ski trip, “Waterproof jackets, gloves and pants are always recommended. There are rental shops everywhere for shoes, poles, helmets and goggles. Everyone needs to wear warm clothes, which is very important in such extreme weather conditions.

Vineet Garg, a travel enthusiast and college student from Gurugram, shared his experience about his trip to Auli on December 31. He says, “I went to Auli on New Year and it was a one-of-a-kind experience. This was my first time and we chose public transport to commute. We took a bus from Delhi to Rishikesh and another bus to Joshimath and traveled further by shared taxi. I went skiing under the guidance of experts. There was all snow and it looked so cool that I still can’t get over it. We also had darshan of Lord Badrinath, the idol of Lord Badrinath is taken to Narasimha temple in Joshimath for six months during winters when the Badrinath temple is closed due to heavy snowfall.”