Gulmarg Kashmir - Reaching close to POK

Intro
Gulmarg is a hill station in Baramulla District of Jammu & Kashmir around 50 kms from Srinagar the summer capital. Gulmarg (hindi meaning - "meadow of flowers") is famous for it's skiing slopes in winters and lush green meadows in summer and autumn, with a beautiful 18-hole golf-course supposedly the highest golf course in the world at an altitude of 2700m.


How to reach
Delhi to Jammu (620 kms) - via train or buses or flight.   http://www.ixigo.com/trains/JammuTawi-JAT
Jammu to Srinagar (300 kms) - via bus or private taxi or flight
Srinagar to Gulmarg via Tangmarg (56 kms) - via state buses or private taxi
OR
Delhi to Srinagar - via flight
Srinagar to Gulmarg via Tangmarg (56 kms) - via state buses or private taxi

Places to visit
18-hole golf course at Gulmarg
Gondola ride - can view Nanga Parbat(PoK) and LOC from topmost point of Gondola
Alpather Lake (the frozen lake)
Baba Reshi Shrine - dargah
Nigni Nala - small stream flowing from other side (PoK) of border
Khilanmarg - skiing during winter season

My Diary

This was our fourth day of Jammu Kashmir Trip and we were headed to Gulmarg, a hill station in Baramulla District, very close to POK(Azad Kashmir name given by Pakistan). This time we were quick and started off around 6-30 morning and stopped by at Tangmarg for breakfast at around 8.


This is the view from Tangmarg our breakfast stoppage and the snow claden peaks we see far off is Gulmarg where we are headed to. The Army Jawans with their AK's, bomb detecting tools and sniffer dogs were pretty active over here. This was contrary to Srinagar City where BSF was stationed inside city for security.









Anyways we got this small stream with chilled water flowing by near our breakfast point so we spent some time clicking pics and sprinkling water on our faces to kick-start ourselves for the day ahead.

It took us around 2.5 hrs including breakfast time to reach base from where Gulmarg ascent was around 9kms. This is the pic which shows the ascent. Now meanwhile we got one or two snow shoes and a jacket even though the temperatures were pretty decent just in case it turns cold while we reach the top.
 We reached Gulmarg and were fooled into taking horses by locals stating  large distances to reach the Apharwat Range. We usually take the foot and it was just 6 kms from Gulmarg which we got to know midway.



   
Khilanmarg (meaning - a place to play) a highland meadow is famous for  winter games mostly skiing from Nov-Mar when they are covered with snow. Lot of skiing competitions are held during that season.

Khilanmarg offers an unparalleled view of Apharwat peaks which leads to alpathar lake the frozen lake.



















On the way up we met an artificial
stream with loads of English trout fishes. My unsuccessful attempt to get hold of one of them :(    

My friend wanted a Rajendra Kumar style pose over the bridge with Apharwat range in backdrop.
I guess he imagined himself to be a bollywood 60's era superstar for that moment.

Anyways we continued with our horse rides passing between devdar trees,taking a few breaks here and there. So in the meanwhile we were chatting with
the locals who were with the horses. Around 8kms
from where we were there is frozen lake called
Alpathar Lake which stays frozen till mid June and
that is one of the main terrorist entry points who cross over from PoK to India. Due to this, there are
heavy troops of Army over here and it is considered to be one of the sensitive borders but there was no fight on this (Baramulla) border during 1999 Kargil
War.

A 1.5 hr horse ride and we were at the table top. It actually gives the appearance of table top with all the surrounding peaks smaller and has vast plain lands.

The locals here earn their living via tourism or they are shepherds
(gujjars).

Local Kashmiri boy who was with my horse. Was able to get lot of information about surroundings, peak season, source of income and terrorism from him.

We reached the peak and this was the most we were allowed to climb. The topmost part we can see from here is the Indian Army Border posts and
on the next range after this is the Azad Kashmir or PoK. We played around here for an hour or so, it wasn't so cold but still it was quite a relief after Delhi and Jammu more importantly we were able to get snow in the month of June.

We along with Aziz and Shafqat sledge pullers over here. They gave us a nice ride down on their sledges at a heavily discounted rate.

 On the way back to Gulmarg this was the view
from the table top. We can see Khilanmarg large green meadows down.

Trekking towards the glacier passing through grasslands and boulders.


We had to miss out the Alpathar Lake as it was quite far from here and we didn't have too much time on hand.

On our way back we stopped by at Nigni Nala, a small chilled water stream. This stream flows from melting snow and ice on Apharwat peak and Alpathar Lake.

This stream originates from PoK and flows down the valley before it meets Jhelum River in Sopur.
The water was ice chilled understandably as it had
just melted around 8 kms back. We spent half and hour over here playing around then
left for Gulmarg.

This is the Gulmarg Golf Course. It is the world's highest 18-hole green golf course which entices golfers from all over the world throughout summers till autumn.

On our way back from glacier to Gulmarg we took a different route and were down near the car parking at around 4 in evening. Visited a siva temple nearby after having hot rajma-chawal. This was the end of our Gulamarg Trip.

On our way back from Gulmarg to Srinagar we stopped by at an apple tree plantation at around 6. Got the opportunity to see small apples protected with nets.

Reached back  Srinagar around 7.30 and this was the end of our not so tiring day 4.

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