The Gulmarg Gondola runs in two phases. Which one to take, how to get tickets, and why the first slot of the morning is the one to book.
The Gulmarg Gondola is a two-stage cable car running from Gulmarg at 2,650 m to Apharwat Peak at 3,979 m. It is the most popular thing to do in Kashmir, and also the one visitors most often get wrong.
The two phases
Phase I runs from Gulmarg to Kongdoori at 3,080 m, an eight-minute ride over pine forest. Phase II continues from Kongdoori to Apharwat at 3,979 m. Phase II is where the year-round snow is and the more dramatic ride, but it is also often suspended for wind.
Tickets
Tickets are sold online through the official J&K Cable Car Corporation portal and at the Gulmarg counter. Phase II sells out early in peak season. If your dates are fixed, buy Phase I and Phase II together online three to seven days ahead, because the counter queue in season can run to two hours.
Timings
The gondola generally runs from 10 am to 5 pm, with the last ride up around 3.30 pm, and hours are shorter in winter. Take the first slot of the morning: the wind picks up through the day, and Phase II is the first thing to close.
What to wear
Apharwat is around twenty degrees colder than Srinagar. Snow boots, jackets and gloves can be rented at the Gulmarg base for a few hundred rupees. Do not go up in trainers.
