A visit to Kashmir wouldn’t be complete without taking a few side trips out into the glorious Kashmiri countryside (after all, Kashmir isn’t called the “Switzerland of India” for nothing!). It’s filled with flowers in spring and snow in winter. Pretty Kashmiri villages with traditional wooden houses and colorful rooftops can be seen along the way. These popular tourist places in Kashmir are good starting points.

Skiing in Kashmir over the years has gained such popularity that even the leisure travellers come here today to glide down the thick bed of snow and spend their leisure holiday in the valley farther framing some thrilling moments.

Gulmarg – the ski paradise of In-dia. People think of mountains only in the summers, reflecting on their cool shade and lovely breezes. The meadow of flowers, Gulmarg is about 50 km from Sri-nagar, situated at an altitude of 2,730 m. It turns into a meadow of romance in winter, a small ski resort where everyone knows everyone else. There are comfortable hotels and huts to stay in. It is the only ski-resort in the mighty Himalayas where you can ski with a magnific-ent view of the Karakorams. Gulmarg provides an al-titude difference of over 1,500 m with lengths of more than 10 km. But presently only a ski-mountaineer can reach these higher slopes. Four ski-lifts and a chairlift are available but these are suitable for beginners only. Gulmarg is also the cheapest ski resort in the world to learn skiing. The latest Austrian and French equipment is available on hire. There is a ski school known as the Indian Ins-titute of Skiing and Mountaineering, which conducts 10 day and 21 day short ski courses for beginners and advanced skiers.

The season is mid-December to mid-April and the road is kept open to Gulmarg throug-hout the winter with the help of powerful German machines. Apart from downhill skiing, one can also enjoy cross-country runs. Excursions to the shrine of Baba Reshi through the ‘powder chute’ is an experi-ence to treasure. One hasn’t started yet with heliskiing but there are tremendous possibilities for the sport here. You can mark new tracks almost throughout the entire winter season. There are long chains of moun-tain valleys and ridges covered with fine powder snow. One can even try a different valley each day with the aid of a helicopter.

Gulmarg is not the only place to challenge your courage. Ski tours from Pahalgam to Sonamarg through high mountain passes are not only arduous but also exciting. Some people have even gone on skis to Ladakh through the Wardwan Valley. Adventure here has no limits.

Kashmir is the ultimate paradise For trekkers. The terrain from the Shivalik hills of Jammu to the rugged mountains of Ladakh is a geographer’s delight. Nowhere in the world can one see so much change in geography in such a small distance: flora and fauna; Alpine pastures saddled among snow clad peaks with pure oxygenated air; high-altitude lakes of Kishensar, -Vishensar and Gangabal full of trout. Your constant companions would be the nomadic shepherds – the Gujjars – the tough and sturdy mountain folk who can carry you on their back and still complete the trek in half the time and who claim to be descendants of Moses. One can go back-packing on one’s own or take on a ‘five star’ trek in the Mughal fashion with camp cots, tables and chairs and bearers in waiting. A num-ber of local travel agencies organise all inclusive trekking. For those who want to do it in real Alpine style, equipment is readily available in Srinagar, Pahalgam and Sonamarg, the main take off points. Choice provisions can be purchased in Srinagar. Mules and porters can be engaged through the respective tourist offices. One can hike for a day, or disappear in the mountains for a week, enjoy the tranquility and serenity, becoming one with the surroundings in a rare communion with nature.

Trekking in Srinagar

Srinagar-Aharabal-Kungwattan-Mahinag-Koun-sarnag (5 days)
Srinagar-Erin-Poshpathri-Sarbal-Kundsar-Ganga-bal (7 days)

Trekking in Pahalgam

Pahalgam-Chandanwari-Sheshnag-Panchtarni–Amarnarh Cave-Sonamarg-Srinagar (7 days)
Pahalgam-Chandanwari-Sheshnag-Rangmarg–Humpet-Kanital-Lonivilad-Panikhar-Kargil (9 days)
Pahalgam-Aru-Lidderwat-Kolahoi Glacier-Yem-her Pass-Khemsar-Kulan-Sonamarg-Srinagar (9 days)

Trekking in Gulmarg

Gulmarg-Khilanmarg-Apharwat-Alpather (4 days)
Gulmarg-Danwas-Tejjan-Tosha Maidan (4 days)
Gulmarg-Kantarnarg (4 days)

Trekking in Sonamarg

Sonamarg-Thajiwas Glacier (2 days)
Sonamarg-Nichnai Pass-Vishansar-Gadsar-Krish-ansar-Satsaran Pass-Mangadub-Zojibal Pass-Narang–Srinagar (11 days)

Trekking in Ladakh

For tougher treks, Ladakh offers the true rugged Himalayan adventure amid high mountains, lofty peaks and endless glaciers. Treks range from four days to two weeks. In fact, if one combines some of the trails, one can go on exploring the mountains for months together. But one has to be cautious while trekking in Ladakh. The climate and terrain are more demanding, being almost a high-altitude desert with extreme temperature. One has to be self-sufficient in food as the local population has very little food to spare. In some places one may not see any life for days together. The trekking season extends from mid May till mid Oct.

Trekking in Leh

Leh-Lamayuru-Wanla-Ursi-Tar La- Mangyur – Sa-spol-Leh (7 days)
Leh-Stok-Zachan-Rumbagh Pass-Gandala Pass–Shingo-Skiu-Shaluk-Markha-Nimaling-Longmaru La-Churkirmo-Shang-Hemis-Leh (14 days)

Padam Treks

Padam-Ichar-Fuktal-Purne-Thangse-Kargiya-Shingola-Zampo-Darcha-Manali (9 days)
Padam-Mone-Pupila-Thangse-Kargiya-Lakong–Zanskar-Sumdo-Darcha-Manali (9 days)
Padam-Pishu-Pidmu-Snertse-Linshat Gompa-Chila-Lamayuru-Leh (12 days)
Padam-Tungri-Ating-Huttra-Buswas-Machail-Athole-Galhar-Kishtwar (7 days)