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Situated at 2730 m, Gulmarg is famously known as the meadow of flowers. It has the highest green golf course in the world, miles of forest and numerous ski peaks. It is a golfer's paradise in summer and a skiers delight in winter. Indeed, with the range of facilities available such as ski-lift, chair-lift and gondola cable car, as well as the variety of slopes, from the most gentle to intermediate and then steeper and longer, Gulmarg is the ultimate beginner's ski resort.
Sonamarg on the other hand is the last halt on the Kashmir side on the Srinagar-Leh road. It is a popular destination for trekkers, being the start point for a major trek to several beautiful mountain, lakes - Satsar, Vishansar, Kishansar, Gadsar and Gangabal.
Adventure Sports In Gulmarg
Trekking
Gulmarg makes an excellent base for trekking in the northern Pir Panjal Range. Nanga Parbat can be seen to the north from several view points, including Khilanmarg, west and over 1,500 feet up the forested hillside from Gulmarg. From a distance, the Pir Panjal appears somewhat rounded, but when you are actually walking up its slopes, you will find that its smoother peaks rise above evergreen clad slopes that seem quite equal in steepness to those of the main Himalayas.
Golf Courses In Gulmarg
Situated at an altitude of 2,650 m, Gulamarg has got the highest green golf course in the world. The layout of the course is quiet striking and the layout is similar to a normal golf course with land slopes and inclines along the complete area of the course, which has a par of 72. The golf club was started by the British who used Gulmarg as a holiday resort, and opened it for golf lovers in the year 1904. At present the Jammu & Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation manages the club.
Skiing Adventure In Gulmarg
Gulamarg is also counted among the best skiing resorts in India, but you require a pretty good experience as well as training to ski down the slopes over here. Gulmarg also make a good ski spot for starters, those who are new to skiing. Ski enthusiasts can easily find out all required gear and equipments as well as professional ski instructors in Gulmarg, to try out a hand on skiing. The longest ski run in Gulmarg is provide by the Gondola Cable Car, where skiers can swoosh down the slopes from the height of 2, 213m.
Adventure Sports In Sonamarg
Sonamarg is the starting point of a major trek passing several mountain lakes - Vishansar, Kishansar, Gadsar, Satsar and Gangabal. One trek leads all the way to the Amarnath Cave. The other reason for Sonamarg's importance lies in the fact that it is the last halt on the Kashmir side for the drive from Sri Nagar to Leh.
TrekkingOne of the most popular short walks from Sonamarg and a major attraction during the summer months is the 4-km route to Thajiwas, a small valley at the foot of the Sonamarg glacier. A path leads up to the Shakhdar hill, overlooking the glacier from the northeast. It is dangerous to climb the steep slope leading up to the glacier.
Haramukh
Alternate routes to Haramukh can also be taken. One good approach route begins by taking a bus from Srinagar to Bandipur. At Bandipur change vehicles or walk to Erin village, and hike up the Erin valley. At Ishrantar village the valley divides, and you must take either the northern fork, keeping Haramukh to your right, or the southern valley to Sarbal Lake, south of the Haramukh. Either way you can get around Haramukh peak to reach Gangabal Lake.
