The Gulmarg Gondola is one of the highest cable cars in the world, climbing in two stages from the meadow at 2,690 m to the ridge of Afarwat Peak at 3,980 m. The first stage deposits you at Kongdori (3,050 m), a broad bowl popular with beginner skiers and day visitors. The second stage — steeper, longer, and often windier — continues to the top of the ridge.
From the upper station the views are extraordinary: the entire Kashmir Valley spreads below, with the Himalayan ranges marching toward Nanga Parbat on the horizon. On a clear winter day there is nowhere else in India quite like it.
In winter the slopes below the upper station offer wide, long runs for intermediate and advanced skiers. Equipment hire and ski school are available at the base. The season runs roughly December to March, with February the most reliable month for snow. Tickets for both phases are sold at the base; buy them early as queues form quickly on weekends and holidays.