Gondola or Cable car at Gulmarg

J&K Cable care corporation operates this cable car ( locally known as Gondola ) in two phases. The first phase starts from Gulmarg to Kangdoor (10167 ft ) and second phase from Kangdoor to Aparwath (13054 ft ). You can book ticket online from Gondola official website. You can buy only for 1st phase or for 1st and 2nd phase. You can book online or you can buy ticket at TRC ( Tourist Reception centre ) of JK tourism at Srinagar and other places.

During winter time Chair lift is kept in operation for ski players.

After reaching Gulmarg you have to walk 1 KM on flat road to reach the boarding point of Gondola. After reaching the parking area you will be approached by horse owners offering you drop at boarding point or take you to different places. Horse is not required here and you can easily walk upto the Gondola. After reaching Gondola counter, first take the boarding pass from the counter if you already have the ticket. Otherwise you can buy ticket here ( subject to availability ). Avoid agents offering you to buy ticket for you. Guides are also not required here. If you are a group or one family then one person with identity proof can take the boarding pass while other members can continue in the queue.

Gulmarg Gondola or Cable car

There is a long queue system for boarding the car. In tourist seasons the waiting time will be one hour or more in the queue.

Each car has two rows one facing front and one facing back. Total 6 persons can be accommodated in one car ( 3 in each row ).

Cable care will take around 12 to 15 minutes to reach one phase to other phase. The journey time may go up little as some time cars stops for one or two minutes. The section 1 or Phase 1 will take you to Kangdoor at a height of 3050 meter. There are around 19 towers in first section and 18 towers in 2nd section for the rope way.

If you have ticket for the 2nd phase then without wasting time it is better you try to be in queue after reaching 1st phase (Kangdoor) to board cable car for Aparwath as it is advisable to spend more time at the top. On return you can visit Kangdoor the 1st Phase.

In winter seasons or just after winter there is no need to go upto the second phase as you will get sufficient ice in 1st Phase ( Kangdoor ). During summer season and after that till November ice will be available in 2nd phase ( Aparwath ) only. From the top view of surrounding hills and valley are excellent.

Closing time for Section 1 ( 1st Phase ) is 5 PM
Closing time for Section 2 ( 2nd Phase ) is 3 PM.

The operation of cable car depends on weather condition. Sometime the 2nd phase gets cancelled due to bad weather. Restaurants are available in at Kangdoor ( 1st Section ) but nothing is available at Aparwath ( 2nd Section ) . Toilet facility is available in all places ( at Gulmarg, Kangdoor & Aparwath ) in the cable Gondola station. You will get chips , biscuits , water bottles etcat all places but price will be 50% more than the MRP. Ice will be there throughout the year in 2nd phase but you have to climb for 15 minutes after getting down from cable car to reach the peak to get ice during July to Nov months.

Cost of cable car ticket per person

For first Section from Gulmarg to Kangodoor it is Rs 400 For second Section from Kangodoor to Aparwath it is Rs 600

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This article is written by go2india.in team.