Skiing
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many know that it is possible to ski in India. Skiing in India as a modern
sport started almost at the same time as in Europe. The Ski Club of India
was es-tablished in Gulmarg in 1927. The Indian Ski team won eight diplomas
in the first ever Asian Winter Sports held in March, 1986, at Sapporo,
Japan. Six of the winners are from 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. |
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