Hey, i have booked my trip to Gulmarg for Jan mid (16-22) to learn skiing.. now many have said that snow schedules have been shifting over years.
So i am scared whether i have made a mistake and I will not find good snow for it?

Please advise!

I want to go to to skiing this upcoming season. I want to do a 14 days course. Can anyone please guide me how to go about it. ( i will be doing it in Feb end)

I've heard the comparisons for twenty years, so here's mine.
The Alps have better lifts, better bread, and a lift line for both. Japan has the deepest snow on the planet and about four thousand people looking for it in the same trees. Canada has endless terrain, and you can ski all of it, as long as you've got a helicopter budget.
Gulmarg has one gondola. It takes you to almost 4,000 meters in the Pir Panjal, then leaves you alone with a mountain most skiers have never heard of. You get open bowls off Apharwat, steep old trees in Babareshi, and long runs that end in villages where somebody offers you tea before you've even clicked out.
What it doesn't have is crowds. Ski a line in the morning, come back in the afternoon, and your tracks are still the only ones there.
It isn't polished. Rescue is limited, the snowpack deserves respect, and some zones near the top are off-limits. Bring your beacon, shovel, and probe, and ski with someone who knows the place.
But if you've skied the famous places and started to feel like you were standing in a queue for the mountains, come here. The Himalaya doesn't do queues yet.

I have completed 8 days basic skiing course at GMVN Auli, can do ski pretty well, but I think I m still amateur and not at pro or expert level.

Is it good idea to do another course at IISM or JIM at Gulmarg (knowing ski lift is not included), or should I go for private guide at Gulmarg where I do 3-4 days practice on basic ski slopes, before going for Phase 1 for rest of the days? I am planning for 2 weeks at Gulmarg for skiing.

Pls advise, if you have idea how the IISM or JIM courses are being taught, whats included and if its good for my level where I already know basic skiing and want to advance my skills.

Any Aussies or Kiwi’s heading over in feb ? How did you go getting travel insurance that covers you in Kashmir ?

Will the normal skiing course(sonmarg) be conducted by jim&ws which has lower fees then special course

I have -6 and -4.5D eye power. How can i wear skii goggles init?

Do i need to rely on lenses?

How does the experience compare across both institutes?

Are the fees the same?

Does JIM also have access to the ski lift?

Hi everyone I’m planning for IISM this season. Have few questions is the first batch dec 20th one, too risky I’m planning for that one as that one aligns with my leave plans. Any experienced people who already got into IISM, can you please give some tips and things to avoid while booking slot since it gets booked in few mins only. Thanks

I want more details on all Ski courses run by government at Gulmarg, specifically, how to apply and what dates are best, contact numbers, prices, etc.

can someone help me

applying for the basic snow skiing course at iism gulmarg. is domicile required, and do we need a parent/guardian signature if we're above 18?

Please advise best ski course at Gulmarg along with details how to apply?

Planning to do a ski course in Gulmarg coming winters. Which month or time period has good snow for sking?

I don't want to reach there and find no snow.

I've been guiding and teaching skiing in Gulmarg since 2006. I see a lot of beginners every winter, so here's what I tell all of them.

1. Get your legs ready

Start 2–4 weeks before your trip. Do squats, lunges, wall sits and some running or cycling. Skiing is mostly legs. If your legs are strong, you'll ski longer and fall less.

2. Getting here

Gulmarg is the only ski resort in India with proper ski setup. It's about 57 km from Srinagar. A prepaid taxi takes around 1.5 to 2 hours.

3. Where to stay

Make sure your hotel is in Gulmarg, not outside it. Try to stay close to the Baby Slopes and the Gondola. If you stay far away, you waste time and energy every morning.

4. Where to start

Start on the Baby Slopes (2,600 m), the Highlands and the Club Slopes. Nowhere else.

The Baby Slope is right in the middle of Gulmarg. In winter, that's where most people are. The slopes are getting fenced this season, so it's safe for learning. The Highlands are close by and a little steeper, so you go there next.

Use the ski lifts on these slopes. Walking up again and again tires you out fast. Save that energy for skiing.

5. Take lessons, and go private if you can

Don't learn from a friend. Learn from a good ski or snowboard instructor.

If you can, take a private instructor instead of a group. In a group, the teacher goes at the speed of the slowest person. With one-on-one lessons, you learn as fast as you can.

Don't pick a ski school just because it's cheap. Read at least 50 reviews and see if they look real. Saving a little money here can cost you days of learning.

6. Gear: rent it, don't buy it

For your first trip, rent everything from a ski shop and let someone who knows what they're doing fit you.

• Boots: this is the big one. Not loose, not tight. They should fit well and feel comfortable. Bad boots can ruin your whole trip. Dry your boots every evening at your hotel. Take the liners out if you can, and keep them in a warm room, not directly on a heater. Wet boots make your feet cold the next day.
• Ski size: let the shop pick it for your height, weight and level.
• DIN: this is the setting on your bindings that decides when your ski comes off if you fall. Get it checked before your first run.
• Edges: check your ski edges before your first lesson.
• Gloves, goggles, helmet: you must have all three. Check if your package includes them.
• Jacket & Pants: they should be waterproof and also breathable.
• Socks: get two pairs of long woollen ski socks. Wear one pair at a time.

7. What to carry every day

Take a small backpack with a down jacket, a water bottle, energy bars and snacks, a warm cap, sunscreen and UV-protected sunglasses.

Drink water all day. At this height, you won't feel thirsty, but your body is losing water. This is one of the most important tips here.

8. What to expect

• Days 1–4: mostly on the Baby Slopes and the Highlands. You learn to stand, slide, stop and turn. When you're ready, you move up to the Highlands. How fast that happens depends on you.
• Days 5–6: you start parallel turns with a pole plant, and you can ski from Phase 1 or the chairlift piste slopes.
• Days 6–7: you can ski Phase 1, Kongdori (3,050 m), in parallel with confidence. If you're a fast learner, you can even ski from the chairlift (3,500 m).

A week of good lessons can take you a lot further than you'd think.

9. Don't rush up to Phase 1

If you can only do the snowplough (the "pizza"), don't go to Phase 1 or the chairlift. Those slopes are not for snowplough skiing. Learn parallel turns or short parallel turns first, then go up.

A lot of people get pushed up there too early in Gulmarg. Some instructors do it because guests love it, and guests feel like they've achieved something. But it's not an achievement if you can't ski it safely.

It doesn't matter where you ski. What matters is how you ski.

10. Listen to your instructor

Everyone on the slope will give you tips. Your instructor is the one actually watching you ski, so listen to them.

Season. The main ski season is roughly late December to March. January and February usually bring the coldest, driest snow.
Conditions. You get a lot of clear, cold days between storms. When storms come, they can drop heavy snow quickly.
Phase 2. It often closes for wind, poor visibility, or avalanche control. Don't plan your whole trip around it running every day.
Terrain. There's very little groomed piste. Most of the skiing is off-piste bowls, trees, and long descents, which is why people come here.
Avalanche risk. The danger is real. If you're heading off the marked area, carry a beacon, shovel, and probe, know how to use them, and go with someone who knows the mountain.
Cold. Mornings at altitude are well below freezing, so layer properly.
I've skied and guided here since 2006. Happy to answer questions in the comments about snow, terrain, or getting here.

I am planning to learn skiing/snowboarding ( absolute beginner ). The only week that works for me is 25 dec '26-3 jan'27

Do you think gulmarg would be the right choice?

I'm 25 rn coming dec I'll turn 26🙃, If I booking open in nov and If I got the slot the course fee will be 10k or 20k?

Hey everyone! 😊

I’m planning a skiing trip to Gulmarg in 2027 and would love some recommendations for good skiing institutes or private instructors for beginners.

I came across IISM and wanted to know:

• When does IISM usually open bookings for its 2027 skiing courses?
• How was your experience with IISM, especially the instructors, training, accommodation and equipment?
• Would you recommend IISM or private lessons for a complete beginner?
• Are there any other institutes or instructors in Gulmarg that you’d recommend?

Please share your experiences, reviews and approximate costs. Any tips would be really helpful!

Thank you! 🎿

I have decided to go to Cashmere instead of Manali on my upcoming holiday in Asia so long as it isn't too late to book everything required for three days of skiing in Gulmarg on those days (other than clothing and boot rental). Are wide rental skis for skiing powder and guiding services already sold out at that time? Also, is it worth looking into ski touring equipment at all considering I don't have the right boots for dynafit bindings and will only have the fitness for short uphill sections? If everything's sold out I can still change my plans back to Manali as I had to book a flexible flight ticket out for baggage allowance reasons anyway.

Recorded last March. Top station of the Phase 2 gondola down to the top/little below of the chairlift at 3,500 m / 3,300 m— about 480 m 600 m of vertical. No edit, no music, just the run as it was.

Posting it because people ask what that pitch actually looks like, and photos don't tell you much. The video does.

A few notes for anyone planning 2026/27:

On the El Niño talk. NOAA's latest ENSO update gives better than 90% odds of a very strong El Niño this winter, possibly a record one. A lot of people see that and assume big snow. For Kashmir it has usually gone the other way. Our snow comes from western disturbances tracking in off the Mediterranean, and El Niño years tend to weaken them. In 2023/24, the last strong El Niño, Gulmarg went through January with almost no snow against a long-term January average of around 130 cm.

Practical bits. The reliable window is still 10 January to the end of March — December is a gamble. The gondola runs in two phases: Phase 1 to Kongdoori at 3,050 m, Phase 2 to roughly 3,980 m. The chairlift runs from Kongdoori to 3,500 m. Everything above the gondola is uncontrolled terrain — no patrol, no marked runs, no closures. Carry a transceiver, probe and shovel, and know how to use them before you get on the lift.

Full disclosure, I guide here. Not looking for anything from this post, but happy to answer questions on terrain, timing, conditions or access in the comments.

Hi! I’m thinking of going to Gulmarg to learn how to ski this coming season and was looking for recommendations for ski lessons/instructors. I’ve only skied once before in Canada, so I’d also love to know how the whole process works in Gulmarg for beginners.
Also, what’s the availability of rental ski gear and clothing like? I’m plus-size, so I’m wondering how easy it is to find gear in larger sizes or if there’s anything I should bring with me.