India's finest ski resort, Gulmarg, 53 kms from Srinagar, is known as the meadow of flowers. It also has the distinction of offering the highest natural golf course in the world at 2890 mts. Mid-December to March, Gulmarg becomes an exciting winter sports resort. Skiing, toboganning, ski-bobbing, are some of the activities offered here, with instruction and equipment facilities.

The resort has one T-bar lift, a chair lift and three modern ski-lifts.A huge cup-shaped meadow, lush and green, with slopes where the silence is broken only by the tinkle of cow-bells, Gulmarg looks like a fantasy set in a film, and not suprisingly, has been the venue of several films.

All around are snow capped mountains, and on a clear day you can see all the way to Nanga prahbat. in one direction and Srinagar in another. From Gulmarg , a pony track leads upwards to Khilanmarg, Kongdori. and Seven springs, a couple of hours by pony.,longer on foot . Fron here ,across the Apharwat- the peak which looms up from this point - is the Alpharwat lake , a picturesque pine lake frozen till June. For horse riding afficionades , alpather lake makes an exiting days excursion, starting early in the morning and returning late in the evening . Slightly lower than Gulmarg is the shrine of Baba reshi a muslim mystic saint whose shrine is visited by people of all faiths. Gulmarg also has one of the world's highest green golf courses as well as a club house on which is a historical building in its own right .

For the would-be golfer, there are golf sets on hire, pros to instruct one in the game, and temporary memberships,including one-day memberships.

Naturally, these facilities are available to players as well except that serious golfers usually their sets along. For a fun filled ride most unusual kind , Gulmarg's newly constructed gondola lift from high above Gulmarg, through pine-claf slopes, is exhilariting.