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Gulmarg - The meadow of flowers covered with snow -aDe3m

Gulmarg (translation: "Meadow of Flowers") is a town, a hill station, a popular skiing destination and a notified area committee in Baramula district in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Gulmarg gives you what other hill stations don't: An amazing off-road experience combined with a few adventures like skiing and curling. To be short, Gulmarg has it all!

Gulmarg is located 52 km from Srinagar. It is located at 34.05°N 74.38°E. It has an average elevation of 2,690 m (8,825 ft).

A pleasant flower-laden meadow at around 3000 meters covered with dense forests of gigantic pine and fir trees just about gives the right impression of a holiday vacation. One look at the view atop these hills leaves a jaw-dropping sight. Certainly not made up, this is just the beginning of what's to come your way if your making way up to Gulmarg. With the snow slopes of Khilanmarg to the majestic Nanga Parbat peak, and from forests of tall conifers to rice fields and ridges, Gulmarg has it all!

Exciting Adventures

With perfect snow conditions, one can learn skating, skiing, curling and ski bobbing! In winter, Gulmarg's peaks provide you with a blanket of thick and soft snow that turns its slopes into the finest skiing slopes. If golf is your cup of tea, then you have to visit Gulmarg as it has one of the world's highest international golf course. Gulmarg-Khilanmarg-Apharwat-Alpather is an important trekking base. The ride on the Gulmarg Gondola is not to be missed as it is Asia's highest and longest cable car project which provides an eye-popping view.

As Gulmarg is a hilly region, jeeps are considered best to overcome rough roads and for some exciting off-road adventure. The best time to visit Gulmarg is during summers, that is, April to June. The way to Gulmarg is half the enchantment of reaching there!

According to CNN, Gulmarg is the "heartland of winter sports in India.

Gulmarg has been a resort for the kings like Yousuf Shah Chak and Jahangir who used to visit frequently.

Must See Attractions

The places of tourist interest are:

Khilanmarg – An approx half-an-hour journey from Gulmarg to Khilanmarg through valleys of exotic wild flowers will surely sum up a perfect trek with the reflections of the peaks in the surrounding lakes adding to the beauty.
Alpather lake – Nestled under the shadow of Apharwat mountain are blocks of ice floating in the Alpather lake which are a sight to see.
Ningle Nallah – These Nallah springs flow from a bed of snow downhill through dense forests near the Apharwat Ridge.
Lienmarg – Brilliant camp sites can be explored in this grassy meadow.
Ferozepur Nallah – A very famous tourist spot namely Waters Meet is situated on the banks of this stream.
Baba Reshi – This saint's shrine is in a serene place surrounded by carved deodar. It is connected by road linked from Tangmarg to Gulmarg.

Hotel Hilltop, Gulmarg

Accommodation

Hotels in Gulmarg offer budget as well as over-the-top luxurious accommodation. Huts, villas, cottages can also be booked within the city with no hesitation regarding the price-tag. Gulmarg offers hotels with all grades basically. The people living in this town are mostly hotel staff and visitors, so, food is of least concern as multi-cuisine specialties are offered in every resort and hotel.

Planning your trip

Two days are enough to club your trip to Gulmarg. A day spent on trekking and hiking through valleys and finally winding up in a hill resort in the middle of the forest. Half a day to enjoy the tourist attractions and finishing with the rest of the day devoted completely to the Gulmarg Gondola.

By road is the only way one can truly capture the beauty of the mountains, ridges, streams and meadows. Hence a cab is preferred by the tourists which can be hailed from Srinagar, about two hours from Gulmarg. One must not forget to ride the ponies from Tangmarg to Gulmarg as they are exciting as well as adventurous.

Hotel Hilltop, Gulmarg

Photos by aDe3m | Text inputs/info from wikipedia & mustseeindia

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Dal Lake View From Boulevard Road, Srinagar, Kashmir -aDe3m

Dal Lake is a lake in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. The urban lake, which is the second largest in the state, is integral to tourism and recreation in Kashmir and is nicknamed the "Jewel in the crown of Kashmir" or "Srinagar's Jewel". The lake is also an important source for commercial operations in fishing and water plant harvesting.

The shore line of the lake, about 15.5 kilometres (9.6 mi), is encompassed by a boulevard lined with Mughal era gardens, parks, houseboats and hotels. Scenic views of the lake can be witnessed from the shore line Mughal gardens, such as Shalimar Bagh and Nishat Bagh built during the reign of Mughal Emperor Jahangir) and from houseboats cruising along the lake in the colourful shikaras. During the winter season, the temperature sometimes reaches −11 °C (12 °F), freezing the lake.

Dal Lake View From Boulevard Road, Srinagar, Kashmir -aDe3m

The lake covers an area of 18 square kilometres (6.9 sq mi) and is part of a natural wetland which covers 21.1 square kilometres (8.1 sq mi), including its floating gardens. The floating gardens, known as "Rad" in Kashmiri, blossom with lotus flowers during July and August. The wetland is divided by causeways into four basins; Gagribal, Lokut Dal, Bod Dal and Nagin (although Nagin is also considered as an independent lake). Lokut-dal and Bod-dal each have an island in the centre, known as Rup Lank (or Char Chinari) and Sona Lank respectively.

At present, the Dal Lake and its Mughal gardens, Shalimar Bagh and the Nishat Bagh on its periphery are undergoing intensive restoration measures to fully address the serious eutrophication problems experienced by the lake. Massive investments of around US $275 million (Rs 1100 crores) is being made by the Government of India to restore the lake to its original splendour.