Gulmarg · all twelve months

Gulmarg month by month

From world-class powder skiing at Apharwat Peak to emerald summer meadows, every month in Gulmarg has distinct operating conditions.

Best months

January, February, May, June, September

Months covered

Verified

2026-08-31

Written in

Srinagar

The short answer

January–February for skiing and deep snow; May–June for lush meadows. Skip late March and early November.

For skiing and reliable deep snow, January and February are the gold standard — both Gondola Phase 1 and Phase 2 are fully snow-covered. If you want green meadows and comfortable weather, May and June are ideal. The periods to avoid are late March (slushy thaw in the main bowl) and November (dry grass with freezing wind before the snow sets in).

Written by Tariq Ahmad, Head of Operations, Srinagar · last verified 31 August 2026

At a glance

All twelve months, ranked.

Month	Verdict	Day temp	Snow	Price	Crowd
January	Best	−3 to 3°C	Deep powder snow across the entire resort and golf course	High	Busy with skiers and winter tourists
February	Best	−1 to 5°C	Thick snowpack throughout the bowl and mountain ridges	Mid-High	Moderate ski crowd
March	Mixed	4 to 12°C	Present at Phase 2 (Apharwat); melting and slushy in the base meadow	Low	Low
April	Good	8 to 16°C	Phase 2 (Apharwat) only	Mid	Moderate spring visitors
May	Best	12 to 20°C	Apharwat ridge only; snow patches at Kongdoori	High	Busy
June	Best	15 to 24°C	Apharwat summit snow patches only	High	Peak summer vacation rush
July	Good	16 to 25°C	None, except Apharwat crevices	Mid	Moderate
August	Good	15 to 24°C	None	Mid	Quiet and serene
September	Best	13 to 22°C	None until late month high-altitude dustings	Mid	Pleasantly uncrowded
October	Good	8 to 17°C	Early dustings on Apharwat Peak	Mid	Moderate autumn visitors
November	Avoid	3 to 11°C	Scattered snowfalls, but no consistent base yet	Low	Very quiet
December	Good	0 to 6°C	Snowfall starts mid-month; heavy cover by Christmas/New Year	High around Christmas/New Year	Heavy winter holiday rush

Gulmarg in January

Best

January delivers peak powder conditions. The ski school runs daily and the Gondola carries skiers up to 13,780 ft at Apharwat Peak. Snow chains are mandatory on the Tangmarg road.

Temperature: −3 to 3°C day · −10 to −4°C night
Snow: Deep powder snow across the entire resort and golf course.
Price: High — peak ski season
Crowds: Busy with skiers and winter tourists
Packing: Heavy thermal inners, waterproof ski jacket and pants, fleece, balaclava, snow goggles, and insulated waterproof gloves.
Closed or restricted: Tangmarg to Gulmarg road requires 4x4 or chained cabs. Phase 2 Gondola subject to wind holds.

Gulmarg in February

Best

February offers the finest skiing with slightly longer daylight hours and crisper visibility than January. Hotel rates soften slightly after the New Year peak, making it the smartest winter month.

Temperature: −1 to 5°C day · −8 to −2°C night
Snow: Thick snowpack throughout the bowl and mountain ridges.
Price: Mid-High — excellent winter value
Crowds: Moderate ski crowd
Packing: Full winter expedition gear, high-SPF sunscreen and UV-rated sunglasses for intense snow glare.
Closed or restricted: Snow chains required for vehicle ascent from Tangmarg.

Gulmarg in March

Mixed

March is the thaw transition. The main bowl turns slushy and muddy as snow melts, though Phase 2 at the top remains snowy. We advise against planning a pure snow holiday in March.

Temperature: 4 to 12°C day · −3 to 2°C night
Snow: Present at Phase 2 (Apharwat); melting and slushy in the base meadow.
Price: Low
Crowds: Low
Packing: Waterproof footwear, warm layers for high altitude, and rainproof jacket.
Closed or restricted: Normal vehicle access resumes on dry days.

Gulmarg in April

Good

April brings fresh green shoots to the meadow while Apharwat Peak above retains thick snow. You can take the Gondola to play in snow and return to comfortable temperatures in the meadow below.

Temperature: 8 to 16°C day · 1 to 6°C night
Snow: Phase 2 (Apharwat) only. Base meadow is greening.
Price: Mid
Crowds: Moderate spring visitors
Packing: Light woollens for the meadow, heavy jacket and gloves for the Gondola upper station.
Closed or restricted: Roads completely clear. Gondola operating smoothly.

Gulmarg in May

Best

May turns Gulmarg into an emerald wonderland with wildflowers, pine scents, and comfortable walking temperatures. It is the peak season for pony rides, nature walks, and family picnics.

Temperature: 12 to 20°C day · 5 to 10°C night
Snow: Apharwat ridge only; snow patches at Kongdoori.
Price: High — summer family peak
Crowds: Busy
Packing: Comfortable cotton daywear, a light fleece or sweater for evenings, and sturdy walking shoes.
Closed or restricted: All tourist attractions, trails, and Gondola phases fully operational.

Gulmarg in June

Best

June is delightfully cool and pleasant, serving as an escape from the scorching plains. The highest golf course in the world is open for play and pony trails to Strawberry Valley are pristine.

Temperature: 15 to 24°C day · 8 to 13°C night
Snow: Apharwat summit snow patches only.
Price: High
Crowds: Peak summer vacation rush
Packing: Summer casuals, sunglasses, sun hat, and light cardigans.
Closed or restricted: Flawless road access. Advance Gondola booking essential.

Gulmarg in July

Good

July sees lush green landscapes and occasional monsoon mist that envelopes the pine forests in cinematic clouds. It is ideal for tranquil nature walks and offbeat photography.

Temperature: 16 to 25°C day · 10 to 15°C night
Snow: None, except Apharwat crevices.
Price: Mid
Crowds: Moderate
Packing: Waterproof rain jacket, umbrella, breathable clothes, and non-slip trekking shoes.
Closed or restricted: Open. Rain showers can make unpaved pony tracks slippery.

Gulmarg in August

Good

August in Gulmarg is peaceful and verdant. Wild alpine flowers bloom around Alpather Lake, making it a great month for day hikes beyond Phase 2.

Temperature: 15 to 24°C day · 10 to 14°C night
Snow: None.
Price: Mid
Crowds: Quiet and serene
Packing: Hiking shoes, light layers, rain shell, and personal water bottle.
Closed or restricted: All hiking trails and Gondola phases open.

Gulmarg in September

Best

September provides crystal-clear skies, crisp mountain air, and unhindered views of Nanga Parbat from the Apharwat ridge. Excellent for photographers and couples.

Temperature: 13 to 22°C day · 6 to 11°C night
Snow: None until late month high-altitude dustings.
Price: Mid — great value
Crowds: Pleasantly uncrowded
Packing: Light jackets for morning/evening and comfortable daywear.
Closed or restricted: Prime road and weather conditions.

Gulmarg in October

Good

October brings a sharp nip to the air and golden hues to the deciduous tree lines. Nights are cold and hotel heaters are turned on across the resort.

Temperature: 8 to 17°C day · 1 to 6°C night
Snow: Early dustings on Apharwat Peak.
Price: Mid
Crowds: Moderate autumn visitors
Packing: Warm sweaters, insulated jacket for evenings, woollen caps.
Closed or restricted: Clear access; early morning road frost possible late in month.

Gulmarg in November

Avoid

November is cold, dry, and barren before the heavy winter snowfall establishes. Grass is brown and icy winds sweep the bowl. We suggest delaying until late December for snow.

Temperature: 3 to 11°C day · −4 to 1°C night
Snow: Scattered snowfalls, but no consistent base yet.
Price: Low
Crowds: Very quiet
Packing: Full winter woollens, windproof jacket, thermal inners, and gloves.
Closed or restricted: Open, but early ice on mountain bends requires cautious driving.

Gulmarg in December

Good

December starts the magical white season. Ski slopes begin operations by late December and hotels light up their wood-burning bukharis (fireplaces). Book months ahead for New Year week.

Temperature: 0 to 6°C day · −7 to −1°C night
Snow: Snowfall starts mid-month; heavy cover by Christmas/New Year.
Price: High around Christmas/New Year
Crowds: Heavy winter holiday rush
Packing: Heavy down coats, thermal underwear, waterproof gloves, insulated boots.
Closed or restricted: Tangmarg to Gulmarg chained vehicles become mandatory after first major snowfall.

Common questions

Timing Gulmarg, answered.

When does Gulmarg receive the most snow?+

January and February receive the heaviest and most consistent snowfall, providing world-class powder snow for skiing and snow activities.

Is Gulmarg Gondola open in all 12 months?+

Yes, the Gondola operates year-round, subject to daily wind conditions and routine maintenance windows.

Do we need snow chains on the road to Gulmarg?+

From late December to early March, local police mandate snow chains on the 12 km mountain ascent from Tangmarg to Gulmarg.

How far in advance should we book Gulmarg Gondola tickets?+

Gondola tickets must be booked online at least 3 to 4 weeks in advance during peak snow (Jan–Feb) and summer (May–June) months.

Matched to the season

Itineraries that suit the month you pick.

Kashmir

5N / 6D4 stops

Kashmir in Snow

December to February, when the valley goes white and Gulmarg turns into one of Asia's great ski mountains.

SrinagarGulmargPahalgamSrinagar

From

₹26,500

per person

View itinerary

Kashmir

6N / 7D5 stops

Complete Kashmir

The valley without compromise — all four regions, a night in Gulmarg and a night in Pahalgam, and a free day to do nothing at all.

SrinagarSonmargGulmargPahalgamSrinagar

From

₹27,900

per person

View itinerary

Still deciding

Tell us the month. We will tell you the truth.

If the month you have leave for is the wrong one for the trip you are picturing, we would rather say so now than take the booking and let you find out.