Aaqib Khan
Gulmarg, Apr 6 ; The famous hill station of Gulmarg in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district continues to witness a heavy influx of tourists, with the iconic Gulmarg Gondola remaining the primary attraction, officials said on Monday.
A senior official of the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department told news agency Kashmir News Service (KNS) that the resort has been witnessing record footfall over the past week, with hotel occupancy crossing 85 per cent.
“The Gondola ride, which operates in two phases, is seeing long queues from morning till evening. We have deployed additional staff to manage the crowd and ensure smooth operations,” the official said.
He said the first phase of the Gondola takes visitors from Gulmarg to Kongdoori station, while the second phase ascends to the snow-covered Apharwat peak at an altitude of about 13,780 feet.
“Tourists are particularly keen on reaching the second phase where fresh snowfall is still available. We have also enhanced security and medical facilities along the route,” the official added.
Another tourism department official said that apart from the Gondola, activities like skiing, snowboarding, and horse riding are also drawing visitors.
“We are expecting the tourist rush to continue for at least another two weeks, weather permitting. Special cleanliness drives have been initiated to maintain the beauty of the destination,” he said.
Several tourists from different states told news agency Kashmir News Service (KNS) that the Gondola ride was the primary reason for their visit to the Kashmir valley.
“We came all the way from Rajasthan mainly for the Gondola ride. The views from the top are breathtaking and unlike anything we have seen before. The arrangements are very systematic,” said Rajesh Sharma, a tourist from Jaipur.
Another visitor from Gujarat, Priti Patel, said she was delighted after experiencing fresh snowfall at the second phase.
“This is our first time seeing snow. We were very happy when it started snowing lightly at the top. The cable car ride was smooth and felt completely safe,” she said.
A group of tourists from Maharashtra said the facilities at the base camp, including ticketing and waiting areas, were well managed.
“The queue system is organised and the staff is helpful. We did not face any major difficulty. The entire experience was memorable,” said Anil Deshmukh, a visitor from Pune.
Officials said that adequate transport and accommodation arrangements have been made to handle the growing number of visitors, and tourists have been advised to book Gondola tickets in advance to avoid last-minute inconvenience. (KNS)
