Where Does the Snow Go in One of the World's Highest Ski Resorts?
Gulmarg, an enchanting resort town in Indian-administered Kashmir, is currently experiencing an unusually dry January, causing disappointment among travelers and tourism operators due to the scarcity of snow Despite this setback, the demand for snow-related activities remains high
During this season, Gulmarg's slopes are typically bustling with snowboarders and skiers, who come to enjoy the fresh powder that covers the Himalayas every January. However, like many other popular ski destinations, this resort town in Indian-administered Kashmir is currently experiencing a shortage of snow due to unusually dry weather, much to the dismay of travelers and tourism operators.
The Gulmarg Ski Resort, located in the Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas, is one of the highest ski resorts in the world. It is situated just over 50 kilometers from the city of Srinagar and approximately 20 kilometers from the Line of Control (LoC), which divides the disputed region between India and Pakistan. In Srinagar, the houseboats are a unique and historical part of Indian heritage.
The ski resort provides access to more than 1,330 vertical meters (4,363 feet) of skiable terrain and is best known for the Gulmarg Gondola, which takes you up to an elevation of 3,980 meters (13,057 feet).
This photograph, taken in February 2023, shows what usually awaits Gulmarg visitors this time of year.
Tauseef Mustafa/AFP/Getty Images
A staff member from the Gulmarg Ski Resort, who preferred to remain anonymous, shared with CNN Travel that their hotels have been consistently full despite the absence of snow. Although acknowledging the lack of snow, the staff member mentioned that there are still plenty of activities for tourists to enjoy in Gulmarg, such as taking a ride on the gondola to admire the picturesque snowy peaks.
With dry slopes, individuals like 23-year-old Asif Ahmad Bhat, who depend on the annual influx of ski and snowboard enthusiasts for their livelihood, are unable to work. Bhat, a local from Gulmarg, teaches snowboarding to both kids and adults and notes that the area usually attracts two distinct types of people.
"The first type of visitors are here solely for tourism with their family and friends," he explained.
"Then there's a second type who come for adventure sports like skiing and snowboarding. Those are our clientele and we've advised them not to visit Gulmarg."
We are really disappointed
Bhat says he had to cancel four bookings in December and another 23 bookings over the period leading up to January 21.
"We want to avoid disappointment for our clients," he explains. "With the temperatures rising, most of the existing snow has melted away. We will assess the snow situation in the second half of January and communicate with our clients then."
Ski resorts are storing snow to combat the effects of global warming. Sahil Ahmed Lone, a 25-year-old local from Gulmarg, has been working as a snowboarding instructor for five years. He expressed optimism about the heavy snowfall expected in January.
"We are really disappointed," he tells CNN Travel. "We did many bookings from our clients, but we are saying no to them. This is definitely affecting the tourism sector."
Tourists learn to ski on a gentle Gulmarg slope in February 2021.
Yawar Nazir/Getty Images
Lone has already canceled five bookings and has five to seven more lined up that may also need to be canceled. The instructor also mentioned that he had to accommodate a client who had already traveled to Gulmarg to snowboard, but had to go 10-12 kilometers away near the border to find snow.
"But they were not happy with it as there was not much snow and there were rocks," Lone says, noting that theyve been advising clients not to come at all.
"What would they do here without the snow?"
The demand is still there
Tourists visit the Gulmarg Ski Resort on January 10, 2024.
Nasir Kachroo/NurPhoto/Shutterstock
During the summer months, Gulmarg, known as the "Meadow of Flowers," attracts hikers and nature enthusiasts. In 2023, the town saw a record-breaking 1.65 million visitors, as reported by government officials and various media outlets, sparking hope for an even more successful year in 2024.
Raja Yaqoob, the tourism director of Indian-administered Kashmir, is optimistic about salvaging the ski season despite a 10-15 day delay due to a dry spell. He expects a significant amount of snow in the coming days to compensate for the lost time.
A promoted ski tour to North Korea indicates the return of the first tourists since 2020.
Yaqoob explains that traditionally, the snowfall season in Gulmarg runs from November to February-March. He mentions that while there was some snowfall in December, the expected snowfall in January has not occurred yet due to the influence of El Nino.
The situation is not limited to Kashmir, but also occurring in Leh, Ladakh, Uttarakhand, and other Himalayan regions. Hotels are still experiencing 95-100% occupancy, indicating that the demand for tourism remains strong. As the snow season approaches, the situation is expected to improve.
