The Gulmarg Gondola is a two-stage cable car that lifts you from the Gulmarg meadow at about 2,650 m to the slopes of Apharwat at almost 4,000 m: one of the highest cable cars in the world, and the single most popular thing to do in Kashmir. In the 2026 season, tickets have cost about ₹800 for Phase 1 and ₹1,000 for Phase 2 per person, booked online only.

This guide covers how the two phases differ, what the tickets cost, how to book, the timings, the tatkal quota, what is at the top, and the things that most often go wrong. Fares and rules are revised from time to time, so confirm the details on the official portal before you book.

The Gondola at a glance

  • Operator: Jammu & Kashmir Cable Car Corporation (JKCCC).
  • Phase 1: Gulmarg (about 2,650 m) to Kongdori (about 3,050 m). About ₹800.
  • Phase 2: Kongdori to Apharwat (almost 4,000 m). About ₹1,000.
  • Both phases: about ₹1,800 per person. Children under 3 ride free.
  • Booking: online only, on the official JKCCC portal, by time slot.
  • Timings: roughly 8 am to mid-afternoon boarding; last cabins down in the late afternoon.
  • Open: all year, weather permitting. Phase 2 closes more often than Phase 1.

Phase 1 and Phase 2

Phase 1: Gulmarg to Kongdori

The first stage takes about ten minutes, climbing over pine forest to Kongdori, a broad shoulder of meadow and snow. Most visitors stop here, and for most it is enough: wide views over Gulmarg and the valley, snow for much of the year, sledging and pony rides, and a chairlift towards Mary’s Shoulder. It runs in nearly all weather.

Phase 2: Kongdori to Apharwat

The second stage climbs much more steeply to the ridge of Apharwat, at almost 4,000 m. There is snow at the top for most of the year, views over the Pir Panjal and, on a clear day, as far as Nanga Parbat, and in winter the high off-piste ski runs that made Gulmarg famous. Phase 2 is often closed by wind or poor visibility, sometimes for days, and you cannot buy Phase 2 without Phase 1.

Phase 1 opened in 1998 and Phase 2 in 2005, and the pair carries several thousand people a day in season.

Ticket prices (2026)

  • Phase 1: about ₹800 per person.
  • Phase 2: about ₹1,000 per person (requires a Phase 1 ticket).
  • Both phases: about ₹1,800 per person.
  • Children: under 3 travel free; from 3, full fare.
  • Tatkal (next-day quota): charged at a premium; reported at about ₹1,100 for Phase 1 and ₹1,300 for Phase 2.

For a family of four, both phases come to about ₹7,200, which is why the Gondola is the extra that most often surprises people on a Kashmir budget. The Kashmir trip cost guide puts it alongside the other extras.

How to book

  1. Use the official portal only: the Jammu & Kashmir Cable Car Corporation’s e-ticketing site. Anyone else selling "confirmed" tickets is reselling at best.
  2. Choose a date and a slot. In 2026 the day has been split into a forenoon slot (from about 8 am to noon) and an afternoon slot (to about 3:30 pm).
  3. Enter each passenger’s name and photo ID number. Carry the same original ID: it is checked at boarding.
  4. Book early. In peak weeks (December to February, May to June, festival holidays) tickets sell out days or weeks ahead.
  5. Missed it? Try tatkal. Since December 2024, a limited number of next-day tickets have been released on the portal at 5 pm each day, at a higher fare.

There is no reliable walk-up counter for tickets in season. If you arrive in Gulmarg without one, you will probably spend the day on the meadow.

Timings

  • Boarding: from about 8 am; the afternoon slot runs to about 3:30 pm, after which boarding closes.
  • Last return: late afternoon, around 5 pm.
  • Maintenance days: the Gondola closes periodically for maintenance; operators have reported the second and fourth Monday of the month. Check the portal before choosing your date.
  • Weather: either phase can stop at short notice for wind or snow. Phase 2 stops far more often.

Take the morning slot if you can. The weather is usually clearer in the morning, the queues are shorter, and if Phase 2 is shut you still have the afternoon for Gulmarg itself.

Altitude: read this if you are taking children or elderly parents

Phase 2 takes you from about 2,650 m to almost 4,000 m in under half an hour, with no time to acclimatise. Most people are fine; some feel dizzy, breathless or sick. At the top, walk slowly, drink water, and come straight down if anyone feels unwell.

  • Young children, elderly travellers, pregnant women and anyone with a heart or lung condition should think twice about Phase 2.
  • Phase 1, at about 3,050 m, is a much smaller step and suits almost everyone.
  • It is much colder at the top than in Gulmarg, and windy. Take a warm layer, gloves and sunglasses in every season.

The Gondola through the year

  • December to March: snow from bottom to top, skiing from Apharwat, the most dramatic rides and the most closures. January and February are the most reliable snow.
  • April to June: snow at Kongdori and Apharwat, green below. May and June are the busiest months; book well ahead.
  • July to September: green meadows at Kongdori, snow only near the top, the best weather for Phase 2, and Alpather Lake within reach.
  • October to November: clear skies, quieter cabins, first snow on Apharwat by November.

Common mistakes

  1. Arriving without a ticket in season.
  2. Booking the afternoon slot on a day trip from Srinagar, and losing it to a late start.
  3. Buying from a tout at the base station.
  4. Forgetting the original ID used at booking.
  5. Dressing for Gulmarg, not for 4,000 m.
  6. Planning everything around Phase 2, which may be closed.

Is the Gondola included in tour packages?

It depends on the package, so check the inclusions. In ours:

Plan your Gulmarg day with us

MIRHA Tour & Travels is based in Srinagar. The Srinagar to Gulmarg guide covers the drive, taxi fares and everything else to do in Gulmarg.

See the Kashmir tour packages, or tell us your dates and we will book the Gondola slot alongside the rest of your trip.