About Gulmarg

Background

If Kashmir is the crowning glory of the Subcontinent, Gulmarg is the colossal gem in that crown, dazzling with changing hues from season to season. In the spring, exotic blossoms of daisies, forget-me-nots, bluebells, and buttercups dazzle with all the vibrant colors of the color pallet. Autumn changes the tinge to warm yellow and brown. Come winter & the gleam is pure, calm, and fleecy white. Gulmarg is a magical valley located about 50 kilometers from Srinagar, stretching three kilometers in length and up to a kilometer in width with no condescending boundary walls to break up the gorgeous picture. Gulmarg's allure begins even before you arrive, since the road is lined with pine and deodar trees and cuts through the hills. When you set foot on this hill station, you'll be surrounded by tiny lakes, emerald meadows, gushing gardens, enormous snow-capped mountains, bubbling brooks, and interesting slopes.

History

Gulmarg is a combination of the Persian words Gul, which means flowers, and Marg, which means meadows. Thus, it means 'Meadow of Flowers. ' Yousuf Shah Chak, the final Chak emperor (who reigned from 1579 to 1586 AD), is credited with discovering this alluring flower meadow. He frequented the vale with his queen, Habba Khatoon, who was enchanted by it. According to P.N Bamzai, a Kashmiri scholar and historian, Chak coined the name Gulmarg for the hamlet, which was previously known as 'Gaurimarg (the fair one)' by the local shepherds in honor of Goddess Parvati or Gauri, a Hindu deity. After Chak's capture by Akbar, Kashmir fell to the Mughals, and Akbar’s son Jahangir made Gulmarg his favored retreat. According to legend, he became so enamored with the flowers he saw at Gulmarg that he went on a collecting frenzy, collecting 21 different varieties of flowers