GULMARG '09/10

Browse the links (left) to plan your trip to Gulmarg. Find a comprehensive list of Trip Reports, Forum Threads, Photos, Videos, News, & Travel Tips.

Scroll down this page to read the latest news & information from Kashmir & Gulmarg.

Read the "official" '09/10 Gulmarg thread at TGR.

Previous winters:
Go to Gulmarg '08/09
Go to Gulmarg '07/08

900 STRANDED ON SRINAGAR-LEH HIGHWAY

900 stranded on Srinagar-Leh highway - IA, 23 November 2009.

"The rescue operation is on to evacuate more than 900 labourers and passengers stranded on the Srinagar-Leh National Highway...Since November 10, when Kargil received the season’s first snowfall, the Srinagar-Leh highway has been closed."

DELHI CHILLS AT 8.6 C, SNOWFALL IN KASHMIR

Delhi chills at 8.6 C, season’s lowest - Hindu, 21 November 2009.
Delhi shivers as mercury dips to 8.6 - TOI, 22 November 2009.

"Snowfall in Kashmir and Himachal due to a passing western disturbance led cold winds to blowing over Delhi."

INDIA LOOKS TO HOST FIS WORLD CUP EVENTS

India looks to host FIS Alpine World Cup events - SC, 17 November 2009.

2010: SRINAGAR-DUBAI FLIGHTS ON HOLD

Srinagar-Dubai Flights In Fog Of Uncertainty - KO, 14 November 2009.

"The much talked about Srinagar-Dubai international flight launched this year is all set to be grounded from January next owing to the poor response the airline operator has been receiving. "

RELATED POSTS:
SRINAGAR INTL AIRPORT (SXR): READY BY END OF JULY
TOURISTS FLOCK BACK TO KASHMIR

FRESH SNOWFALL; COLD WAVE GRIPS KASHMIR

Fresh snowfall; cold wave grips Kashmir - PT, 10 November 2009.
Upper reaches of J&K witness heavy snowfall - PTI, 10 November 2009.
Photo: The Hindu

"The famous hill resort of Gulmarg, 55 km from here in North Kashmir, was all covered up with snow. While two-and-a-half feet of snow had accumulated on the ground of the hill station, its peripheral areas, including Aferwath, Kangdoori and Khilanmarg, recorded over three feet snow.

Tangmarg-Gulmarg road, which was closed last evening for vehicular traffic due to heavy snowfall, reopened today as authorities cleared accumulated snow, an official spokesman said."

FOUR KILLED IN KASHMIR BORDER CLASH

Four killed in Kashmir border clash, incursions rise - Reuters, 4 November 2009.

BEAR MAULS, KILLS TWO MILITANTS IN KASHMIR

Bear mauls, kills two high-ranking separatists hiding in cave in Kashmir - DN, 3 November 2009.

Thanks to XYZ for the post at TGR.

POLICEMAN KILLED IN SRINAGAR

Militants attack police officers in Srinagar - CNN, 2 November 2009.

PRE-PAID PHONE BAN IN KASHMIR

Pre-paid mobile phones banned in Indian Kashmir - AFP, 30 October 2009.

"India banned pre-paid mobile telephones in Kashmir on Friday, state television reported, following concerns that militants were using them to trigger bombs and hide their identities."

6.3 QUAKE JOLTS KASHMIR VALLEY

Quake jolts Kashmir valley - PTI, 23 October 2009.

FIRST SNOWFALL OF WINTER AT PAHALGAM

Season's first snowfall in Pahalgam - PTI, 18 October 2009.

KASHMIR GLACIERS THREATENED

Kashmir's main glacier "melting at alarming speed" - Reuters, 12 October 2009.

"Experts say the melting of Kashmir glaciers could have serious fallout as most Kashmiris rely on glaciers for water."

MILITANTS KILLED AT LINE OF CONTROL

3 militants killed in LoC gunbattle - HT, 10 October 2009.

EARLY SNOWFALL IN KASHMIR

Snow in Kashmir Upper Reaches - KO, 9 October 2009.

SEVEN REBELS KILLED IN KASHMIR

Seven rebels killed in Kashmir clashes - Reuters, 7 October 2009.

FIVE HURT IN GRENADE BLAST

Five hurt in Kashmir city blast - AFP, 6 October 2009.

ROW AFTER CHINA KASHMIR VISA MOVE

Row over China Kashmir visa move - BBC, 1 October 2009.

OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA

An Open Letter to President Obama - Nation, 30 September 2009.

MILITANTS KILL THREE CRPF MEN IN KASHMIR

Three CRPF men killed in Kashmir - Reuters, 29 September 2009.

TROOPS KILL THREE REBELS IN KASHMIR

Troops kill 3 Lashkar rebels in Kashmir - Reuters, 28 September 2009.

GUNFIGHTS KILL EIGHT IN KASHMIR

Gunfights kill eight in Kashmir - CNN, 24 September 2009.
Soldiers, rebels die in Kashmir battles - Reuters, 23 September 2009.

TWO SOLDIERS KILLED IN CONFRONTATION

Indian soldiers, militants die - Reuters, 22 September 2009.
Gunbattle ends in J-K after 24 hrs - IBN, 23 September 2009.

FAILED INDO-PAK RELATIONS

Kashmir deal could have eased task in Afghanistan - PI, 23 September 2009.
"Some of the harsh choices Americans face on Afghanistan might have been avoided had secret efforts by Pakistan and India to end their dispute over Kashmir not been derailed in 2007...The talks got little notice in the U.S. media until a detailed article by South Asia expert Steve Coll in the New Yorker in March 2009."

ABSTRACT OF COLL ARTICLE HERE
SEARCH: Steve Coll, A Reporter at Large, "The Back Channel," The New Yorker, 2 March 2009, p. 38.

Kashmiri leaders want resumption of talks - DT, 24 September 2009.
No peace without Kashmir solution - CT, 24 September 2009.

TWO VIEWS OF EID-UL-FITR

After 18 yrs, peaceful Eid in Valley - TNN, 22 September 2009.

OR
25 hurt as police break up Eid protests - AFP, 22 September 2009.
Police use tear gas to break Eid protests - AFP, 22 September 2009.

REBELS KILL TWO POLICEMEN

Rebels kill two policemen in Kashmir - AFP, 19 September 2009.
Militants kill 2 policemen in Kashmir - Xinhua, 19 September 2009.

DAVE WATSON LAUNCHES K2TRACKS.COM

Mountaineer Dave Watson launches K2tracks.com - Please visit!

READ: Adventurer and Extreme Athlete Dave Watson First to Ski Upper Slopes of K2 -Backcountry, 15 September 2009.

USDOS: INDIA TRAVEL ALERT

Travel Alert issued by the US Department of State, 14 September 2009:

The Department of State reminds U.S. citizens of the continued possibility of terrorist attacks throughout India during the current Indian holiday season, which includes Hindu, Islamic, and secular holidays as well as the period surrounding the commemoration of the September 11 terror attacks. The November 2008 attacks in Mumbai provided a vivid reminder that hotels and other public places are especially attractive targets for terrorist groups. U.S. citizens are urged always to practice good security, maintain a heightened situational awareness and a low profile. Americans are advised to monitor local news reports and consider the level of security present when visiting public places, including religious sites, or choosing hotels, restaurants, entertainment and recreation venues. This Travel Alert expires on October 30, 2009.

CAR BOMB KILLS FOUR IN KASHMIR

Car bomb kills four in Kashmir - Reuters, 12 September 2009.
Deadly car bomb blast in Kashmir - BBC, 12 September 2009

JET AIRWAYS PILOTS' STRIKE

Jet Airways pilots' strike strands passengers - Reuters, 8 September 2009.
Thousands Stranded as Jet Pilots Go on Sick Leave - BW, 9 September 2009.

Strike hits top Indian airline - Reuters, 9 September 2009.

SXR-DYU FLIGHTS TO COMMENCE

Kashmiris may soon get direct flights to Tajikistan - DT, 9 September 2009.

PAK FM SEEKS MEETING WITH INDIA FM

Pakistan Foreign Minister Seeks Meeting With Indian Counterpart - AFP, 10 September 2009.

KASHMIR ACTIVIST FOUND DEAD

Kashmir activist discovered dead - BBC, 9 September 2009.
Shopian activist found dead in Kashmir orchard - HT, 9 September 2009.
Thousands rally over death of Kashmir activist - AFP, 9 September 2009.

THREE KILLED IN KASHMIR FIGHTING

Three killed in Kashmir fighting - BBC, 9 September 2009.
Army officer, two rebels die in Kashmir - AFP, 9 September 2009.
Army officer, two militants killed in Kashmir - Reuters, 9 September 2009.

BUS CRASH KILLS 20 IN KASHMIR

Bus crash in mountainous Kashmir kills 20, injures 26 - CNN, 7 September 2009.


View KASHMIR HOT SPOTS in a larger map

KASHMIR IS NOT IRAQ, OR AFGHANISTAN

‘Kashmir is not Iraq or Afghanistan’ - RK, 7 September 2009.

Interview with Mushtaq Ahmed Chai, "renowned hotelier, builder and industrialist of Jammu and Kashmir...[He] shares his views about the overall business environment in Kashmir and the status of hotel industry."

SOLDIERS KILLED IN SRINAGAR

Soldiers killed in Kashmir attack - AJ, 01 September 2009.
Troops killed in Kashmir violence - BBC, 01 September 2009.
2 CRPF Men Shot Dead in City Centre - KO, 01 September 2009.


View KASHMIR HOT SPOTS in a larger map

J&K CM TO SCRAP AFSPA

Omar favours two-way dialogue process - TH, 27 August 2009.
PDP Brought AFSPA, We'll Revoke It: Omar - KO, 27 August 2009.
AFSPA will go during my tenure: CM - RK, 27 August 2009.

US & INDIA AGREE TO DEFENSE PACT

US and India agree defence pact - BBC, 20 July 2009.

SWISS SKIER TO PROMOTE GULMARG

Swiss skier to promote heli-skiing in Gulmarg - NAK, 18 July 2009.
TGR THREAD POST: SWISS SKIER TO PROMOTE GULMARG

US SEEKS GOODWILL IN INDIA

Clinton seeks goodwill in India - BBC, 18 July 2009.

POLICE HELD ON KASHMIR MURDER

Police held over Kashmir murder - BBC, 16 July 2009.

INDIA PUTS PEACE TALKS ON HOLD

India puts Pakistan talks on hold - BBC, 16 July 2009.

PROTESTS OVER KASHMIR MAN'S DEATH

Protests over Kashmir man's death - BBC, 8 July 2009.

2010 BURTON SNOWBOARDS PREVIEW

Burton Snowboards 2010 Board Preview, with Chris Doyle - ESPN.

US RULES OUT ROLE IN KASHMIR TALKS

US rules out mediatory role on Kashmir - BDP, 2 July 2009.

GULMARG TO GET NEW CHAIRLIFT

J & K to install chairlift at Gulmarg hill resort - HN, 30 June 2009.
Gulmarg to get chairlift, other infrastructure - TBM, 30 June 2009.
Gulmarg: World’s Highest Downhill Run - KO, 30 June 2009.

The only clue as to the lift location - the upper terminus landing on Mary's Shoulder near Tower 12 of the present gondola - from the Kashmir Observer:

"...to explore fully the potential of this premier hill resort, a chair lift from Kongdoori-Marrishoulder of Apharwat would be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs nine crore. The construction work would be started next month, Minister for Tourism and Culture Nawang Rigzin Jora said..."

(Bold italics added)

KASHMIR TOURISM DESERTED

Kashmir…Tourism Paradise Deserted - IO, 28 June 2009.

SUICIDE BLAST IN PAKISTAN KASHMIR

Pakistan troops killed in Kashmir - BBC, 26 June 2009.

"At least two soldiers have been killed and three others wounded by a suicide blast in Pakistani-administered Kashmir, officials say."

KASHMIR PHOTOSTREAM

Direct from Kashmir is Ovais Zargar's photostream at Flickr:

SECOND K2 EXPEDITION FOR DAVE WATSON

Minnesota man plans to ski down world's second-highest peak - MPR, 15 June 2009.

Read Dave Watson's blog.
Watch Dave Watson's interview on TwinCities Live, 16 June 2009:

INDIA FLOATS KASHMIR TROOPS MOVE

India wants Kashmir troops move - BBC, 12 June 2009.

POLICE, PROTESTORS CLASH IN KASHMIR

Police fire on protesters; Kashmir still tense - GT, 9 June 2009.

KASHMIR TOURISTS PACK UP, LEAVE

As strike enters fourth day, tourists pack their bags - KO, 4 June 2009.

DEATHS PROVOKE KASHMIR PROTESTS

Deaths provoke Kashmir protests - BBC, 1 June 2009.

ROPEWAY TO GULMARG FROM BABARESHI?

Ropeway To Koh-e-Sulaiman - KO, 25 May 2009.

NIGHTLIFE IN KASHMIR

Tourists enjoy nightlife in Kashmir - DI, 23 May 2009.

COOL MAY MAKES KASHMIR IDEAL

Cool May makes Kashmir ideal tourist destination - ENS, 11 May 2009.