GULMARG '10/11

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Other winter seasons:
Gulmarg '11/12
Gulmarg '09/10
Gulmarg '08/09
Gulmarg '07/08

Go: Snow Conditions at Gulmarg
Go: Avalanche Advisory for Gulmarg

Photo credit: Tim Silverwood

HEAVY SNOWFALL AT GULMARG

Heavy snowfall at Gulmarg generate economy of Kashmir - GR, 19 February 2011.

Excerpt from the article:
GULMARG - Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Hassan Mir today said that heavy snowfall at tourist places like Gulmarg in the present day age help now people to generate economy as domestic as well as foreign tourists are attracted by the natural slopes and snow decked mountains available only in Gulmarg...Indian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, Gulmarg concluded 4th snow Skiing course today. The course was attended by 98 young boys and girls from all over the country majority of them from Kashmir. During the course participants were imparted training in three levels of Skiing like basic, intermediate and advance ski courses. The certificates and prizes were awarded to the trainees during the concluding function by Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Hassan Mir.

Addressing on the occasion, Ghulam Hassan Mir said Kashmir in old times had to remain confined to their home due to snowfall adding that time has changed and the people due to improved infrastructure and latest snow clearance machines are continuing their business at such tourist spots. Mir said that government is striving hard to promote tourism of the Kashmir valley at global level as lakhs of people are directly or indirectly connected with tourism industry, a backbone of the state economy. Advising the people to put in all their efforts to maintain peace in the valley so that summer tourism also picks up in the valley, Mir said peace is imperative for making Jammu and Kashmir a Khushaal state. He said tourism is one of the main component of Kashmir for uplifting the living standard of the people and has also tremendous potential of employability...Col. J.S. Dhillon, later, also presented a memento to the Minister for Agriculture. The Minister also witnessed the Skiing of the children on the slopes.

Earlier, welcoming the Minister and other guests, Principal IISM, Col. J. S. Dhillon said that institute aims to train the youth of the country especially from Kashmir to develop in them those skills of adventure which can help them to generate self employment in adventure tourism. He said the institute used to conduct only snow and water ski courses but has now diversified into multifacet adventure activities including Hot Air Ballooning, Paragliding and Para Motors. Government of India is taking very keen interest to revive this institute after decade of turmoil in the valley. Institute has new ski equipment and a new building in Gulmarg where the students get the best of administration and training. Col. Dhillon said the institute has also started sponsoring local children from poor families free of cost. The next ski course will have 30 students from remote areas of Kupwara which are being sponsored. Some students are being sponsored through NCC and institute charges nominal fee of Rs. 5000 for two week course which includes the cost of centrally heated accommodation, training, all meals and ski equipment.

FOREIGN TOURISTS RESCUED AT GULMARG

Missing foreign tourists rescued in JK - HT, 30 January 2011.

SKIING IN GULMARG: FRANCE 24 VIDEOCAST

HELICOPTER SKIING DEBUTS AT GULMARG FOR 2011

http://www.gulmargheliski.com/
Photo: P. Swettenham

GULMARG GETS FIRST MAJOR SNOWFALL

ROAD TO PEACE RUNS THROUGH KASHMIR

All roads lead to Kashmir - BG, 24 December 2010.

KASHMIR'S FRUITS OF DISCORD

Kashmir’s Fruits of Discord - NYT, 8 November 2010.

KASHMIR SITUATION REVIEWED BY PBS

Tensions flare in India, Pakistan over Kashmir Valley - PBS, 5 November 2010.

GULMARG: THE ALLEN TAYLOR TRILOGY

Please visit Allen's website to see all of his mega-awesome adventures at www.famousinternetskiers.com

TR: Gulmarg '10, Part One:

Kashmir Short #1 from Allen Taylor on Vimeo.

TR: Gulmarg '10, Part Two:

Kashmir Short #2 from Allen Taylor on Vimeo.

TR: Gulmarg '10, Part Three:

Kashmir Short #3 from Allen Taylor on Vimeo.

GULMARG SNOW SAFETY INTERVIEW

Allen Taylor of Famous Internet Skiers sits down with Gulmarg Snow Safety Director, Brian Newman.

Interview With Gulmarg Snow Safety Director, Brian Newman from Allen Taylor on Vimeo.

GULMARG GONDOLA POSTS STRONG REVENUES

Gulmarg Gondola a big hit with tourists - HT, 2 November 2010.
Excerpt from the article:
GULMARG - Gulmarg's famed cable car, Gondola, which is a major attraction for tourists visiting Kashmir, has seen a good business this year despite the season getting marred by four months of unrest. The revenue earned by the Jammu and Kashmir Cable Car Corporation (JKCCC), which maintains the Gondola, has been Rs 10.57 crore till October, the second highest earned by the corporation in a year since it started operations over a decade ago. Around four lakh people, including domestic and foreign tourists, took the ride on the Gondola this year, one of the longest and highest ropeways in Asia which covers an aerial distance of five kms connecting Gulmarg with Kangdoor in the first phase and with Apharwat, at an altitude of 13,400 ft, in the second phase.

INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES FOR GULMARG TOUTED

Gulmarg to have WiFi, skating rink, snow scooters to attract overseas visitors - JKN, 31 October 2010.
Excerpt from the article:
GULMARG - Minister of State for Tourism, Mr. Nasir Aslam Wani, today said that government is projecting Gulmarg as an international tourist destination for which various steps are being taken to upgrade infrastructure. He revealed that government is keen to come up to the benchmarks of International Ski Federation (FIS), the prime organization for ski sports, so that hassle-free winter sports are held at the famous resort... The Minister directed GDA to immediately install wi fi technology to provide high speed wireless internet and network connections and procure 3 snow scooters for the visitors on trial basis. “The Chief Minister, in his last review, had stated that government will make additional allocation in works’ programme so that gaps in making Gulmarg ideal for foreign tourists are filled earnestly,” Mr. Nasir said, adding he will visit Gulmarg again on November 18 to see that the instructions communicated have been fulfilled.

J&K to upgrade Gulmarg ski resort - IG, 1 November 2010.
Excerpt from the article:
GULMARG - Wani said that government has decided to install a fixed-grip ski lift at Kangdori to pave way for holding of national and international skiing events. The work on the project, estimated to cost Rs 18 crore, has been allotted to a French company— Pomalgaski— and the construction of the chair-lift from Kangdori to Marry Shoulder is currently in progress.

EARTHQUAKE FELT IN KASHMIR VALLEY

Moderate earthquake hits Kashmir Valley - ET, 28 October 2010.
Excerpt from the article:
SRINAGAR - A moderate intensity earthquake hit Srinagar and other parts of the Valley today, a senior government official said. "The tremor measuring 5.4 on the Richter Scale was felt around 9:29 AM throughout the Valley, including Srinagar," Coordinator Disaster Management Kashmir , Aamir Ali told media... The epicentre of the earthquake was Hindukush in Afghanistan and the coordinates are 36.52 degree north and 71.04 degree east.

GULMARG IN WHITE PLANET

White planet, small world - ESPN, 26 October 2010.
Excerpt from the ESPN interview with White Planet author Leslie Anthony:
What was the most dangerous place you skied terrain-wise?
I would say Gulmarg, India. It is definitely like being in a toilet bowl with a hair-trigger flush handle. It is the most dangerous avalanche terrain I've ever seen. You just tiptoe around that place.

I remember seeing tons of ski-magazine stories on Gulmarg about three years ago. A coworker of mine at the time said he was "Gulmarg'd out," talking about how sick he was of hearing about it.
It was one of those "next big things." It's funny you should mention that, because I talk about that in the book -- the way the sport evolved to the point where there would be a media feeding frenzy around any "next big thing." I remember showing up in Bulgaria and a Skiing Magazine editor was there. We were actually on the same plane over. All these guys from Powder were there. TGR film crews were there. A bunch of people from Warren Miller were there. Everyone had caught wind of this place and shown up at the same time. In the book, I use stories like this to illustrate how things have changed in the ski industry and how it affects the average skier.

KASHMIR GETS SEASON'S FIRST SNOWFALL

Kashmir Gets Season’s First Snowfall - KO, 22 October 2010.
It’s winter already in the Valley - TI, 22 October 2010.
Kashmir Valley receives season's first snowfall - DH, 22 October 2010.
Snowfall, rains herald early winter - GK, 22 October 2010.

HELISKIING GUIDES FOR GULMARG

Heliskiing guides going to the top - ODT, 14 October 2010.
Excerpt from the article:
A Queenstown heliskiing company will soon be guiding skiers in the world's highest mountains, the Himalayas... Alpine Heliski announced yesterday everything was ready for its first northern winter season in Kashmir, India.

INDIA PONDERS NEW POLICY IN KASHMIR

India Calls for Easing of Security in Kashmir - NYT, 25 September 2010.
Excerpt from the article:
DELHI - The Indian government announced a major policy shift in Kashmir on Saturday, calling for the release of jailed student protesters, easing security strictures in major cities, reopening schools and universities, and offering financial compensation to the families of the more than 100 civilians killed since the restive region erupted in protests in June.

Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram, who led a parliamentary delegation on a fact-finding trip last week, also said a high-level government committee would be established to open a dialogue with political parties, students and civil society groups in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian-controlled part of the disputed region.

KASHMIR: A SKIER'S JOURNEY

Jordan Manley's Kashmir webisode - ESPN, 21 September 2010.

Kashmir - A Skier's Journey: Ep1 from Jordan Manley Photography on Vimeo.

INDEFINITE CURFEW IN KASHMIR

Fourth day of indefinite curfew in Kashmir, toll 90 - HT, 16 September 2010.
Excerpt from the article:
SRINAGAR - Indefinite curfew continued for the fourth day on Thursday in all major towns of the Kashmir Valley while a young man shot by police in Srinagar died in New Delhi, taking the death toll in the ongoing unrest to 90.
Photo credit: Reuters

KASHMIR IN LOCK-DOWN

Kashmir Is Locked Down, but Bloodshed Continues - NYT, 14 September 2010.
Excerpt from the article:
SRINAGAR — Since Sunday, when the government announced a round-the-clock curfew, everyone — men, women, teenagers, toddlers — has been locked in. There is no telling when the curfew will be lifted, and there is no leaving.

On Tuesday the government announced that for the next three days at least, all flights going in and out of Srinagar, Kashmir’s summer capital, were suspended, for the first time in more than a decade.
Photo credit: Dar Yasin/Associated Press

BLOODY MONDAY IN KASHMIR

17 killed, 70 injured in Kashmir, Omar appeals for peace - HT, 13 September 2010.
U.S. Koran Tensions Erupt in Kashmir - NYT, 13 September 2010.
Bloody Monday leaves 16 dead across Kashmir - ET, 13 September 2010.
Excerpt from the ET article:
SRINAGAR - Sixteen people were killed on Monday as furious mobs clashed with security forces and attacked government property across the Kashmir Valley in protests that were initially triggered by a report that copies of the Quran were desecrated in the US.

While six people were killed in the resort town of Tangmarg, where a Christian missionary school was torched, seven died in Badgam, including a seven-year-old, one in Pampore and one in Bandipora.
Photo credit: Altaf Qadri/Associated Press

ESPN INTERVIEW: ANTHONY BONELLO

Azadi: part ski movie, part war film - ESPN, 27 August 2010.
Excerpt from the ESPN interview with AZADI: Freedom director Anthony Bonello:
A recent news report stated that 64 civilians have been killed in police and paramilitary action in Kashmir since June 11. Why the hell would you want to go skiing there?
That's a really good question and I ask myself that as we finish up the film while Kashmir is in turmoil again. Strictly in terms of skiing, the mountains there are stunning and the snow is incredible. The recent unrest has happened since our crew left and from speaking to Kashmiri friends, things are the worst they have been in many years. The thing I would point out though is that Kashmiris are now making their demands through protests and demonstrations, which is a significant shift from the militant activities of the 90s. This makes this outburst different from recent history in terms foreigners' safety.

So, the place isn't as dangerous as the media makes it seem?
It probably is if you are in the middle of a march through Srinagar, the capital. From personal experience, I know that Kashmiris have no ill feelings toward foreigners, and the military has no desire to deal with the consequences of infringing with a foreigner, so with some tact and due caution I believe Kashmir is a viable place to visit. It is yet to be seen though how the flare up this summer subsides as the winter approaches.

AZADI: FREEDOM, OFFICIAL TRAILER

AZADI: Freedom Official Trailer by b4apres Media

INTIFADA COMES TO KASHMIR

Kashmir protests: Intifada comes to Kashmir - CSM, 4 August 2010.
Excerpt from the article:
SRINAGAR - Since witnessing the beating of two men in the street last month by paramilitaries, one young Kashmiri, at work on a science doctorate, has joined the ranks of a new rock-throwing youth uprising....Heavy-handed police tactics have turned youths into rock throwers and devoted adherents of a once-fading Kashmiri separatist movement.
Photo credit: Fayaz Kabli/Reuters