More than nine lakh tourists enjoy Gondola ride at Gulmarg this year

SRINAGAR: More than nine lakh tourists have enjoyed the Gondola ride at Gulmarg this year and the figure is expected to cross more than million mark by the end of this year.

Tourists describe the experience as surreal and alluring.

Managed and operated by J&K Cable Car Corporation, the Gulmarg Gondola is the flagship attraction of Kashmir tourism. It is possibly India’s most popular ropeway, and at a height of 14,000 ft, it is Asia’s highest operating cable car.

The Corporation, this year, improved and enhanced the service delivery by improving the ticket issuing mechanism, undertaking several safety tests and overhauled the second phase of the Gandola with latest technology.

Managing Director, J&K Cable Car Corporation, Raja Yaqoob said the Corporation is sensitized to its role as a prominent stakeholder of J&K tourism.

He said the corporation is committed to improve tourist experience by giving them easy, hassle free and safe ride. He assured Tourists of even better facilities in the upcoming winter season and appealed to Tourists to book tickets through online mode only and adhere to timings mentioned in the ticket to avoid any inconvenience.

It may be mentioned here that the Gulmarg Cable Car comprises two phases; one from Gulmarg resort to Kongdori valley and the second from Kongdori to Apharwath Peak. The ropeway has in total 108 cabins and 18 towers.

The first stage transfers from the Gulmarg resort at 2,650 m (8,694 ft) to Kongdoori Station in the bowl-shaped Kongdori valley.

The second stage of the ropeway takes to a height of 3,980 m (13,058 ft) on Kongdoori Mountain, a shoulder of nearby Afarwat Peak (4,200 m (13,780 ft)).