Plans are progressing rapidly. Artificial snow. Synthetic slope. A complete rethink of how to survive skiing in hot Kashmir.
The push comes from a bitter truth. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who also looks after tourism, had warned last December that irregular snowfall could turn Gulmarg’s skiing heritage into a memory. Europe already relies heavily on artificial snow. Japan has reimagined infrastructure. He had said, Kashmir cannot afford to get out of its skis.
The goal is clear: reduce reliance on natural snowfall and make skiing a four-season activity.
J&K Cable Car Corporation Limited has invited bids to bring out consultants for a detailed project report and tender documents for the artificial snow making system at Kongdori, a bowl-shaped valley about 4.5 km from Gulmarg bus station. Last date of submission: 2 May.
A parallel tender calls for plans for an all-season artificial ski surface, expansion of drag-lift slopes and the installation of a covered “magic carpet” – a conveyor-belt-like lift that gently lifts skiers, beginners and even snow tubes up without the need for poles or harnesses. That bidding will close on May 13.
Official documents outline a technical deep dive before any implementation – meteorological, hydrological, topographic and geotechnical studies to map out feasibility. Foreign companies can join, but only through Indian-registered offices or partnerships led by domestic companies.
Changes at the ground level could be widespread. The existing drag-lift slopes – narrow, single-use, snow dependent – will be widened and divided into lanes for skiers, snowboarders and snow tubers separated by certified safety nets. Synthetic turf will allow gliding even when snow refuses to fall. The covered conveyor will move crowds efficiently, reducing queues and making access easier for beginners.
The figures are telling. Gulmarg once had 100–120 skiable days a year, with continuous snowfall from December to March. The last decade and a half has rewritten the script – late snowfall, mid-season melt, thinning snow at lower altitudes, early closures.
The tourism economy is feeling the pressure. Ski schools shortened schedules. Hotel bets. Adventure operators grapple with uncertainty.
Artificial snowmaking provides buffers – machines that spray fine droplets of water into cold air to crystallize into snow, creating and maintaining a scalable base. Synthetic surfaces extend usability even after winter, ensuring that slopes do not remain unusable.
Still, the stakes remain high. Cost, environmental balance, water use and long-term climate trends will shape success. Technology can buy time, not rewrite the weather. The slopes of Gulmarg may still hold. But in the cold mountain air one question remains – not only how to ski, but how long the winter will last.
