GULMARG: A Brief Introduction About The Hotel Venture

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INTRODUCTION

• “GULMARG” basically means a “ Meadow of Flowers”.

• It is a town, a hill station, a popular skiing destination and is also a notified area committee in the Baramula district in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.

• The town is situated within the Himalayas and is also within a few miles from the Line Of Control between India and Pakistan.

• Official languages spoken are: - Kashmiri, English, Urdu and Pahari.

• Gulmarg is located at a distance of 56 kms from the capital, Srinagar.

• It lies in a cup shaped valley in the Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas at an altitude of 2,730 m (8,957 ft) .

• The soil in Gulmarg comprises of glacial deposits, lacustrine deposits and moraines of Pleistocene era which cover shales, limestones, sandstones, schists and other varieties of rocks.

• The natural meadows of Gulmarg which are covered with snow in winter allow the growth of wild-flowers such as daisies, forget-me-nots and butter-cups during spring and summer.

• The meadows are interspersed by enclosed parks and small lakes, and surrounded by forests of green pine and fir.

• Skiing and other winter sports in Gulmarg are carried out on the slopes of Apharwat peak at a height of 4,267 m (13,999 ft).

• Many points on Apharwat peak and Khilanmarg offer a panoramic view of Nanga Parbat and Harmukh mountains.

GEOGRAPHY

DEMOGRAPHICS

• At the 2011 Indian census, Gulmarg had a total population of 1,965 over 77 households out of which the male population was 1,957 and there were only eight females with no children between the ages of 0 years to 6 years.

• Gulmarg had an average literacy rate of 99.24%, compared to the state average of 67.16%, of which male literacy was 99.23% and female literacy was 100%. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes constituted 0.61% and 0.15% of the population respectively.

• Gulmarg has few permanent residents being tourists or those involved in the tourism industry.

• It is also a destination for nomadic Gujjar and Bakarwal tribes which migrate to upper reaches of Himalayas during summers in search of pasture.

TOURISM

• According to CNN, Gulmarg has been termed as the “heartland of winter sports in India.”

• The town was being mooted as a possible host for the 2010 Commonwealth Winter Games.

• Also, Gulmarg has been rated as Asia’s seventh best ski destination by CNN International.

• It is also easily accessible from Srinagar.

• It takes about two and a half hours for the tourist buses to reach Gulmarg from the TRC Bus Stand in Srinagar.

• Winter Sports like skiing, tobogganing, snowboarding and heli-skiing take place on the slopes of Mount Apharwat. Apharwat can be reached by a cable car system called Gondola.

• Built by a French Company Pomagalski, The Gulmarg Gondola is a tourist attraction in itself. It is one of the highest cable cars in the world reaching a height of 3,979 meters.

• There are a few places of religious importance near the resort within a 5 to 20 km radius like Baba Reshi, Haji Murad at Kreeri and Tangmarg. Khilanmarg is a meadow on the foot of Mount Apharwat, 6km away from Gulmarg, which offers a scenic view of Nanga Parbat.

• Gulmarg is among the most famous tourist destinations in India and there is a need for some tightened regulation to save the environment of the area from over tourism.

CULTURE

• Gulmarg has been the location of shooting of many Bollywood films like Bobby, Jab Tak Hain Jaan, Yeh Jawaani Hain Deewani, Highway, Phantom, Haider etc.

• A scene in Bobby was shot in a hut in Gulmarg, that later came to be known as Bobby Hut.

• An annual three day Gulmarg Winter Festival is held in the month of March. Budding artists in the fields of music, films and photography are given an opportunity to showcase their work during the festival.

Legal Issues

• To encourage growth and development in J&K, the government has requested for a special package on the lines for North East Industrial policy.

• The following incentives:

1. An interest subsidy of 3% on the working capital loan would be provided for a period of 10 years after commence.

2. All upcoming venture in the notified location would be eligible for capital investment subsidy at 15% of their investment.

Requirements

• Eligible venture for subsidy under the scheme will get themselves registered with the state industrial department prior to taking effective steps.

• For leasing out land: For 40 years minimum

• State land for commercial use in the cities of Srinagar and Jammu are subject to directions of the government, the authority to auction will be in the committee.

• Only after considering these points will the land be leased and they are as follows:

1. Potential value of land

2. Nearness to the road/ urban areas

3. Irrigation and transport facilities

4. Market values of the land determined for purpose of stamp duty under the Stamps Act, 1977

Thank You

BY SYNDICATE – 6