The March story

The skiing window narrows but doesn't close. Early March mornings give you 4-5 hours of solid conditions before the sun softens everything. Phase 2 stays cold enough for powder runs through the 20th most years. The real March draw is spring skiing — longer days, warmer sun on your face, less wind chill, and genuinely empty slopes. You might share a Phase 2 run with three other people instead of thirty. The IISM wraps its winter courses by mid-month, so instructors become available for private sessions at negotiable rates. Wildlife starts stirring — Himalayan monals (the state bird, absurdly colourful) appear on lower trails, and musk deer tracks show up in the snow. For non-skiers, the walk from Gulmarg to Khilanmarg (3,050m) on packed snow is spectacular and doesn't require any equipment beyond good boots. Late March visitors should know: the gondola goes down for annual maintenance sometime between March 25 and April 10 — check dates before booking.