Gulmarg, Kashmir

Welcome to Gulmarg, Kashmir

...our home and where it all began – in the little known hill station of Gulmarg in Kashmir.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the Siberian High – a huge accumulation of cold air over Lake Baikal in Siberia – is responsible for cold weather across much of the region, from Italy to the Philippines. During winter, these cold weather systems travel across the Siberian Desert through Pakistan, colliding with the Himalayan Pir Panjal mountain range in Kashmir, transforming Gulmarg into the ultimate winter playground. Hidden at even higher altitudes are glacial lakes that freeze over in late autumn. Beneath the frozen surface, breeding season starts for numerous species of wild trout and freshwater fish. When spring arrives, the snow melts, feeding the Kashmir Valley’s streams and rivers with glacial water, flowing through the Indo-Gangetic Plains to India’s most sacred river, the Ganges. Kashmir’s flora and fauna awakens, with black bears emerging from hibernation to gorge on Golden Mahseer whilst snow leopards hunt grass-fed livestock. With spring, shepherds begin herding their flocks through green Himalayan pastures, welcoming the next eight months of warm weather. K-Line offers you the opportunity of a lifetime to experience one of the most spectacular natural environments in the world. Our expert-guided skiing, snowboarding, fly fishing, mountain biking and trekking adventures take you on an immersive journey into Kashmir’s culture and untamed wilderness. You will leave feeling privileged, knowing that one can spend a lifetime exploring this remarkable country yet still feel that there is more to experience.
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Gulmarg Tourism Information

Everything you need to know to get best out of your trip.


Gulmarg at a glance


Money


Passports and Visas

If you do not hold an Indian passport, you will require an Indian visa to enter India and the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The government has made the process increasingly easier, with some nationalities permitted to attain a visa upon arrival. All other visitors must apply for a visa prior to arrival – applications must be.

For more details, contact your local Indian Embassy.


Getting to Gulmarg

Getting to Gulmarg has never been easier. From your departure destination, you need to take an international flight to the Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) in Delhi. You then need to make your way to the required domestic airport terminal (T1C, T1D or T3), which is 20 minutes away from the international terminal via a complimentary shuttle bus service. There are plenty of information desks dotted around the airport, if things are a little blurry on your arrival.

Once you arrive at the domestic terminal, you will board a short 90-minute flight to Srinagar International Airport (SXR). When you arrive, please fill in a visitor information form which will be provided by local airport staff. Our private transfer will meet you with our sign, from there, Gulmarg is just 50km by road.

Before you start your journey, make sure you print all international and domestic flight itineraries or have screen shots ready on your mobile device – you will need to present these details before you can enter any terminal for check-in. For more information, please visit the Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport’s website.

For domestic flights within India to Srinagar Airport (SXR) our favourites are Air India, Jet Airways, IndiGo and GoAir.

TRAVEL TO GULMARG


Gulmarg temperature and when to visit

India is located in the northern hemisphere and therefore enjoys a similar climate and season as Europe and America. The Gulmarg snow season begins in December and extends till April. However, the period between January and March will provide the most reliable and consistent snowfall.

Here are the current weather conditions and the Gulmarg Snow Forecast for today:

Below are the conditions you can expect during the season.

Keep in mind that even though we’d like to, we don’t control the weather!

Gulmarg Temperature & Precipitaiton @ 2,600m

January
Significant snowfall with fine, light champagne powder. The snowpack is shallow, accompanied by heavy storms and cold, dry conditions. Tree-riding is possible, providing there is sufficient snowfall. You will have the benefit of low crowds during this month.

February
The heaviest snowfall, which does mean some epic riding all over the mountain, but also a higher chance of snowstorms that will likely close gondola access to the summit. This heavy snowfall opens the door to plenty of unbelievable tree riding, but you may miss your chance to ride the summit. You will also run into bigger crowds in February.

March
March is the least busy and most underrated month. You will enjoy a deep, well-established snowpack with a few large storm systems producing moderate to significant snowfall. The snow is a little heavier due to spring conditions, but there is still plenty of powder to be found at high altitudes. Some of the below-tree-line snow has already melted by this point so you have limited opportunities for low-altitude tree-riding. However, the increasingly pleasant weather means that you will probably access the summit continually. You are also likely to have the mountain to yourself.


Where to stay in Kashmir

Your accommodation at the Khyber Himalayan Resort and Spa is our pinnacle experience in Kashmir.

The Khyber Himalayan Resort and Spa opened its doors in 2013 as the first Five-star hotel in Gulmarg. The property works with an independent international hotel management company to guarantees professional service and ensures the consistent delivery of amenities such as 24-hour heating and hot water.

The hotel combines authentic Kashmiri tradition with Arabian influences, which tastefully echo the country’s Silk Road heritage and Ottoman history. Thoughtful touches such as Persian lamps and interiors that are intricately carved in the style of Kashmiri houseboats are a constant reminder of the country’s rich culture.

A casual après-ski café is the perfect place to unwind after a long day on the mountain with a cup of hot Kahwa, or traditional Kashmiri tea. For those who still have extra energy to burn off, the well-equipped hotel gym is the place to do so. Truly discerning customers can enjoy luxurious treatments at the international-quality spa, or simply relax in the world-class cigar lounge.

The diverse menu includes the best of Kashmiri and Indian cuisine, made with the freshest local produce and organic ingredients. The international menu is also exceptional and includes a range of quality options such as Middle Eastern mezze, seafood pasta, Angus rib-eye steak and French onion soup. To round things off, comfort foods such as scones, sandwiches and fish-and-chips are perfect for a quick bite.

Accommodation

Introduction

Some of our fly fishing destinations are beats that can be reached via a couple hours drive, making them the perfect daytrip. However, our signature offering is our fly fishing trekking expedition, which combines a multi-day trek with various stops at key points – glacial lakes, high-altitude rivers and countless small streams. These expeditions involve modern camping, which is both comfortable and a unique way to enjoy nature with your fellow fly fishermen. Our expeditions also include the last night in an iconic houseboat on Dal Lake or at the Taj, the oldest 5* hotel in Kashmir.

Equipment

High quality equipment can determine your level of comfort or even safety. You don’t want to wait until just before your trek begins to find out – there’s nothing worse than shivering in a smelly sleeping bag inside a moldy old tent that doesn’t keep out the rain!

For K-Line, it’s all about quality, comfort and durability. We set basic standards of comfort that we feel our clients deserve and we provide specific information about the brands and models of all our equipment. We value quality, not only for your comfort but also for our convenience. High quality equipment is lighter and easier for our horses to transport, and more reliable for our use. It won’t do to have the stove breaking down when everyone is waiting for a hot meal!

Cleanliness and hygiene

Trekking does not mean sacrificing your creature comforts. The Himalayas holds the world’s third largest deposit of ice and snow, so there is plenty of water to go around, so to speak. K-Line is proud to provide warm showers during our treks. Yes, that’s correct – heated water coming out of an overhead shower with adjustable pressure. All of this is powered by the world’s most reliable source of energy – the sun.

As part of our leave-no-trace policy, all your shower water goes back into the ground, along with the 100% biodegradable and organic Himalayan soap. You can also use the same soap to wash any clothes at designated points in rivers or streams.

That’s right – your cleanliness will not impact the environment at all!

Camping

We use lightweight, modern and spacious tents that are completely weather-proof, with clever pockets, hooks and fly screens to make your life easy when you’re inside. Our sleeping bags are warm and high quality. For hygiene reasons, we also provide a cotton sleeping bag liner that is cleaned after every guest. You will also have a modern sleeping pad, optimally designed for comfortable sleeping on the ground. You will also be provided with a solar-powered head torch for use at night.


Cuisine in Kashmir

Our food is as fresh as the air we breath!

Good food is an essential part of travelling and during fly fishing, it can be the difference between a great experience and a life-changing one. Quality is the K-Line trademark and our cuisine is no exception. Forget the watery dal and stale rice that is the standard fare on virtually all treks in Kashmir – we have a great local chef who will ensure that you’re well fed throughout your adventure.

Since we travel to remote areas, we bring all our provisions for the entire trip. Despite these logistical challenges, our clients enjoy wholesome food and quality ingredients. Although our food supply cannot be replenished, we still create a nutritious and varied menu, alternating perishable and non-perishable ingredients throughout the trip. We also rely on staples such as rice, noodles, onions and nuts, plus a selection of herbs and spices. In support of indigenous industries, we often procure fresh meat from local shepherds. Indeed, we ensure that most of our fresh ingredients organic and are locally sourced. We also pass numerous lakes and rivers, so grilled trout is part of the menu when possible.

Feel free to bring any snacks along, but do remember to keep within our weight limits. We recommend nutrient dense, high-energy foods such as energy bars and dark chocolate, rather than empty calories such as candy and crisps.

Drink

Our routes are designed such that you are never more than a few hours away from water. Unlike many other parts of India, water in the Himalayas is very clean and rich in minerals. We drink directly from streams and rivers – all of which are fed by underground springs, melting snow and glaciers – and have never gotten sick. However, you can bring water-purifying tablets, UV pens etc. if you choose. Your tour leader will typically determine safe points to drink from and set strict rules regarding specific locations for washing.

A range of beverages will be available throughout the trip, such as tea, instant coffee, hot chocolate and cordial, along with milk powder and sugar. You can also bring your own sports drinks mixes.

Our sample menu

Breakfast

  • Oatmeal with cinnamon, raisins, nuts and unrefined cane sugar
  • Strong loose-leaf tea, brewed Kashmiri-style
  • An apple fresh from the orchard

Lunch

  • Noodles with mixed vegetables
  • A handful of almonds and dried coconut

Afternoon tea

  • Cardamom hot chocolate
  • Kashmiri bagels

Dinner

  • Fresh tomato salsa with garlic and lime
  • Boiled potatoes
  • Roasted organic, grass-fed lamb (purchased fresh from local shepherds)

Traditional English trout recipe used by fly-fishermen from the 15th century

Gut ye the Trout. Take 12ozs of white breadcrumbs, 4oz apricots (roughly chopped) 4oz raisins, salt and pepper, 1 or 2 eggs to bind the stuffing. Milk teaspoon of dried mixed herbs. Mix all the ingredients together, but don’t have it too wet or sticky. Push all this in the belly of ye Trout. To make the salt doe that encases the fish. 3lbs of flour, 1lb of salt and some water. Roll it out. Put your fish in the middle and seal it up. Put it into a hot open fire until the pastry is black. Do not eat ye the pastry.

Houseboat cuisine

Our itineraries include a houseboat stay on the last night, to allow you to relax and freshen up before departure. The cuisine is traditional Kashmiri food – you might start with rista (hearty lamb meatballs in tomato gravy), braised Haq (leafy greens) and rice, followed by phirni (nut and raisin pudding) and kahwah (Kashmiri green tea). A great home-cooked meal before your flight home!


Terrain and riding in Gulmarg

Just 50km away from Srinagar Airport, sitting at 2,600m, lies one of the most undiscovered ski regions on the planet. The highest skiable cable car in the world will drop you well above the clouds, just below the summit of Mount Apharwat (Apharwat Peak) at 3,950m. Visible in the distance is Nanga Parbat at 8,126m (AKA Killer Mountain), the 9th highest peak in the world, Nun Kun at 7,135m and Harmukh at 5,142m. These are big mountains by any standard – this is, after all, the Himalayan mountain range.

Mount Apharwat provides an impressive platform from which to explore the surrounding backcountry terrain in Gulmarg. Once you exit the cable car, there are three options – traverse, skin or hike. Mount Apharwat has the perfect setup for backcountry riding, with its shoulders stretching some 6.5km wide and opening up to numerous untracked couloirs that run down the southerly aspect of the mountain. 75% of the terrain can be accessed via a short traverse, taking you to almost anywhere on the mountain within minutes. If skinning or hiking is your game, the summit and other terrain can be accessed via a short 30 minute skin or hike.

We have something for everyone, from strong beginners to expert riders. Depending on your skill level, we will choose from numerous safe riding opportunities each day. The terrain we ride in the alpine region varies considerably in terms of complexity, slope angle and general snow conditions. Your daily itinerary will be determined on the previous day by our team, based on factors such as ability, climate and terrain. For most clients, this is the biggest riding they will ever experience, with descents ranging from 800 to 2000+ vertical metres.

On days when the Gulmarg gondola is not operational due to heavy snowfall or poor visibility, the most incredible below-tree-line riding in the world opens up as you ride all the way down to century-old villages. At the end of each run, you will be picked up by our trusty 4WD vehicles. This is what we call “truck skiing” or “tree skiing” – this is a completely new way of riding for many of our clients, who will generally tell you that this was the highlight of their experience in Gulmarg.

After riding here for 11 years, we know that the terrain rocks. It’s pretty much a given that you will get the opportunity to open the throttle (safely of course) and enjoy some incredible high altitude riding on a daily basis.

Download The Gulmarg Resort Map

Trek profile and terrain

The Kashmir’s Himalayas are vastly different to our neighbours in Ladakh and Nepal. With lush high altitude streams, abundant wildlife, flora and fauna. Below is the trek profile that also shows common altitudes and stops on our treks.

TREK PROFILE | Seven Sars: Sonamarg to Narayannag

Our expedition begins in the foothills of the Indian Himalayas in the small hill station of Sonamarg set amongst the Thajiwas Glaciers. Our fly fishing expeditions take fly fishermen on stunning, untrekked routes through the Himalayan mountains of Kashmir. The goal is to reach the some of the most abundantly fertile rivers and high altitude lakes in the world, known to the colonial British as Angler’s Paradise.

Those with the tenacity to complete our 12-day fly fishing expeditions will be rewarded with fishing that is unsurpassed. The fishing waters of Kashmir have not escaped the drive of capitalisation and sportsmen must travel to increasingly higher altitudes to enjoy the wilderness that made Kashmir an angler’s paradise. Fortunately, modern access to the famed glacial lakes has not been opened by modern transport and remains just as limited as it was a century ago and therefore these high-altitude fishing waters remain unspoilt.

Unlike our trekking expeditions, which move through locations more quickly, our fly fishing expeditions use trekking as a memorable way to reach our fly-fishing destinations. The goal is not to experience nature through different trekking routes, but to remain at each quality fishing spot for up to several days. Only a basic level of fitness is required and the pace of the expedition is determined by the ability of the group.


Ability and conditioning for backcountry skiing

Backcountry snowboarding and skiing in all our locations requires that guests have at least intermediate/advanced-level powder skills. If you are expecting to ski 50-degree shoots and huck 30-foot airs every run you will be disappointed. We only ski this type of terrain when conditions and group abilities allow. We want everyone to have a good time on the mountain where ever we are in the world. To increase your opportunity to ski and ride expert terrain, book an entire guide with like-minded friends and we’ll do our best to take you on our most exciting (but safe) runs.

Please consider the following notes before you book your trip to come backcountry snowboarding and skiing with us:

  • Guests will be skiing about 4,500 metres per day for 6 days straight at a peak altitude of 4,250 metres and need to be in good physical condition. Consider following a conditioning* program to prepare for your trip. If you are unable to keep up with the group you may be asked to sit out and will not be reimbursed for any missed time on the mountain.
  • Weather and ski conditions are impossible to predict so guests must be prepared to ski or ride anything.
  • If you have never skied powder or shy away from it at you local resort, our destinations are not the place to learn.
  • Our terrain varies according to the destination. In the Himalayas we ride 80% of the time above tree line in the alpine zone. In Canada we spend most of our time riding open powder fields and trees – please be prepared to ski and ride the trees!
  • If you have any questions or concerns about your ability please call us to discuss prior to booking.
  • We do not groom any of our terrain!

*Conditioning: In order to prepare your body for maximum performance in in the mountains and reduce your chances of fatigue or injury, we recommend you undertake a stretch and strengthening program 4 to 6 weeks prior to your arrival.


Ability and conditioning

Your fitness

Each K-Line expedition is individually designed for a specific fitness levels – you can refer to descriptions within each package for more information. In general, if you are mobile, can walk unassisted and have no major health issues, you will not have any problems. However, it is best to prepare by building up your fitness levels as much as you can. Do whatever exercise suits you and your comfort level, whether this means brisk walking, running, yoga, tennis etc.

Altitude sickness

Visitors rarely experience serious altitude sickness and none of our clients have ever been affected. However, you may experience a lower fitness level than usual. We suggest that you build up your strength and fitness as much as possible beforehand and avoiding strenuous activity within the first 24 hours at altitude. Further measures include preventing dehydration, and avoiding alcohol and medication. Lastly, although it is not necessary, you can bring altitude sickness pills as a precaution.

Your physical conditioning

In order to prepare for your adventure in the mountains and reduce your chances of fatigue or injury, we recommend that you initiate or maintain an active lifestyle for a period of three months leading up to your trip, in order to get the most out of your expedition.


Culture and sight seeing in Kashmir

Through out the journey you will experience high altitude culture and hospitality of Kashmir’s mountain folk, along with experiencing numerous religious archaeological sites.


Health and safety

Visitors rarely experience serious altitude sickness and none of our clients have ever been affected. However, you may experience a lower fitness level than usual. We suggest that you build up your strength and fitness as much as possible beforehand and avoiding strenuous activity within the first 24 hours at altitude. Further measures include preventing dehydration, and avoiding alcohol and medication. Lastly, although it is not necessary, you can bring altitude sickness pills as a precaution.

Hospitals in smaller towns and cities such as Gulmarg are adequate for basic or minor illnesses. Hospitals in Srinagar are of high international standards and that is where we will take you if any major medical issues arise. Kashmir itself is not particularly conducive to infectious diseases, because of the small population, low temperatures, high altitude and dry climate. Indeed, K-Line clients staying in our selected hotels rarely get ill. However, as Kashmir is technically under Indian rule, the CDC does have a recommended list of vaccines.


Health and safety - Fly-fishing

Medical facilities

Hospitals in smaller towns and cities such as Gulmarg are adequate for basic or minor illnesses. Hospitals in Srinagar are of high international standards and that is where we will take you if any major medical issues arise. Kashmir itself is not particularly conducive to infectious diseases, because of the small population, low temperatures, high altitude and dry climate. Indeed, K-Line clients staying in our selected hotels rarely get ill. However, as Kashmir is technically under Indian rule, the CDC does have a recommended list of vaccines.

Medical evacuation

All our treks and expeditions can be up to several hours away from civilisation, which is all part of the attraction. None of our clients have ever experienced serious medical issues that disrupted their trip. Indeed, our staff are equipped with first aid kits and trained to deal with emergencies. If you require medical attention, there are several options:

  • A staff member will accompany you to the nearest location where you can seek treatment. You will travel on horseback or by vehicle as required.
  • We contact a doctor who will travel to your location to treat you.
  • A staff member travels to the necessary location and brings back medication.


Travel insurance for backcountry skiing/Travel insurance for skiing in Himalayas

When in the outdoors, it’s always better to be safe than sorry and we’re sure you would agree. Get covered before you head out on an adventure with K-Line.

Travel insurance is your responsibility and is mandatory for all K-Line adventures. Please ensure your policy covers you for trip cancellation in the event that you cannot make it on your journey with us. It is also important to ensure that you’re covered for off-piste skiing or snowboarding and visiting remote locations, as Kashmir is one of the more remote states of India.

Throughout our years in the industry, we have researched the best in the game and Global Rescue is exactly that. Get the lowdown on Global Rescue’s Membership here


Foreign travel advisory for India

With the former political conflict just a distant memory, Kashmir has emerged as a remarkably popular tourist destination. Tourism has doubled over the past decade, with Gulmarg alone welcoming close to 2 million tourists in 2012. Located just a stone’s throw away from Delhi, it is the perfect sightseeing destination for Indians who make up the majority of tourists. Countless international tourists visit from Australia and Europe, while the neighbouring Asian countries of Hong Kong, Thailand and Malaysia are also beginning to discover Kashmir. Despite it’s increasing popularity, Kashmir continues to be a forgotten wilderness sanctuary with easy access and reasonable infrastructure.

Although foreign Governments are increasingly supportive of this unassuming little state of India, FCO advisories can vary on a yearly basis. In general, we have found such Government advisories to be overly conservative, as the situation on the ground in Kashmir has remained continuously safe over the past several years. Indeed, most of our clients are quite surprised at how safe, peaceful and welcoming their stay is, and end up returning to us year after year.


Time zone: UTC +05:30 hrs

Indian Standard Time (IST) is the local time in India. It is offset with Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) by +05:30 hrs.


Internet connections

The good news is that you can stay connected to your loved ones, your pets or your online aliases anytime these days in Gulmarg – and most of Kashmir for that matter. When you get back at the end of each day you can share your stoke over the web and tell everyone about what it is they are missing out on. So fear not, the internet is alive and well in Kashmir!


Power-up with the right adaptor/Electricity

Don’t get caught out in India without an adaptor! When you get to the international airport, pick one up in duty free before leaving for your domestic flight, or – for those who are super well prepared – get one before you arrive in India.

There are 2 configurations that can be used in India – Plug types C and D/M as displayed below.


What to pack for backcountry skiing

In India, we have a northern hemisphere winter and with the windchill in Gulmarg, temperatures can get down to -20°C. You will need to bring the appropriate technical outerwear and underwear to keep you warm and dry on those blisteringly cold days, and it’s particularly important that your outerwear is windproof and waterproof, with Goretex or similar fabrics to ensure that you are protected from the elements.

Layering your clothing is the best option for keeping you warm and dry on cold days, while offering flexibility to subtract layers as necessary when the heat gets going. We also do recommend bringing a second pair of gloves and goggles, just in case. Most importantly, don’t forget the appropriate powder-specific hardware for riding, including boots, boards, skis, bindings etc. Lastly, in addition to your typical technical wear, you will need clothes and shoes for lounging around in your hotel.


What to pack for fly-fishing

We know your fly-fishing gear is precious so we won’t prevent you from packing everything. The only guidance we will give you is to remember that our adventures are active fly fishing expeditions, so weight and ergonomics is essential as we need to be mobile.

As you will be at altitude, our summers in the north of India are mild during the day and cool in the evening. During the day ambient temperatures hover around 20°C. Luckily, this means packing light. We suggest bringing the appropriate technical outerwear and underwear to keep you dry and comfortable. Be warned – despite the beautiful warm days, the water temperature is very cold as we will be at altitude and as the lakes and tributaries are fed by visible glaciers. At night, temperatures can get down to 5°C, so it is important to come prepared as the climate is prone to sudden changes. It’s particularly important that your outerwear is windproof and waterproof, with Goretex or similar fabrics to ensure that you are protected from the elements. Layering your clothing is the best option for keeping you warm and dry during the trek or lounging around at the campsite. Layering offers the flexibility to modulate your temperature as necessary. Don’t forget the most important things – quality footwear to ensure you are surefooted during the trek and sun protection (hat, sunscreen, sunglasses) to shield you from the sun.


Sustainable fly fishing in Kashmir/Our fly fishing ethics

The high-altitude lakes of Kashmir are jaw-droppingly abundant, with our lead guide hooking in a record 10 golden and brown trout within 20 minutes. Decimated waters are a product of human activity and few anglers have experienced waters that are as abundant. It is easy to forget that fishing waters should actually be this well-populated with fish that regularly bite well-cast flies. The population has it’s own means of self-regulation, so do not be tempted to catch as many fish as you can. As visitors, it is our duty to ensure that these waters remain as they are for future generations of anglers.

We do not allow practices that disrupt the normal feeding patterns of trout, such as feeding them with bread and dead insects. Baiting an area to attract and retain fish is also not permitted as this eliminates the natural instinct of hunting. Shockingly, some operators actually recommend baiting the most desirable fish such as Golden Mahseer.

It takes just a few people to start a trend of unethical fishing. On an as needed basis, K-Line will teach correct catch-and-release techniques to ensure survival of the fish and maintain the natural population.


Target Species

Depending on the fly fishing expedition you have selected, you have the option of chasing high-altitude Scottish brown trout and rainbow trout or stalking monster Golden Mahseer.

Our Scottish brown trout and rainbow trout are our target species on this expedition style journey, typically found in the numerous high-altitude glacial lakes and gin-clear tributaries. Our locations have not seen anglers since the 80’s and are well populated as a result of limited access. The breeding season is December to March, so the ideal fishing season is also the warmest and most pleasant months of the year. Our trout fishing expeditions run from June to September.

The great Golden Mashseer is a completely different story. The fabled predator is rarely seen nowadays in Kashmir, with the exception of some occasional sightings. For the extreme angler, our Golden Mahseer Hunt is the perfect expedition to push boundaries. These ferocious predators are notoriously difficult to land and follow the opposite breeding season from trout. The ideal fishing period is therefore November to April, also the coldest months of the year. Your abilities as an adventurer and athlete, as well as a fly-fisherman, will truly be tested. As an added bonus, the falling temperatures mean that there will almost be no other trekkers around.


Kashmir's fly fishing regulations

The fly-fishing regulations that were established in the early twentieth century are still in place today. Any violations will result in fines or a revoked license. As an ethical adventure outfit, we support all of these regulations and have supplemented them with some of our own.

An angling expedition in Kashmir is all the more technical and challenging, as fly-fishing with wet and dry flies is the only form of fishing permitted. Artificial spinning and all other types of lures, such as jigs, surface lures, spoons, plugs, spinnerbait and swimbait, are prohibited. Primitive types of fishing such as casting, spearing, netting and trapping are also prohibited.

There is a daily limit of six fish per day per fishing license, and a catch-and-release policy does not exist beyond this. Due to the plentiful supply of trout, K-Line has supplemented this with our own rule – once your fishing guide has determined that the group has caught sufficient fish for that day’s food, catch-and-release will apply along with the minimum legal size of 25cm.