Heli-skiing soars back to life in Gulmarg

Srinagar, Feb 26: The slopes of Gulmarg have once again started witnessing the exhilarating dance of heli-skiers as the Heli-Skiing services have returned to the ski resort after a hiatus of around four years.

Tourists and local skiers, who have yearned for the adventure, are now elated as the helicopter blades slice through the crisp mountain air.

Heli-skiing, a cherished adventure sport among both foreign and local skiers in Kashmir, has been an integral part of Gulmarg's winter allure. The thrill-seekers ascend to the snowy peaks via helicopter rides and ski down the peaks.

The revival of heli-skiing services has brought joy not only to tourists eager for a unique bird's-eye view of Gulmarg's picturesque landscapes but also to seasoned skiers who yearn for the high-altitude slopes that make Gulmarg the best destination in winter.

Rajiv Gupta, a 63-year-old tourist from New Delhi, expressed his delight at the return of the helicopter service.

"I come every year here to enjoy snow as Gulmarg is my favorite destination for holidays. This helicopter service was not available for the last few years. This time I am happy to see it available here, and I will take the helicopter service and see around. It will be my first experience," Gupta told Greater Kashmir.

The Gulmarg's Heli-skiing was started by Bilal Majeed Bakshi, a local guide who started guiding at a young age. Since 2011, Bakshi has been the driving force behind Heli-Skiing in Kashmir, leading a team of experienced ski guides.

Talking to Greater Kashmir, Altaf Ahmad Khanday, a senior Heli-Ski guide said they lift four packs in a day, including four tourists and one guide in each ride.

"Some tourists use the helicopter services for sightseeing and enjoy the aerial view of the snow-clad Gulmarg meadows. International skiers are our first priority, but we have also decided to provide the service to our domestic tourists as well," he said.

Khanday said that the helicopter takes a round at Sunshine Peak, a higher altitude than the Affarwat Peak at Gulmarg, offering tourists an unparalleled aerial view of Drang and the backside of Tosamaidan.

"The helicopter service was put on a halt owing to the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. Attempts were made to resume the services last year, but we could not make it possible because of some reasons. But this year the service has resumed here," Khanday said.

A tourist from Ahmedabad Gujarat, Dr Manan after taking a helicopter ride said they went for a joy ride and witnessed the sunshine.

"The joy ride is awesome as we saw the aerial view which is amazing. It was my first experience and we enjoyed it. At first, we were a little bit scared about it but later it turned out to be an amazing experience," he said.

"Adventure is in us and we were joyous to go for it and we did it and really enjoyed it," he said.

Another tourist, Saumil Bayani  shared his experience and said the helicopter after taking off from Gulmarg bowl took him to the peak of the Himalayas where the mountains were going round and the helicopter was at 90 degrees. "We really enjoyed it. It was really an amazing experience," he said.

Wasik Ul Billah, an international-level skier from Srinagar said he along with his friends from Srinagar had come specifically for heli-skiing and Kashmir Heli-skiing provided them with tremendous support, enabling them to ski in the backcountry.

"We were able to explore various aspects of Gulmarg. When one ventures into the mountains, the scenery is entirely different, something that one has never seen before. We discovered different peaks and then skied down them," Wasik told Greater Kashmir.

The commercial pilot Erwin Schärz from Switzerland who is presently working with Kashmir Heli-Skiing said they are making people happy with lots of joy rides and some good Heli-skiing in "beautiful Kashmir" which is like Switzerland.

"I enjoy flying here as it is a lot of work and fun. We give people joy rides of their life so that they can see the beautiful mountains," he said.