Gulmarg, Feb 21: For Satyajit Bana and his son Arun, the snow-clad slopes of Gulmarg feel like a second home. The father-son duo from Maharashtra have been making the annual pilgrimage to this ski resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district ever since Satyajit first learnt to ski here in 2015.
“It’s a fantastic place,” Satyajit told Kashmir Convener, standing against the backdrop of the towering Pir Panjal range. “We’ve been coming every single year since then.”
They are among the more than 600 athletes and support staff from across the country who have started arriving at the meadow for the 6th Khelo India Winter Games, set to get underway Sunday. The three-day event, which will see around 300 competitors participating in alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, and snowboarding, will be formally inaugurated on February 23.
Down in the Gulmarg market, local traders are hoping the Games translate into a business boom. “From the 23rd to the 26th, there is a Khelo India exhibition. You should come here, play and enjoy. Gulmarg is ready. We are ready,” said a local business owner, standing in the snow.
Chander, an athlete from Goa who has been making the trip since 2018, has a message for enthusiasts back home. “You guys should come, participate. It’s brilliant. It’ll be fun. Gulmarg is ready, waiting for you,” he said in conversation with Kashmir Convener.
A day before the Games get underway, the administration is putting the final touches on arrangements — from snow clearance on the slopes to traffic management on the winding road leading to the tourist hub known for its pristine slopes and the Gulmarg Gondola.
For Gulmarg, hosting the Khelo India Winter Games for the sixth time is both an honour and a logistical challenge. The resort, which draws thousands of tourists every winter, will have to balance the demands of the event with regular footfall.
To manage the influx of vehicles, the SSP Traffic Rural issued an advisory on Saturday finalising a comprehensive traffic plan, including a strict one-way regime for the Gulmarg bowl, to ensure smooth vehicular movement during the Games.
According to the plan accessed by Kashmir Convener, vehicles will enter near the Government Hospital and proceed via JK TDC Huts, Hiltop, Khyber, Gondola, Helipad, Forest Guest House, the main venue, HAWS, and Children’s Park, before exiting near the Golf Club.
The SSP said that no traffic would be permitted in the opposite direction on this corridor and that the entire route has been declared a strict ‘No Overtaking Zone.’ Authorities have made it mandatory for all motorists to affix anti-skid chains to their vehicles.
“Motorists shall avoid overspeeding. There shall be restricted movement on roads inside the Gulmarg bowl,” said Ravinder Pal Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police, Traffic Rural Kashmir, adding, “The Traffic Police is committed to ensuring safe journeys for all.”
Authorities have also prohibited roadside parking from Tangmarg up to Gulmarg, directing vehicles to be parked only in designated lots. Motorists have been advised against leaving vehicles unattended in isolated areas.
Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, Minga Sherpa told Kashmir Convener a comprehensive review of the arrangements was conducted on Saturday. “We had a meeting with all stakeholders today. But we didn’t just sit around a table — we went to the venues,” DC Sherpa said after inspecting the Gulmarg Club, Kangduri Slope, and the main ski slope. “We need to be sure that when the athletes get here, everything is in place.”
Further advisories are expected in the coming days to ensure that tourists and locals are not inconvenienced while athletes make their way to the venues. “There should be no hassle for anyone — not our guests for the Games, not our regular visitors,” the DC added.
Over the past week, the divisional administration has flooded Kashmir with outreach programmes. The most visible sign? A Khelo India Bike and Motorcycle Rally that roared through the streets after being flagged off from Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar. The message was clear: get the locals and tourists excited for the Games.
And the welcome mat is uniquely Kashmiri. At the Srinagar International Airport, athletes stepping off flights are being greeted not just with protocol, but with the soulful strains of ‘Bandpather’ — the Valley’s traditional folk art.
In the lead-up to the national event, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Anshul Garg, chaired a comprehensive meeting earlier this week to review preparations. During the meeting, the Commissioner directed the Director of Tourism to leverage the Khelo India platform to promote tourism activities and boost tourist footfall in the region, officials added.
The administration has also set up a dedicated control room to address any contingencies during the event. Medical teams have been stationed at key locations, and snow clearance machines remain on standby to ensure the slopes and roads remain accessible.
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