In snowless Gulmarg, helicopter joyrides delight tourists

Gulmarg, January 16

Holding a wireless device and regularly issuing directions to his staff, Billa Majeed Bakshi sits on the ground at the ski lift slope, which lies dry and deserted. However, least concerned about the long dry spell in the Valley and snowless Gulmarg, Bakshi’s focus remains on the helipad and higher snow-covered mountain peaks. He keenly observes his helicopters, transporting tourists to the Sunshine Peak at an altitude of 13,999 feet every five minutes.

Since January 13 this year, when Bakshi started helicopter joyrides in Gulmarg, there has been an overwhelming response from domestic tourists. These tourists are primarily interested in witnessing the snowbound mountain peaks.

“Like this year, there was no snow in Gulmarg in early winter months in 2015. Then we saw a massive snowfall. So, I am still hopeful,” says Bakshi. He says once there is fresh snowfall, heliskiing will start and foreign skiers will begin to visit. “But I tell you, foreign tourists used to be high-spending, but that has changed. Now, Indians are spending more and foreigners are not contributing as much financially. We must recognise this shift and seize the opportunity,” he said.

The cost for each helicopter ride is around Rs 13,000 per person. On January 14, over 100 people used the facility and all were domestic tourists. Vignesh, a tourist from Tamil Nadu, had booked tickets for Gulmarg three months ago, hoping to see snow in the Valley. Visiting Kashmir for the first time with his family , Vignesh had no plans for a joy ride but was eager to experience the sight of snow. “So we came for this helicopter joyride to experience snow at the mountain peak,” he said, while waiting for his turn at the Kashmir Heliski helipad.

Bakshi says when he started heliskiing a few years ago, he would usually opt to carry professional skiers but now the majority of his customers are domestic tourists, who prefer joy rides.

Born and brought up in Tangmarg, Bakshi was only five years old when he started skiing in Gulmarg. In 1996, when there was no Gondola or ski lift in Gulmarg, he was already guiding tourists. He introduced freeriding in Gulmarg. Later, he completed a course in Alpine Heli Ski in Queenstown, New Zealand. Now, he employs numerous experienced foreign pilots and ski guides. Bakshi knows Gulmarg like the back of his hand, every mountain peak, each slope, crevices and the people working there. Over the years, he has rescued scores of backcountry skiers and snowboarders. Now residing in Canada for most of the time with his family, Bakshi comes to Gulmarg in January every year for three months to conduct heliskiing.

Bakshi sees Gulmarg as a premier ski and joy destination but is pained to see hundreds of vehicles honking their way through the tourist spot. He says the installation of a Gondola from Tangmarg to Gulmarg and barring entry of all vehicles to Gulmarg would make this ski resort truly a heaven. Gulmarg is known for the Gondola, which reaches an elevation of 13,057 feet.

“Gulmarg is a tourist destination where everyone wants to come. Have a cable car from Tangmarg to Gulmarg, stop all vehicles at Tangmarg and witness how this will transform this ski resort,” he says.