At 14,500 ft, the Apharwat Peak is a famous tourist attraction located approximately 13 km away from Gulmarg. It is said that the snow here is soft and as clear as crystal. Since it receives such heavy snowfall, it remains covered with snow almost throughout the year. Thus, it makes an ideal location for skiing. A ride in the cable car, called gondola, is a must-try. In a dreamy ride, it transports visitors from Gulmarg to Kongdoor and from Kongdoor to Apharwat. One can book the tickets for the ride online or at the location. Reaching here, however, is a matter of luck as it is highly dependent on the weather conditions, which tend to be tough through most of the year. Once you reach the peak, you will be greeted by chilly winds. Human sledges are available to take you higher up on the peak if you so wish. The LOC (Line of Control) lies just a few kilometres away from the Aphrawath Peak.

The beautiful mountain stream of Ningle Nallah flows 10 km from Gulmarg, in the Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir. It is flanked by snowy mountains and lush green pastures and looks quite picturesque. The main source of this stream is water formed by the melting of ice in Alpather Lake and Apharwat Peak. After winding its way through mountains and valleys, the stream joins the bigger River Jhelum. Tourists and locals visit this place for family picnics. Visitors, who are fond of camping, can set up camps in the nearby meadow and stay the night.

This stream also serves as a water source for rural dwellers and its stony terrains enhance its visual appeal. Its uneven lands and challenging slopes also invite trekkers to test their mettle.

Also known as Shinmahinyu, Ferozepur Nallah is a mountain stream that originates from the Ferozepur Peak. It lies at a distance of about 5 km from Gulmarg and is a popular spot for trout fishing and angling. The place is great to spend a sunny afternoon in, as it is surrounded by beautiful snow-capped mountains and a forest of pine trees.

The stream also acts as a water source for rural dwellers and many believe that it has been blessed by the spirits of the mountains. It flows down to join the Bahan river at Waters Meet, which is another popular tourist attraction. Ferozepur Nallah lies close to Tosamaidan, which can be reached through a trek of 50 km that takes three days to complete.

Tangmarg is a famous stopover on the way to Gulmarg. Lying about 13 km from the town of Gulmarg and 39 km from Srinagar, it sits on a lower slope of the Pir Panjal range. Visitors can also traverse a 5 km trek to reach Gulmarg from here. Some of the prominent features of the place include rolling hills, dense forests, snow-capped peaks and crystal-clear springs. The road to Gulmarg from Tangmarg is a blanket of snow in winters and thus adequate precautions must be taken while travelling. The popular tourist attractions of Zandpal, Drung, Gogaldara, Ningle Nallah, Babarashi and Baderkoot come under the Tangmarg region. The region is also famous for its local handicrafts and artworks and visitors can indulge in some shopping during their stay.

Attracting wildlife enthusiasts and adventure lovers, the Gulmarg Biosphere Reserve houses a wide collection of flora, fauna and birds, including some rare species. Located at a distance of 48 km from Srinagar (Gulmarg town is around 50 km from Srinagar), it covers an area of about 180 sq km. The reserve lies at an altitude varying between 2,400 and 4,300 m above sea level. While the main attraction is musk deer, you can also spot hangul, serow, brown bear, leopard, red fox and black bear in the reserve's dense forests. Conifers dominate the forest, accounting for 90 per cent of the vegetation.

As for the avifauna, you will come across a large number of pheasants and upland birds. Besides, there are griffon, vulture, monal, snow cock, koklas, blue rock pigeon, Kashmir roller, European hoopoe and jungle crow, among others. The reserve is considered to be a paradise for ornithologists and is open between 10 am and 4 pm every day. Adventure lovers can choose to stay at the camp located next to the reserve. If you wish to spot mammals, September to March is the best time to visit the Gulmarg Biosphere Reserve. But in case you are going for birdwatching, the right time is in the months of March, April and May. This is also the time when flowers bloom dotting the landscape with varied colours.

A spot of brilliant blue surrounded by snow-crowned mountains, green meadows and pretty wildflowers is how the mesmeric Alpather Lake looks from the sky. It looks even more surreal during the months of November to mid-June when the lake freezes over and ducks can be seen walking on it rather than swimming. Thus, the lake has also come to be known as the Frozen Lake. Situated at the foot of the twin 4,511-m-tall Apharwat Peaks, the serene Alpather Lake is a one-day trek from Gulmarg (at a distance of around 13 km).

Lying at a height of 4,390 m, it is surrounded by beautiful views of the entire valley. You can take a gondola ride and then cover the short hike of 1.5 km from the Gondola Phase II of Mount Apharwat to Alpather Lake. There are several guides available here to help you reach your destination. For the journey from Gulmarg to Alpather Lake, you can alsp take a pony ride. During summer, the lake is surrounded with beautiful flowering trees and attracts hundreds of photographers, poets or those in search of peace and solitude. It is a great place to enjoy a picnic with friends. Ice skating is a common activity when the waters of the lake are frozen.