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FAMOUS GOLF COURSES
ROYAL SPRINGS GOLF COURSE
The Royal Springs Golf Course at Srinagar is one of the most scenic spots in Kashmir, the enchanting valley .The Royal Spring Golf course (RSGC), sprawled over an area of 300 acres, near the Mughal garden, CheshmaShahi, at the foothills of Zabarvan hills and overlooks the mesmerizing Dal Lake .The Royal Springs Golf Course, commissioned in 2001 is designed by the American golfer Robert Trent Jones Jr. It is regarded as one of the most picturesque golf course in Asia and has quality amenities like motorized golf carts etc. and is considered as No.1 golf course of India by Golf Digest. The 18 holes, 6445 m. course at a par of 72 makes the job of a golfer, very challenging. The Royal Spring Golf is open to general public.
GULMARG GOLF COURSE
The course at Gulmarg is like nothing you’ve ever seen or imagined before. Situated at an altitude of 2,650 m, it is the highest green golf course anywhere in the world. The layout of the course too is strikingly different from most golf courses– the land slopes and inclines along the complete area of the course, which has a par of 72, 18 holes and measures 7505 yards. The origin of Gulmarg as the Golfing Mecca of India goes back to the late 19th century when a 6-hole course was made in 1890-91 by Colonel Neville Chamberlain – the greens were known as browns in those day. The first Golf championship was played at Gulmarg in 1922. The Nedou’s Cup was introduced in 1929. In 1930, ‘The World’ beat Scotland. The same year saw the D.P. Vasu Championship for Women and the Children’s Golf Competition.
PAHALGAM GOLF COURSE
Pahalgam Golf Course is a hill station course built by Ranjit Nanda. Set in the pretty town of Pahalgam & surrounded by soaring, fir-covered mountains with bare, snow-capped peaks rising behind them the course is set in a large bowl shaped expanse. At an altitude of 7250 plus feet your ball will travel a good 8 % further but that does not make this course any less challenging. The course has significant elevation changes & you need to be fit to walk & play all 18 holes
LEH GOLF COURSE
The Fire & Fury course is located in Leh very close to the airport & at a incredible height of 11500 feet making it the 2nd highest golf course in the world. This is a army course with preferred lies & has browns instead of greens. Closed during winters because of snow it is playable from May to Sept. Playing at this altitude is not easy as you need a day or two to get acclimatized lest you end up with high altitude sickness. The greens are browns – made out a mixture of sand & oil. Once you putt the caddies need to smoothen the browns out as the ball lines are left behind. The fairways have no grass but have gravel and sand mix as the terrain is that of a desert. Off the fairway shots are taken using a mat. It will take you some time getting used to this though & is the modus operandi on all desert courses across the world.
OTHER SPORTS THAT YOU CAN ENJOY
ICE HOCKEY IN LADAKH
MOUNTAIN BIKING
The topography of Jammu and Kashmir is perfectly suited for mountain biking. Pedalling your way through the mountains of Kashmir Valley dotted with rich pine and deodar trees, is absolutely exhilarating and delivers the ultimate thrill. What also makes mountain biking in Jammu and Kashmir so exciting is the gorgeous landscape of this region, as it is dotted with water streams, paddy fields, meadows, village markets and woods.
ICE SKATING
Ice skating has a totally different meaning in Kashmir. There are no fixed locations or grounds but almost unending frozen rivers that delight every ice skater. Frozen rivers and rivulets in winter present immense scopes for adventure tourism in Kashmir, of which ice skating is one of its kind. Winters in Kashmir valley are thrilling as the minimum temperature drop below freezing point. During winters, lakes of the valley transform into the sheer sheet of ice. Outdoor skating rinks are set up in frozen lakes and valleys of Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Leh and Kargil in Kashmir where the skating lovers can assemble to either participate in the regional and national level competition or simply enjoy some fun times.
CAMEL SAFARI IN LADAKH
There are several activities which you can try during your holidays in Ladakh which are fun & entertaining. One of them is Camel Safari, which is fun, entertaining & adventurous. While most domestic tourists think that bike tours in Ladakh is the best way of exploring its landscape, wait till you have experienced a camel safari. Foreign tourists, too, think about the Thar Desert in Rajasthan when they think about camel rides in India, but Ladakh has its own share of them.
In fact, camels have been one of the major modes of transportation in Ladakh for centuries, and were used for transportation in the 17th, 18th & 19th centuries in the historic Silk Route. Today, they thrill tourists with their peculiar features and the excitement they provide.
PARAGLIDING
Paragliding is an adventure sport that involves flying through the air with the help of a parachute-like canopy, which is attached to a harness worn by the pilot. It’s a relatively new sport in Kashmir, but it’s quickly gaining popularity among both locals and tourists. The stunning mountain ranges and beautiful valleys of Kashmir provide a perfect backdrop for an unforgettable paragliding experience.
Participants can enjoy paragliding without any prior training as they will be accompanied by a trained co-pilot throughout the experience. Here you will get the experience of best paragliding in Kashmir. Paragliding Kashmir offers a truly remarkable and unforgettable experience so come and enjoy this experience. It’s an opportunity not to be missed out.
RIVER RAFTING
River rafting in Kashmir is one of the top adventure activities that adventure lovers from across the world visit this destination. The valley of Kashmir is crossed through many rivers like Lidder and Sindh on the stretches of which the adventure of river rafting can be greatly enjoyed. Some of the top tourist destinations in Kashmir like Pahalgam and Sonmarg offer an ideal place for river rafting on Grade I to III rapids. There are few stretches on both Lidder and Sindh rivers with Grade IV rapids for adventure enthusiasts.
