Gulmarg Gondola resumes operations after month-long closure
Synopsis
After a technical failure on 25 May stranded over 300 tourists mid-air and triggered an Army-SDRF rescue, the Gulmarg Gondola — the world's second-longest and second-highest cable car — has been cleared to reopen on 25 June. The month-long closure hit local livelihoods hard, and the peak summer season makes the timing of the restart critical for Gulmarg's tourism economy.
Key Takeaways
The Gulmarg Gondola resumes passenger operations on 25 June after a closure of nearly one month .
The suspension began on 25 May when a technical snag left over 300 tourists stranded in hanging cabins.
A joint rescue operation by the Cable Car Corporation , J&K Police , SDRF , and the Army safely evacuated all passengers.
Successful trial runs over two days preceded the clearance for full passenger service.
The closure impacted guides, pony operators, hotel owners, and tour operators in Gulmarg 's tourism economy.
The Gondola is a joint venture of the J&K government and French firm Pomagalski , ferrying around 600 people per hour up to 4,260 metres .
The Gulmarg Gondola, widely recognised as the second-longest and second-highest cable car project in the world, is set to resume passenger operations on Thursday, 25 June in Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir's premier ski resort — nearly a month after a technical malfunction left hundreds of tourists stranded mid-air. The resumption follows successful trial runs conducted over the past two days, after which the system was cleared for full passenger service.
What Triggered the Closure
The Gondola service was suspended on 25 May after a technical snag left over 300 tourists stranded in hanging cabins. The incident triggered a large-scale rescue operation involving the Cable Car Corporation, Jammu and Kashmir Police, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and the Army. All passengers were safely evacuated in the joint effort. Technical teams subsequently worked for weeks to identify, repair, and verify the fault before conducting safety checks.
Impact on Gulmarg's Tourism Economy
The nearly month-long suspension dealt a significant blow to Gulmarg's tourism-dependent local economy. Guides, photographers, pony operators, tour operators, and hotel owners all reported losses during the closure. Tourism stakeholders have welcomed the reopening, expressing hope that resuming services will revive visitor footfall and restore livelihoods ahead of the peak summer season. This comes amid broader efforts to position Jammu and Kashmir as a top-tier travel destination.
About the Gulmarg Gondola
The Gulmarg Gondola is a two-stage ropeway that ferries approximately 600 people per hour to and from Kongdoori Mountain, a shoulder of Afarwat Peak at an altitude of 4,260 metres. The first stage connects the Gulmarg resort at 2,650 metres to Kongdoori Station in the bowl-shaped Kongdoori Valley. The second stage — featuring 36 cabins and 18 towers — takes skiers up to 3,980 metres near Afarwat Peak.
The project is a joint venture of the Jammu and Kashmir government and French firm Pomagalski. The first phase, connecting Gulmarg to Kongdoori, was built by Pomagalski in 1998. The second phase was completed in a record approximately two years for ₹18 crore and opened on 28 May 2005. Comparable installations globally include the Mi Teleférico in Bolivia and the cable car at Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
What Comes Next
With the system cleared and trial runs successful, authorities are expected to monitor operations closely in the initial days of resumption. The reopening is particularly significant given that summer is the high-traffic window for Gulmarg tourism, and any further disruption could compound the economic losses already incurred during the closure.
Point of View
And its downtime rippled through every layer of the local livelihood chain. What is missing from the official narrative is a clear public account of what caused the snag, what was repaired, and what safeguards now prevent a recurrence. Tourists returning to the cabins deserve that transparency, not just a clearance certificate.
NationPress
25 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the Gulmarg Gondola closed?
The Gulmarg Gondola was suspended on 25 May after a technical malfunction left over 300 tourists stranded in hanging cabins. A joint rescue operation involving the Army, SDRF, J&K Police, and the Cable Car Corporation safely evacuated all passengers before technical teams began repairs.
When will the Gulmarg Gondola reopen?
The Gulmarg Gondola is set to reopen on Thursday, 25 June, after successful trial runs over the preceding two days cleared the system for passenger operations.
Is the Gulmarg Gondola safe to ride now?
According to officials, technical teams repaired the fault and conducted comprehensive safety checks over several weeks. Trial runs conducted in the days before reopening were reported as successful, and the system has been officially cleared for passenger service.
What makes the Gulmarg Gondola significant?
The Gulmarg Gondola is recognised as the second-longest and second-highest cable car project in the world, ferrying around 600 people per hour to altitudes of up to 4,260 metres near Afarwat Peak in Jammu and Kashmir.
Who was affected by the Gondola closure?
The nearly month-long closure impacted Gulmarg's entire tourism-dependent economy, including local guides, photographers, pony operators, tour operators, and hotel owners, all of whom rely heavily on the peak summer tourist season.
