IISM Gulmarg — Everything You Need to Know

The Indian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering (IISM) in Gulmarg, Kashmir is India's premier destination for affordable skiing education. The institute delivers highly subsidised courses with facilities that belie its government-operation status.

Course overview

IISM offers skiing and snowboarding across multiple annual batches. Skiing takes ≈ 80 students per session across 6–8 batches with a 1:8–1:10 instructor-to-student ratio. Snowboarding is limited to 1–2 batches per season (20–40 seats).

The 14-day Basic Snow Skiing Course includes accommodation, meals, professional instruction, skis, boots, poles, and a windcheater. Bring your own ski pants, socks, goggles.

Pricing

2025–26 schedule

Gulmarg Skiing:

• Batch 1: Dec 20, 2025 – Jan 2, 2026
• Batch 2: Jan 3 – Jan 16
• Batch 3: Jan 17 – Jan 30
• Batch 4: Jan 31 – Feb 13
• Batch 5: Feb 14 – Feb 27
• Batch 6: Feb 28 – Mar 13

Gulmarg Snowboarding: Jan 31 – Feb 13, 2026 (20 seats)

Kargil Skiing: Batch 1 Feb 8–21 · Batch 2 Feb 22 – Mar 7, 2026

Facilities

Centrally heated dormitory rooms (3 bunk beds each), private bathrooms, mountain views, billiards, ping-pong, chess, carrom. Vegetarian and non-vegetarian dining.

Registration

Demand vastly exceeds capacity — slots fill within minutes. Gulmarg registration for 2025–26 opened Nov 14, 2025.

Access

• Airport: Srinagar
• Railway: Jammu

From Srinagar, taxi or public transit to Tangmarg, then 4×4 to Gulmarg.