Skiing the Himalayas

Buying tickets for the Gulmarg Gondola, which rises to altitude of 3,979m, making it the highest ski lift in the world (two Chinese lifts do go higher, but just take up sightseers who return on the lift, rather than offering skiers access to runs) Photograph: Jon Wyatt/jonwyatt.co.uk Photograph: Jon Wyatt/guardian.co.uk From the top station of the gondola, skiers walk to the summit of Mount Apharwat, at 4,124m, from where there are off-piste runs in all directions and views down through the mist to the Vale of Kashmir Photograph: Jon Wyatt/jonwyatt.co.uk Photograph: Jon Wyatt/guardian.co.uk From the summit you can descend through forests all the way down to the valley village of Drang at around 2,200m Photograph: Jon Wyatt/jonwyatt.co.uk Photograph: Jon Wyatt/guardian.co.uk Hitching a lift with the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, after a backcountry run that ended on a remote army road close to the Pakistan border Photograph: Jon Wyatt/jonwyatt.co.uk Photograph: Jon Wyatt/guardian.co.uk A sign at the Gondola base station Photograph: Jon Wyatt/jonwyatt.co.uk Photograph: Jon Wyatt/guardian.co.uk The Highlands Park Hotel, with Mount Apharwat in the background, where skiers, walkers and golfers have been coming since 1966 Photograph: Jon Wyatt/jonwyatt.co.uk Photograph: Jon Wyatt/guardian.co.uk Set up by a retired military officer, the staff at the Highlands Park wear uniforms adapted from the old officer’s “batman”. Photograph: Jon Wyatt/jonwyatt.co.uk Photograph: Jon Wyatt/guardian.co.uk Repairs are carried out at the Kashmir Alpine Ski Shop, an Aladdin’s Cave of ski gear Photograph: Jon Waytt/jonwyatt.co.uk Photograph: Jon Waytt/guardian.co.uk Gulmarg is popular with Indian tourists as well as western skiers witha a sense of adventure Photograph: Jon Wyatt/jonwyatt.co.uk Photograph: Jon Wyatt/guardian.co.uk As well as the gondola, Gulmarg has three beginners drag lifts in the village. Interest in skiing among Indian tourists is growing rapidly Photograph: Jon Wyatt/jonwyatt.co.uk Photograph: Jon Wyatt/guardian.co.uk Climbing a ridge towards one of Apharwat’s subsiduary peaks Photograph: Jon Wyatt/jonwyatt.co.uk Photograph: Jon Wyatt/guardian.co.uk Snow-covered fallen trees create a natural fun park Photograph: Jon Wyatt/jonwyatt.co.uk Photograph: Jon Wyatt/guardian.co.uk Tom Robbins skis down in front of Sunrise Peak Photograph: Jon Wyatt/jonwyatt.co.uk Photograph: Jon Wyatt/guardian.co.uk Sunrise Peak has no lifts at all but a New Zealand firm is planning to start a heliski operation on it next year Photograph: Jon Wyatt/jonwyatt.co.uk Photograph: Jon Wyatt/guardian.co.uk Ending the trip with a night staying in a houseboat on Dal Lake in Srinagar, before flying back to Delhi the next morning Photograph: Jon Wyatt/johnwyatt.co.uk Photograph: Jon Wyatt/guardian.co.uk