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Gulmarg : A meadow of secularity

I was visiting Gulmarg the second time, this one after a gap of a score and five years.

Gulmarg in recent years has caught the fancy of the elite skiers, predominantly from Europe who fancy powder skiing here and the pro's get their thrills with the Heli-Skiing options. Our local guide informs me that that regular international skiers say that Gulmarg slopes give the European Alps a run for their money. Not a skier yet, so I have no way to rate Gulmarg and I choose to bask in this shared glory.

Gulmarg, I am informed, is a non resident village. Primarily a tourist destination it is served by locals who live in the base town of Tangmarg. They travel to the hilltop daily to eke out their livelihood as tourist guides, horsemen and service oriented jobs in the few and increasing hotels of Gulmarg. It has the most breathtaking looking saucer shaped meadow which houses the world's highest green golf course.
Maharani Shiv ji Temple built 1915 served as the Dogra Royal Temple


In this small mountain village, there is a mosque, a temple, a church and a gurudwara - a wonderful example of India's secular credentials. And it doesn't stop here. During the insurgency , Tangmarg lost its share of Hindu pandits and Christians. And guess who looks after the temple now? A devout namazi muslim gentleman by the name of Ghulam Mohammed Shaikh. Not only does he do the puja in the temple he also distributes prasad to the visitors. We missed meeting Ghulam Shaikh as he had gone to the market. Bollywood aficionados would remember 'Jai Jai Shiv Shankar' a popular number of the 1974 hit movie Aap Ki Kasam  picturised on the then Phenomenon - Rajesh Khanna and Mumtaz. This song was picturised at this very temple. 

Locals informed me that the British built St. Mary's church too is looked after by some local Muslims. And the Gurudwara was least affected as a Sikh family that runs a dhaba in Gulmarg tends to the Gurudwara, situated right in the heart of this quaint tourist village.

I love my India.......
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