Gulmarg will see real-life manifestation of Khelo Bharat Niti during KIWG 2026! 

•  Gulmarg is seeing a huge surge in interest from tourists wanting to savour the Khelo India Winter Games from February 23-26
• Khelo Bharat Niti (sports policy) seeks to boost tourism by staging international sports events recognised by the International Olympic Committee

Rakesh Thapliyal

Gulmarg (Jammu & Kashmir): The Khelo India Winter Games 2026 in Gulmarg will witness a real-life manifestation of the Khelo Bharat Niti (sports policy) that was launched by the Union sports ministry in July last year. The Gulmarg leg of KIWG will be held from February 23-26, with India’s top skiers, including Winter Olympians, participating.

Apart from enhancing infrastructure, talent identification and international competitiveness, the Khelo Bharat Niti is aimed at leveraging sports for economic development and boosting industries such as tourism, manufacturing and sports technology. If the surge in tourist interest during the third week of February is any indication, the Games have come as a big cheer to one of Jammu & Kashmir’s biggest breadwinners for the region’s economy – sports tourism.

Local businesses are preparing too for the Winter Games extravaganza. Abeed, a hotelier at Sheen Woods Tangmarg, says bookings surged weeks ago. “For us, this is more than just tourism. It is our identity. When the Games happen, Gulmarg feels like the heart of the country,” he says and points to a lobby filled with athletes from Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Kerala, Telangana, and J&K. “You hear different languages at breakfast,” he says. “It feels like a country in one room.”

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUx7qg9kiSC/?igsh=Z2l3aDAzbDZkNWQ5

The Khelo India Winter Games journey in Gulmarg so far tells its own story. In the first edition in March 2020, 1123 athletes competed in 13 disciplines. J&K led the medal count, showing their strength. In 2021, 1208 athletes took part, and J&K won 18 gold medals. By 2023, participation peaked at 1395 athletes, with J&K taking home 26 gold, 25 silver, and 25 bronze medals. Although the 2024 and 2025 editions had fewer disciplines and participants, the competition became more intense with Army, Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka producing great performances. Gulmarg did not lose energy; it increased it.

Now, as the sixth edition of KIWG approaches, the focus has shifted from trying new things to building a legacy. Following the April 22, 2025 terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir hosted only around 10.47 lakh domestic tourists in 2025 compared to around 26 lakh tourists in 2024, an official of the tourism department said. However, he said that the tourists’ arrivals picked up this year following the New Year rush and in the run up to Khelo India Winter Games 2026.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUsgRgiEhuU/?igsh=bnBram5vYThuZWFr

Though the official figures of the tourists visiting Kashmir would be released after the first quarter ending on March 31, an official of the tourism department said that the tourist arrivals to the Valley this year had already crossed the 2025 numbers. According to the tourism department, Gulmarg has 2300 beds in hotels and huts. An official said the hoteliers and guest house owners are getting advance bookings ahead of the Games with over 50 percent already booked during the event days. Gulmarg will see four medal events: Ski mountaineering, Alpine skiing, Nordic skiing (cross-country) and snowboarding.

There is so much happiness on the slopes of Kongdoori. Sledge pullers Altaf Hussain and Muhammad Rafiq carry equipment up slopes that would challenge most tourists. Their boots leave deep prints in the packed snow as they climb. “This is our season,” Hussain says, adjusting the ropes over his shoulders. “When the games start, Gulmarg comes alive.”

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUsfQPtEig_/?igsh=MWhyZ3FkNTd1eW4wYg==

Hussain and Rafiq charge between Rs 500 to Rs 1500 from every tourist depending upon the distance to be covered and time it takes. They say on a good day they make anything around between Rs 1500 to Rs 3000 compared to nothing when the tourist destination remains desolate.

Come February 23, Khelo India Winter Games 2026 will bring a huge hurrah not only to residents of Gulmarg but to athletes, fans and tourists who enjoy Himalayan beauty and the adventurism that brings along with it.

For more on KIWG 2026: please click www.Winter.kheloindia.gov.in

ABOUT KHELO INDIA WINTER GAMES

Under the Khelo India Scheme, the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MYAS) organizes National-level competitions, i.e., Khelo India Youth Games, Khelo India University Games, Khelo India Para Games and Khelo India Winter Games to provide a platform for talented athletes to showcase their sporting and competitive skills. Starting in 2020, five editions of Khelo India Winter Games have been successfully conducted. While the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir have hosted all editions of KIWG, UT Ladakh started hosting the ice sports from 2024. In January 2026, UT Ladakh hosted the ice Games for the third consecutive time. Gulmarg in J&K will be hosting the snow events in February 2026. Apart from tapping talent, Khelo India Winter Games also showcase a region’s art, culture, heritage, and promotes tourism through sports.