Afroz Ahmad, a tourist from Delhi, is among those visiting the resort in north Kashmir who have alleged that the ponywalahs mislead and often fleece them.
"We had come here for a Gondola (Cable Car) ride but as soon as we arrived, the ponywalahs told us that it is down for maintenance for three days," Ahmad, a tourist from Delhi who is visiting with his family, said.
However, he, claims to have found out later that that he had been cheated by the ponywalahs as the cable car was functional. By then he had accepted their offer to visit Batapathri, a newly opened destination eight kilometers from Gulmarg, by pony.
Chief Executive Officer of Gulmarg Development Authority Mehmood Shah said there were numerous complaints against the ponywalahs on this account and the authorities were working to redress these problems.
"The tourists can approach the Tourist Information Office located at the entry of Gulmarg. They should check the license of the ponywalah before hiring their services so that erring persons can be identified later on," he said.
The government is also starting an incentive scheme for the ponywalahs so that they can opt for all terrain vehicles (ATV) along the Gulmarg-Batapathri route, he added.