High Altitude Warfare School of the Indian Army is located at

The High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS) of the Indian Army is located in Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir [t1][t4]. Established in 1948 as a ski school, it was later renamed the Winter Warfare School and eventually became HAWS in 1962 [t4]. The institution is a premier training center specializing in snow-craft and mountain warfare, operating at an altitude of approximately 9,000 feet [t1][t9]. While its primary base is in Gulmarg for winter warfare courses, it also utilizes other locations like Sonamarg for mountain warfare training and the Machoi Glacier near Zojila for advanced high-altitude drills [t2][t4]. HAWS plays a critical role in preparing the 'White Devils'—elite soldiers trained to survive and fight in extreme conditions like the Siachen Glacier [t4][t9]. Its expertise was instrumental during major conflicts, including the 1999 Kargil War [t4].