The Kashmir Valley is famous throughout the world for its luscious, endowed, charming beauty. There are amazing facts about the Kashmir Valley: it looks like paradise on earth, rich in several nature-bestowed vegetations, springs, waterfalls, and clear crystal water rivers that flow from the lap of the eminent mountains of the Pir Panjal range, beautifying and elucidating the real face of Kashmir. The people of the valley are so benevolent and known for their great hospitality (tourist views).
One more fact is that the tourism sector is the backbone of Kashmir’s economy. There are lakhs of people, including all age groups, who are earning their livelihoods from this sector. The tourism department plays a vital role in generating employment for the unemployed youth and at the same time discovers and develops new recreational places for the native folk and for the tourists who come from the different corners of the country and from the globe and redresses the grievances faced by the tourists on a priority basis. That is quite impressive, and there are still miles to go for better and secure accommodation. Facilities should cater throughout the year to the visitors, and there is a need for identification of more attractive destinations in the future.
Doodhpathri is one of the emerging tourist spots in the valley. Doodhpathri comprises two words: “Doodh,” which literally means milk, due to the clear crystal water of the Shaliganga River, and “Pathri,” which means meadows. It means the milky meadow tourist destination. Doodhpathri is just about 45 km from the summer capital, Srinagar, and about 36 km from the district headquarters, Budgam. Doodhpathri beautifies the district of Budgam in various ways and generates livelihood for the locals of the adjoining villages. The name was given to this renowned place by Valleys, one of the towering Sufi saints, Nund Rishi (RA), commonly known as Alamdar Kashmir among natives of Kashmir. Doodhpathri has been famous among the natives of District Budgam for centuries. Doodhpathri was earlier used for grazing purposes; still, there are mud houses called “Kotha” by the locals.
Doodhpathri is situated in central Kashmir’s district of Budgam. There are other tourist places in the district, such as Yousmarg and Charari Sharief (shrine of Sheikh Noor Ud din Wali (RA)). Tosamaidan is one of the emerging tourist destinations in the district and is rich in various attractive places. Ich-Gam, Kremshora, Khansahib, and Yarikhah are the villages that can be reached via Doodhpathri. There are some other routes as well, like via Magam, Beerwah, Arizal, Raiyar, and Raithan, Mujhpathri.
Places to visit
Sotchal (Sochal) Pathri
Sotchal (Sochal) Pathri, nearer to Doodhpathri, is a resting place for the visitors. The place is quite picturesque and explains the endowed beauty of nature.
Sukhnag
The Sukhnag River is located in the lap of the Pir Panjal Mountains of Parihas Doodhpathri and Sitaharan Khag. Literally the river is commonly known as Sukh Nag, which comprises two Kashmiri words: “Sukh” means calm, and “Naag” means spring. The Sukh Naag River beautifies and quenches the thirst of several villages alongside it; the villages are Arizal, Zanigam, and Beerwah, and finally it opens its mouth into the Jhelum River. Sukh Naag is one of the major tributaries of the river Jhelum.
The Sukhnaag River is famous throughout the district and has great influence among the native people. It originates from the upper mountain hills of the Tosamaidan. The origins are Dammam Sar, etc., dams and beautifies the lush green forest of the place. It will be brought under the map of tourism but at the same time needs the attention of the administration. The Sukhnag River has great potential for the tourists and generates revenue for the state, generating employment as well for the locals of the area. There are certain more facts about the Sukhnaag River, such as the river being just a 40-minute walk away from the tourist reception center (TRC) Raiyar-ich, Tangnar.
District Administration, Budgam, and the tourism department of the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The concerned department will find many other hidden facts about the beautiful place after it is taken up under the tourism destination of the Kashmir Valley. District administration in Budgam put many efforts into the upliftment of the district, as the district of Budgam is still lacking several basic facilities for the tourism sector. There are renowned tourist places in the district as well. Yous Marg, Doodhpathri, and still counting. Tosamaidan is a newly introduced tourist destination and has great potential for tourism and needs assistance from the central government. Dear readers, In Sha Allah, in the future I will bring more interesting information and facts about the destinations and try to let you know how beautiful the Sukh Naag river is.
Raiyar—Ich
Raiyar Ich is a picturesque hamlet and resting place for the tourists, who come from different corners of the world. Facts to know about the Raiyar–Ich. “Raiyar” comprises two Kashmiri words, i.e., “RAI,” which means “lost,” and “YAAR,” which means “friend” in the Kashmiri language. So the name had been given to this hamlet by the ”mystic Kashmiri Sufi saint, SHEIKH NOOR UD DIN WALI (RA). ” It’s so that when he reached in the said village from the forests of the Pir Panjal, he sent his friends to different parts of Kashmir to spread the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and he managed to start his journey alone towards Dreygam Cave. Source: Alocal legend of the village.
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Pastoral Peace
By: Sahil Manzoor Bhatti
