SAHIL MANZOOR
If there is paradise on earth, it is here, it is here, it is here. The Kashmir Valley is famous throughout the world for its luscious, endowed, and charming beauty. There are amazing facts about Kashmir Valley: it looks like paradise on earth, rich in several types of nature-bestowed vegetation, springs, waterfalls, and clear crystal water rivers that flow from the lap of the eminent mountains of the Pir Panjal range, which beautifies and elucidates 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 lacs of people, it includes 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, develops, and promotes new recreational places for the native folk and the tourists who came from the different corners of the country and from around the globe, redressing the grievances faced by the tourists on a priority basis. This is quite impressive, but there are still miles to go for better and more secure accommodation facilities. Facilities should be available throughout the year to cater to the visitors, and there is a need to identify more attractive destinations in the future.
Doodhpathri is one of the emerging tourist spots in the valley. Doodhpathri comprises two words meaning Doodh, which literally means milk due to the clear crystal water of the Shaliganga River, and Pathri, which means meadows means the milky meadow tourist destination. Doodhpathri is just about 45 km from the summer capital of Srinagar and about 36 km from the district headquarters in 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 the Valleys, one of the shrines of the towering Sufi saint 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, but 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, Charari Sharief (the shrine of Sheikh Noor ud din Wali (RA)), and Tosamaidan, which is one of the emerging tourist destinations in the district and 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, Raithan, and 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, between Parihas Doodhpathri and Sitaharan Khag. Literally, the river is commonly known as “Sukh Nag,” which comprises two Kashmiri words like “Sukh,” which means calm, and “Naag,” which 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 opens its mouth into the river Jhelum. 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., which dam and beautify the lush green forest of the place. It will be brought under the umbrella of tourism, but at the same time, it needs the attention of the administration. The Sukhnag River has great potential for 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 fact that the river is just a 40-minute walk away from the tourist reception centre (TRC) in 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 its take-up under the tourism destination of the Kashmir valley. The district administration in Budgam has put many efforts into the upliftment of the district, which still lacks 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, 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 tourists who come from different corners of the world. Facts to know about the Raiyar-Ich Raiyar consists of two Kashmiri words, i.e., “RAI” means “lost” and “YAAR” 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). So when he reached 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: the local legend of the village.