DOODHPATHRI: The New favorite Tourist resort
By: Sahil Manzoor
Kashmir valley is famous for its luscious, endowed, charming beauty. There are amazing facts about Kashmir valley that led some to compare it with paradise and rightly so. The valley is rich in several nature bestowed vegetation, springs, waterfalls, clear crystal water streams which flow from the lap of eminent mountains of Pir Panjal range, beautifies and elucidates the real face of Kashmir. The people of the valley are so benevolent and known for their great hospitality.
One more fact is that the tourism sector is the backbone of Kashmir’s economy. There are thousands of people who are earning their livelihoods from this sector. Tourism therefore plays a vital role in generating employment for youngsters here. Tourism department also keeps on adding new destinations to the tourist map and therefore widen the scope of this sector for the tourists who come from different corners of the country and other parts of the world as well. While the department is redressing the grievances faced by the tourists on priority basis but there is still miles to go for better facilities.
Doodhpathri is one of the emerging tourist attractions in the Valley. The vast and majestic Doodhpathri is more known for the milk-like waters of Shaliganga River and magnificent meadows. Doodhpathri is just about 45 km from the summer capital Srinagar and about 36 km from the District headquarters, Budgam. Doodhpathri beautifies, district Budgam in various ways and generates livelihood for the locals of the adjoining villages.
The name was given to this renowned place by valleys towering Sufi saint ‘Nund Rishi’ (RA) and the place has been famous among the natives of District Budgam since centuries. Doodhpathri was earlier a prime destination for the shepherdess who still find it apt for large grazing area that it offers. There are other tourist places in the district including Charari Sharief (shrine of Sheikh Noor Ud din Wali (RA).), Tosamaidan- one of emerging tourist destinations in the district and rich in various attractive places.
On way to this magnificent valley one has to cross Sotchal (Sochal) Pathri which is a resting place for the visitors. The place is quite picturesque and explains the endowed beauty of nature. The Sukhnag river is located in the lap of Pir Panjal mountains of Parihas Doodhpathri and Sitaharan khag. Literally the river is commonly known as Sukh Nag- Sukh- means calm and Naag is spring. The Sukh Naag River beautifies and quenches the thirst of several villages alongside it. 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. It too will be brought under the tourism map at the some point in time. The River has great potential for the tourists and can generate revenue for the state by generating employment for the locals of the area. Sukhnaag River is just 40 minutes walk away from the tourist reception centre (TRC) Raiyar-ich- yet another picturesque hamlet and resting place for the tourists
District administration Budgam alongwith the tourism department have been making many efforts to bring up the infrastructural development here at par with other main tourist destinations like Gulmarg and Pahalgam.
