Yusmarg, Jammu and Kashmir, India, Srinagar

Yousmarg (a meadow), mesmerizes tourists with its scenic beauty and mountains comparable to European Alps. Situated amidst Sang Safed valley, Yousmarg is reputed for having some unique spring flowers. It also has some of the highest peaks in PirPanjal range like Tatakoti 4725 mtrs and Sunset Peak 4746 mtrs. The mighty river Doodh Ganga makes this destination more thrilling. The natural slopes of Yousmarg offer skiing opportunities to experts. Last few years of large inflow of tourists into Kashmir valley has seen the diversification of tourism to this wonderful destination. 

 

 

This is Yusmarg- close enough to Srinagar for a picnic, idyllic enough to make you want to stay for a few days. Here are walks of every sort - a leisurely amble along flower-strewn meadows or away to where a mighty river froths and crashes its way over rocks, its mild white foam earning it the name of Doodh Ganga. Further away, a captivating lake, Nilnag, is cradled by hills.

 

Another venue for the walkers is a river, known by the name of Doodh Ganga. Frothing and crashing on its way over the rocks, the river makes a little milky white foam, which gives it this name (doodh meaning milk in urdu). A little ahead, is a lake, Nilnag, enfolded within hills. The hills comprise a number of peaks, namely Tatta Kutti, Sang Safed, etc. At a distance of about 13 km from Yusmarg is the Charar-e-Sharief, the shrine of the saint Sheikh Noor-ud-din or Nund Reshi.Yusmarg mesmerizes tourists with its scenic meadows, a sparkling water reservoir and mountains comparable to European Alps. The potent River Doodh Ganga rises from several high-altitude peaks and a distributory of the same flows into the reservoir. Tord 'Yus' is said to be a short form of Youza or Jesus and a marg means a meadow, it is believed that Jesus passed through this valley while travelling into Kashmir. 

 

Sang-e-Safed or ‘White Rocks’ is located at a distance of 10 km from the Yusmarg Valley in Budgam District of Jammu and  Kashmir. Sang-e-Safed is an oval-shaped meadow bisected by a Doodh Ganga stream. The site is visited for its various meadows which are also beautiful picnic spots.

 

Tosa Maidan is not only famous as a pasture but also for its historical background. Bounded by dense forests, it is situated about 10 kms from Khag in the mountains of the Himalayan range. After crossing the upper mountain reaches of Drang, Zakhora and other small villages, one reaches the pasture of Tosa Maidan. It is said that Tosa Maidan is one of those pastures which the shepherds of other neighbouring countries also used to visit in ancient times. The Mughals used to go to Poonch using this route. It is said that they had constructed a seven-storeyed building – Dam-Dam - here.