THE BEUTIFUL DOODH PATHRI VALLEY OF KASHMIR

                                          

Doodh Pathri  Valley  , Kashmir

( Kabhi jaadaa e talab se jo fira huun dil shikasta ,

Teri aarzoo ne  hans kar vahin daal di hain baahein..)......... Majrooh Sultanpuri 

Doodh Pathri ( milky valley ) ,  a beautiful  new tourist destination falling   in Budgam district of the Kashmir valley is situated at an altitude of 2,730 metres from sea level . It  lies in a bowl-shaped valley in the Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas. It is an alpine valley covered with lush green meadows, and an adjoining river meandering through pine trees of the surrounding forests.

 The  place  is close to Khan Sahib village  and about 45 km from Srinagar city. Visited mostly  by the locals although one finds tourists also in sizeable numbers,  Doodh Pathri is easily accessible from Srinagar city. It takes  about one and half hour by  car or taxi to reach Doodh Pathri from Srinagar city .There are two routes for Doodh Pathri ;  (a) 45 km route Srinagar to Budgam, Budgam to Khan Sahib and Khan Sahib to Doodh Pathri via Raiyar , (b)  50 km route  Srinagar- Gulmarg road  via   Magam , Beerwah , Arizal , Raithan and Mujhpathri . Coming down from the Ashtaar glacier, the milky white  Shaliganga stream flows through the Doodh Pathri valley .

 Doodh Pathri -Ashtaar - Magrusar Lake (4200m)  trek  is  a wonderful discovery for trekkers .The trek follows the Shaliganga stream  all the way to it’s source in Ashtaar glacier,  with views of lush green carpet-like meadows and mountains. The Ashtaar glacier is the birthplace of two streams– Shaliganga and Doodhganga.Another stream passing through  this area is known as  Sukhnag. Originating from Pir  Panjal ,Sukhnag passes  through Beerwah ,Arizal before it joins Jhelum .

Yousmarg and Nilnag are a little ahead of Doodh Pathri. Both the places are full of lush green meadows,alpine forests  ,pastures and scenic beauty  These places can also be covered on the same day if one starts a little early  ( around 9 am )from Srinagar for Doodh Pathri. 

Doodh Pathri is one of those pristine places which, despite being so close to the tourist hot spot Srinagar , just falls off the tourist map.If you visit Doodh Pathri,never miss to have Kahwa tea or Sheer Chai ( salty tea) with  Makki ki Roti sold by many women through roadside kiosks . 

                                     

Doodh Pathri needs  overall  infrastructure development especially  rain shelters, wide roads ,  boarding and lodging facilities . The narrow road that goes to Doodh Pathri stream( known as Shaliganga)  gets often blocked for hours due to  traffic.We visited Doodh Pathri on 7th September 2023. It was a pleasure to see Sri Akshay Labroo ( IAS )  ,Deputy commissioner Budgam  inaugurating Reliance Network facility in Dood Pathri on the same day. He was accompanied by top officers of the district. I also came to know that Acharya Abhinavgupta's cave near  Beerwah in Budgam district  is also being brought on pilgrimage tourism network. 

( Avtar Mota )

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