The Land of Mesmerizing Meadows and Adventurous Treks.

Yusmarg Travel Guide

Amidst the Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas, Yusmarg or the ‘Meadows of Jesus’ is believed to be the place where Jesus once lived. Sitting by the scintillating River Doodhganga overlooking the mighty Sunset and Tatakooti Peaks, Yusmarg offers itself as a perfect tourist destination for all those looking for relaxing and rejuvenating vacation amidst nature. The Ahmadiya Muslim Community believes, Jesus once walked on the lush meadows of Yusmarg, and thus the name. Yus stands for Jesus and marg means meadow. The locals go on to say, Jesus died at this very place, and his tomb is also situated here, but then it is a much-debated topic. Whatever may be the truth, the fact remains, Yusmarg is a picturesque place and makes an unparalleled travel destination for nature lovers in Kashmir. Yusmarg has a handful of attractions for sightseeing such as the 600 years old Muslim pilgrimage destination of Charar-e-Shareef, the alpine Nilnag Lake, the picturesque valley and meadow of Sang-e-Safed. There are two more scenic meadows, namely, Lidder Mad and Haigan, en route Sang-e-Safed that make for important attractions in Yusmarg. While trekking is one option to reach Nilnag, Sang-e-Safed and the two other meadows, a pony ride is another option to these major tourist places in Yusmarg. For the adventure enthusiasts, there are also Doodhpathri and Tosa Maidan treks, which are quite rewarding. We have for you the best Yusmarg travel guide that lets you plan your trip in the hassle-free way. Get all the necessary information on Yusmarg like where to go, what to see, what to do, how to reach, and when to visit, right here in this travel guide. We also chalk out the finest Yusmarg tour packages for your best holiday experience.

Best Tourist Attractions & Things to Do in Yusmarg

Yusmarg is a perfect getaway for nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts. There is no shortage of attractions in Yusmarg and they range from holy shrines to meadows to alpine lakes. The foaming river Dudhganga, the alpine lake, Nilnag Lake, the meadows of Tosa Maidan, Sang-e-Safed, and the sacred shrines of Charar-e-Sharief and Pakharpora are the popular places to visit & things to do in Yusmarg.

Trekking is one of the must-do activities in Yusmarg as this top attraction in Kashmir offers many trails leading to scenic meadows and high altitude lakes. River Dudhganga in Yusmarg is also reckoned to be amongst the best places to enjoy trout fishing in Kashmir.

The most important trek is from Chandanwari for the sacred Amarnath Cave and other important treks in Pahalgam are Sheshnag Lake, Marsar Lake and Tarsar Lake. Another must-do activity in Pahalgam is river rafting in Lidder River.

Pakherpora Shrine in Yusmarg

The holy mausoleum of Syed Balkhi, Pakherpora Shrine is quiet a popular Muslim pilgrimage in Yusmarg. The sacred place is also a heritage site built several centuries ago. The shrine is thronged by a large number of devotees during the annual urs (death anniversary) of the saint. Pakharpora displays a unique picture with rare trees on its premises that are not found anywhere else in Kashmir. Syed Balkhi came to Kashmir and accepted Sheikh Noor-ud-din as his peer-o-murshid (spiritual guide). It is believed, on the request of Syed Balkhi, Sheikh Noor-ud-din miraculously brought some of his relatives that were buried in Afghanistan along with the piece of the graveyard. Therefore, the shrine was names as Pakharpora, Pokher means ‘piece of land’.
Pakharpora displays a unique picture with rare trees on its premises that are not found anywhere else in Kashmir.
Charar-i-Sharief in Yusmarg

Charar-i-Sharief in Yusmarg

Built to commemorate Sheikh Noor-ud-din (Patron saint of Kashmiris), Charar-i-Sharief is the oldest sacred shrine in the state of Jammu & Kashmir. This 600 years old wooden shrine is not only popular with Muslim devotees but is also highly revered by Hindus. Charar-i-Sharief is popularly known as the Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Wali, after the famous Kashmiri saint who offered his Friday prayers in this mosque. His remains are also buried in this popular religious site near Yusmarg. During the annual Urs (death anniversary) of the saint people from all faiths swarm the shrine to seek the blessings.

Nilnag Lake in Yusmarg

A high-altitude lake, Nilnag nestled amidst dense pine forest is one of the top places to visit near Yusmarg. The blue water of this sparkling lake and the picturesque surroundings of towering pine trees and snow-capped mountains makes this place a must-visit. Nilnag offers a great opportunity of trekking to adventure lovers. The trek goes through a picturesque pine forest through which run many streams of water. It is a beautiful yet steep uphill trek to Nilnag Lake that does make for some incredible memories.
Nilnag Lake in Yusmarg
About Dudh Ganga River in Yusmarg, Kashmir

Dudh Ganga River

Flowing through the beautiful Yusmarg, Dudh Ganga is a gorgeous river known for its water that appears milky in colour. The river is rich in the population of trout fishes and thus, is considered one of the best angling & fishing destinations in Kashmir. Dudh Ganga also acts as a perfect base for many trekking expeditions. Trekkers set out for popular treks in Sang-e-Safed Valley, Tatakoti, Romesh Thong and Sunset Peak after camping at Dudh Ganga.

Sang-e-Safed

Sang-e-Safed is an oval-shaped meadow that divides the stream of Doodh Ganga. The site is situated at a distance of about 10 km from Yusmarg. On the route to Sang-e-Safed, tourists can visit several other meadows, such as Haigin and Liddermar. Haigin is an extremely picturesque meadow situated around 4 km from Yusmarg. Sang-e-Safed, meaning white rocks, is surrounded by large pine trees and makes for a popular picnic spot.
‘Sang-e-Safed’ translates to ‘White Stone,’ a name fittingly bestowed upon this paradise due to the glistening white stones. They dot its landscape like pearls on a celestial tapestry. The valley is embraced by a multitude of flora, with vibrant wildflowers painting the valley floor.

FAQ

Summer season, which starts in March and ends in June, are the best months to explore Yusmarg. During this time, the weather remains quite pleasant, flowers are in full bloom, and you can enjoy a variety of activities like horse riding, trekking, trout fishing and sightseeing.

There are two accommodation options in Yusmarg, JKTDC Tourist Bungalows and huts, for which bookings have to be made beforehand. Both of them offer basic facilities, and you can stay in them with your families. However, if you want to stay only in a hotel, you will have to book a hotel at Srinagar, where both luxury and budget hotels are available, besides a houseboat experience.

You can try out a lot of activities and enjoy sightseeing during your holidays in Yusmarg. Some of the top tourist attractions which you can explore are Pakherpora Shrine, Charar-e-Sharif, Nilang Lake, Doodhganga and Sang-e-Safed. Popular activities to enjoy in Yusmarg are trekking, horse riding and trout fishing.

 

Located in Bagdam district, Meadows of Jesus or Yusmarg is known for its long stretches of green pastures. An ideal tourist attraction that in its humblest of ways teaches to revere nature, Yusmarg is a proud part of the Valley of Kashmir. Embark on trails that lead to exotic places like Sang-e-Safed Valley and Nilnag.

Yusmarg is a beautiful meadow located about 47 km southwest of Srinagar and is also known for its scenic beauty. It is a great place to go for a picnic or hike, but it may not have as many attractions as Sonmarg.

The Doodh Ganga is a tributary of the Jhelum that flows from the upper reaches of Yusmarg called Chazken Naad and Lidermarg. The river originates from Pir Panjal glaciers near Tatakoti mountain peak.
Catch a bus from Lal Chowk in Srinagar for Budgam. On the Magam route, you need to get down at Budgam to take a shared taxi for Khan Sahib. On a different route, there are chances that your bus may pass through Khan Sahib on the way to Budgam, so keep your ears open. From Khan Sahib, take a cab to Doodhpathri.
The Dudhaganga (or Dudhganga, Doodhganga) is a right-bank tributary river of the Krishna in western India. It rises in kolhapur district of Maharashtra in the Western Ghats and flows eastward through the Kolhapur and Belgaum districts in Karnataka before joining the Krishna.
Doodhpathri is famous because a famous sufi saint prayed there. The doodhpathri name was given by the famous saint of Kashmir Sheikh ul Aalam Sheikh Noor din Noorani (locally known as Alamdar Kashmir).
Yes, it is absolutely safe to visit Doodhpathri . You can visit doodhpathri any time of the year.
Nilnag (literal translation “blue-water lake,” Kashmiri pronunciation: [nɪl nɑːɡ]) is a freshwater lake 5 km (3.1 mi) away from Yousmarg in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is around 47 km (29 mi) away from Srinagar, the summer capital of the union territory. The lake is famous for its turquoise water.

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