Doodhpathri is a tourist destination and hill station in the State of Jammu and Kashmir. It is located in Budgam district of Jammu & Kashmir. Situated at an altitude of 8,957 ft from sea level, and located at a distance of 42 km from state summer capital Srinagar and 22 km from district headquarter Budgam.
There was once a famous Kashmiri saint Sheikh Noor din Noorani who had come to this place to pray. He wanted to pray and was looking for water in the meadows. He used his stick to prick the ground in search of water. And instead of water, milk comes gushing out. Sheikh Noorani, however, did not want to use the milk to wash his hands and feet. He thought that the milk was to be used for drinking purposes only. So by divine provenance, the milk again changed back to water! And the meadows got its name “Doodhpathri”.
However, the name Doodhpathri perhaps came from the gushing river that flows in the valley. The fast flowing water when strikes against the stones, gives a milky appearance. This could have been the reason why this place is known as Doodhpathri. After all, the name literally translates into the “Valley of Milk”
Doodhpathri is a piece of heaven on earth. This bowl-shaped valley in Kashmir is located at an altitude of 8957 feet. Very few people visit this place. Most of the tourists visiting Kashmir usually travel to Gulmarg and Sonmarg on their first visit. Not many tourists visit here. Majority of the people visiting there are mostly Kashmiri locals going there for picnics. The natural beauty of the place is absolutely mesmerizing. This is a place where time seems to have stopped! One can include this place in their itinerary if they want to explore a bit of offbeat Kashmir.
HOW TO REACH
By Train: The nearest railway station is ompora town of Budgam district (35km to Doodhpathri)
By Air: The nearest airport is the Sheikh ul-Alam Internatinal Airport. 40kms away from Doodhpathri
By Road: Doodhpathri is easily accessible from Srinagar in under one and half hour from car/taxi.
The meadows can also be reached by trekking from Yusmarg.
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