Situated at an altitude of 7,500 feet above sea level, Yusmarg is a hill station bounded by magnificent trees and surrounded by the towering Pir Panjal mountain range, a sub-range of the Himalayas. It lies in the western part of Kashmir Valley in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir and is situated 80 km south of Srinagar (the capital of the state).
Yusmarg or Yousmarg, in Kashmiri, means The Meadow of Jesus. It is believed by the natives that Jesus came to Kashmir and stayed at Yusmarg for some time. It is an alpine valley covered with snow-clad mountains and meadows of Pine and Fir. It is situated on the bank of the Doodganga River which is a tributary of the Jhelum River.
Yousmarg is reputed for having some unique spring flowers and it also serves as a base for trekking into the surrounding peaks, Sunset Peak (4746 m), Tatakooti peak (4725m), Romesh Thong peak (5000m). A trek of 4 km from Yousmarg leads to a small lake, Nilnag amidst pine trees. Another 10 km trek leads to the frozen lake in Sang-e-Safed valley, which mostly remains covered in ice, even during the summer.
Another trekking route from Yousmarg ends up at the three-mile-long and 1.5-mile-wide Tosa Maidan, a vast meadow that was formerly a firing range of the Army and is now being introduced to the region’s tourism circuit. The meadow resort has something for everyone: for walkers, a walk along the frothing and gushing stream, Doodhganga, is refreshing. For riders, 500 registered horses for rides across the vast meadows where the fragrance of wildflowers overwhelms the visitors. For star gazing, Bargah is a place to be. For campers, the entire meadow is a home.
Yousmarg is an apt place to visit all year round but the best months to visit are April to October. The nearest International Airport is Srinagar International Airport, about 92 km from Yousmarg. It is well-connected with the cities such as Delhi, Leh, Jammu, Mumbai, Indore, and Nagpur. The nearest Railway Station is Srinagar Railway Station which is connected to all the major cities of Jammu and Kashmir and 90 Km from Yousmarg.
Explore & Experience in Yusmarg–
- Nilnag lake
- Dudh Ganga
- Pakhapora shrine
- Tosa Maidan
- Sang e Safed valley
