Yousmarg, “the meadow of Jesus”… a trekker’s Paradise

Yousmarg in Kashmir is a beautiful hill station situated in the western section of Jammu and Kashmir. It is believed that this land was kissed by the holy feet of Lord Jesus Christ, hence the name “Yous” and “Marg” refers to path. At an altitude of 2,396 meters above sea level it is nestled in the Pir Panjal peaks of the Himalayas along the Doodhganga River which descends from the mighty snow peaks. Yousmarg is an alpine valley with snow clad mountains, endless meadows of pine trees, fir trees and colorful mountain flowers. It is a trekker’s paradise.
Yousmarg is 47 km from Srinagar, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir and lies in the district of Budgam. The easiest way to reach Yousmarg is by car from Srinagar which takes about 2 hours. By bus, one can go upto Charari Sharief in Budgam. During winter the road sometimes gets blocked due to snowfall and Yousmarg gets cut off from the rest of Kashmir. The best time to visit is the summer season when the maximum temperature reaches 30 degree Celsius and minimum goes down to 18 degree Celsius.
The two hour drive from Srinagar refreshes the soul with stunning sights of snow capped mountains, flower strewn grassy meadows and green forests of pine trees. It is an ideal picnic spot and is increasingly getting popular with visitors. However, it still retains its quiet and peace unlike “touristy” spots. It is a great place for people who enjoy treks or walks in picturesque landscapes, such as running along vast stretches of meadow full of flowers, or walking along the foaming and frothing Doodhganga River. There are wonderful and scenic treks to Lake Nilnag in the hills which is a 4 km stretch from Yousmarg. A 10 km trek, which takes the whole day can be done to reach the frozen lake, Sang-e-Safed. A major trekking route from Yousmarg leads to a famous spot called Tosa Maidan, a large meadow used for cattle grazing by nomads. This area is connected through rough routes to places like Gulmarg and Poonch. The region is full of spring waters and there is one at Khag which is most famous for curative properties. At a distance of about 13 km from Yusmarg in the Kashmir valley is the Charar-e-Sharief, the shrine of the saint Sheikh Noor-ud-din or Nund Reshi There are also several expeditions that can to done to the mountain peaks such as Sunset Peak and Tatakooti Peak.Besides trekking one can indulge in skiing, horse riding, fishing and photography.