Yusmarg Explained

Yousmarg
Other Name:The Meadow of Jesus[1]
Settlement Type:Hill station
Pushpin Map:India Jammu and Kashmir#India
Pushpin Label Position:right
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Jammu & Kashmir, India
Coordinates:33.83°N 75.3°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: India
Subdivision Type1:Union territory
Subdivision Name1:Jammu and Kashmir
Subdivision Type2:District
Subdivision Name2:Budgam
Unit Pref:Metric
Elevation M:2396
Population Density Km2:auto
Demographics Type1:Languages
Demographics1 Title1:Official
Demographics1 Info1:Kashmiri, Urdu, Hindi, Dogri, English[2] [3]
Timezone1:IST
Utc Offset1:+5:30
Postal Code:191112
Registration Plate:JK04

Yusmarg or Yousmarg (; in Urdu pronounced as /juːsməɾɡ/ ; in Kashmiri pronounced as /juːsmarɨɡ/) is a hill station in the western part of the Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is situated south of Srinagar, the summer capital of the state.[4] Yousmarg provides space for beautiful landscapes, young pine nurseries, green pastures and heart touching lotic and lentic water bodies. Nilnag, Doodhganga and a nascently created artificial dam adds more to the beauty of the meadows. Nature has bestowed Yusmarg with pleasant flora and fauna. Yusmarg is often referred to as a trekkers paradise.Yusmarg has some modest stay options but some new homestays have come up around the area.Tribe homestay and cafè located at the nearest village Nagbal is gaining popularity especially among the youth. The place is rustic, wooden and reflects the Kashmiri architectural heritage. Among fauna, locals claim that they often sight wolves, bears, apes, cats, aves of various types (flight as well as flightless). Among aquatic fauna, schizothoraxic is abundant one in catch.

Geography

Yusmarg in Kashmiri translates to The Meadow of Jesus.[5] Although there is no historical or archeological record, it is said to have been visited by Jesus.[6] [7] It is an alpine valley covered with snow clad mountains and the meadows of Pine and Fir. It lies 18km (11miles) south of Charari Sharief, a town in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir. It is situated at the bank of Doodganga River which is a tributary of Jehlum River. It is located in the Pir Panjal peaks, a sub range of Himalaya. The Peaks are: the Sunset Peak and the Tatakooti Peak for which the expeditions lead from this hill station. It lies at an altitude of 2396m (7,861feet) above sea level.[8]

Tourism

A trek of 4km (02miles) leads to a small lake called Nilnag, famous for its blue water.[9] 10km (10miles) trek leads to the frozen lake in Sang-e-Safed valley, which is mostly covered by ice even during the summer. Other tourist activities include horse riding, fishing, skiing during winter and photography.[10] In February 2023, Department of Youth Services & Sports J&K organized Skii training for the first time in Yousmarg.[11]

Access

Yusmarg is easily accessed from Srinagar or Srinagar Airport (SXR),[12] the capital of Jammu and Kashmir, 47km (29miles). The drive in under 2 hours by car or bus leads through Charari Sharief town.[13]

COVID-19

During COVID-19, teachers of High school Kandajan in Yusmarg area started open-air community classes in order to make up for the losses due to the pandemic.[14]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Yusmarg. 2022-12-13.
  2. Web site: The Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Act, 2020 . The Gazette of India. 27 September 2020 . 27 September 2020.
  3. News: Parliament passes JK Official Languages Bill, 2020 . Rising Kashmir . 23 September 2020. 23 September 2020.
  4. Web site: Yusmarg District Budgam, Government of Jammu & Kashmir India . 2022-12-13 . en-US.
  5. Book: Parvéz Dewân . Parvéz Dewân's Jammû, Kashmîr, and Ladâkh: Kashmîr . 30 June 2012 . 2004 . Manas Publications, 2004 . 9788170491798 . 195–.
  6. News: Rongmei . Precious. Does Kashmir's Yusmarg have a connection with Jesus Christ? . The Times of India . 2023-07-29 . 0971-8257.
  7. Book: B.K. Chaturvedi . Tourist Centers Of India . 21 June 2012 . 1983 . Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd. . 9788171821372 . 81–.
  8. Book: M.S. Kohli . The Himalayas: Play Ground of the Gods Trekking, Climbing, Adventure . 21 June 2012 . 1983 . Indus Publishing, 1983 . 9788173871078 . 40–.
  9. Web site: Nilnag. jktourism.jk.gov.in. 2021-03-31.
  10. Web site: Yusmarg a hill station . yda.co.in . 2012-06-21 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111029094032/http://www.yda.co.in/yousmarg.html . 29 October 2011 .
  11. Web site: Snow ski training gets underway at Yousmarg . 2023-07-29 . risingkashmir.com.
  12. Web site: Reaching Yusmarg. nativeplanet.com. 2012-07-01.
  13. Web site: How to reach Yusmarg. kashmirtourism.com. 2012-07-01.
  14. Web site: J-K: Open-air community classes in Yusmarg to compensate academic loss amid lockdown. https://web.archive.org/web/20210801174817/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/j-k-open-air-community-classes-in-yusmarg-to-compensate-academic-loss-amid-lockdown/videoshow/77924309.cms. dead. 1 August 2021. economictimes.com. 2021-03-31.