| Doodhpathri | |
| Settlement Type: | Hill Station |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Type1: | Region |
| Subdivision Name1: | Jammu and Kashmir |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Subdivision Name2: | Budgam |
| Subdivision Type3: | Tehsil |
| Registration Plate: | JK04 |
| Demographics Type1: | Languages |
| Demographics1 Title1: | Official |
| Demographics1 Info1: | Kashmiri, Urdu, Hindi, Dogri, English[1] [2] |
| Demographics Type2: | Languages |
| Demographics2 Title1: | Local |
| Demographics2 Info1: | Kashmiri, Gujari, Pahadi |
| Postal Code Type: | Pin Code |
| Postal Code: | 191111 |
| Utc Offset1: | +5:30 |
| Timezone1: | IST |
| Elevation M: | 2730 |
| Official Name: | DoodhPathri Development Authority |
| Nickname: | Valley Of Milk |
| Named For: | White Appearance Of Water |
| Native Name Lang: | ks |
| Governing Body: | Doodhpathri Development Authority |
| Motto: | We Serve, We Invite You To Visit Us |
| Pushpin Map: | India Jammu and Kashmir#India |
| Pushpin Label Position: | right |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Jammu & Kashmir, India |
| Coordinates: | 33.85°N 74.56°W |
Doodhpathri (; in Urdu pronounced as /d̪uːd̪ʱ pət̪ʰɾiː/; in Kashmiri pronounced as /dɔdɨ patʰɨr/) is a tourist destination and a hill station located in the Khansahib tehsil of the Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, India.[3] [4] Situated at an altitude of 2730m (8,960feet) from sea level, it is located at a distance of from Jammu and Kashmir's summer capital, Srinagar, and from district headquarters, Budgam.
The name "Doodhpathri" means "Valley of Milk." It is said that the famous poet and saint of Kashmir, "Sheikh-Ul-Aalam" Sheikh- Noor-Ud-Din Noorani, has prayed here, and once, when he was in search of water in the meadows to offer prayers, he pricked the ground with his stick to search for water, and milk came out. He told the milk that it could only be used for drinking and not for ablution. Hearing this, milk at once changed its state to water, and the meadow got its name "Doodhpathri".[5] The water that is currently flowing through the meadows has a milky appearance from a distance and remains very cold throughout the year. The lush green grasses over the vast meadows and silver-shining streams running over the large stones further increase its beauty. Doodhpathri is a sloping grassy landscape with a diversity of multicolored flowers up to Chang. The famous Tosamaidan lies to the west of Doodhpathri.[6]
Doodhpathri lies in a bowl shaped valley in the Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas, at an altitude of 2730m (8,960feet) above sea level. It is an alpine valley covered with snow-clad mountains and meadows of pine, fir and deodar. The natural meadows, which are covered with snow in winter, allow the growth of wild flowers such as daisies, forget-me-nots, and buttercups during spring and summer.
Doodhpathri does not have any permanent settlements, and during the winter months it is inaccessible due to the severe snowfall. Shepherds from the plains of the district Budgam send their cattle to Doodhpathri in the summer for grazing, and they tend to stay there seasonally for approximately six months.
Doodhpathri is easily accessible from Srinagar, in under 2–3 hours from car or bus. The routes of Doodhpathri are from Srinagar to Budgam, Budgam to Ichgam, Ichgam to Khansahib, and Khansahib to Doodhpathri via Raiyar. The total distance is about .[7] [8] [9]
Doodhpathri is easily accessible from Srinagar in under 2 hours by car or taxi. The routes to Doodhpathri are from Srinagar to Budgam, Budgam to Khansahib, and Khansahib to Doodhpathri via Raiyar, a total distance of about . Another route is from Srinagar to Gulmarg Road; the route starts from Srinagar to Magam, Magam to Beerwah, and Beerwah to Doodhpathri via Zaingam and Arizal, a total distance of about .
The nearest airport is the Sheikh ul-Alam International Airport (Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir). Doodhpathri is at a distance of from this airport and it takes about 1 hour by car.
Main attraction of Doodhpathri is Tangnar, Mujpather, Dophkhal, Sochilpather, Palmaidan and Parihas.