Naveed Ul Haq
Budgam, Feb 19: Famous tourist spot Doodpathri in central Kashmir’s Budgam district is witnessing a significant surge in winter tourism, as visitors are keen to take delight in the destination’s snowy attractiveness.
As Doodpathri turns into a snow-covered winter wonderland, it delights visitors with a beautiful scene. The magnificent scenery becomes more serene by the Doodganga River, which also serves as a pleasant atmosphere for the influx of visitors.
“It’s great for local tourism that Doodpathri is seeing a spike in activity during the winter,” Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Doodhpathri Development Authority (DDA), Nargis Suraya told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO). “The fact that visitors are opting to stay overnight is an obvious sign that they wish to discover the charm this destination holds throughout the winter season,” she added.
Suraya said even though the tourist spot has been getting more active in recent years, there weren’t as many people spending the night here. However, hotels and restaurants in Doodpathri are available with network access, heating, and electricity facilities, she said, adding that people should come and prefer this quite peaceful destination for their night stays.
Although numbers are less yet, visitors are showing interest in night stays here even in the winter, which is a very good sign, she said.
The CEO further said the road towards Doodpathri was kept clear of snow and a variety of winter activities were provided, which is making adventure seekers’ lives quite enjoyable.
Tourists are loving the excitement of cold-weather activities, such as the adventurous ATV rides over snow-covered landscapes and the joy of skiing down slopes, she added.
Another popular activity is pony rides along snowy trails, which provide a more calm and scenic way to explore. These rides are being enjoyed by the visitors as they glide between the snow-capped mountains while creating priceless memories.
As per data available with KNO, the Doodpathri is fast becoming a winter tourist spot. January 2023 saw only 11,041 visitors, but in January 2024, the number increased to 22,570 tourists visiting the meadow.
The data shows that a total of 28,12,703 people visited the place in 2023.
“Doodpathri is like a heaven, especially in winter, The snowfall, Doodganga River, and the thrill of activities like skiing and ATV rides make it a must-visit destination. The night stay allows us to truly engage ourselves in the magic of this winter heaven,” said Kuldeep Yadav, a tourist from Utter Pradesh.
The surge in winter tourism is giving a much-needed boost to the local economy. Hotels, restaurants and tea stalls alongside the road in the area are experiencing increased footfall, providing a positive flow effect throughout the public—(KNO)
