Yusmarg (often written Yousmarg), meaning “Meadows of Jesus” in local tourist lore, is a tranquil bowl of lush pastures and forests in Budgam district, about 45–50 km from Srinagar. Surrounded by snow-clad peaks of the Pir Panjal range and dense conifer forests, it offers sweeping views, walking trails, pony rides and access to rivers like the Doodh Ganga. The meadows here feel expansive and gently undulating, with relatively fewer hotels and shops, so the overall experience is of a quiet, less commercialised alpine retreat. In clear weather, the scenery is often compared to European mountain landscapes, which is why tourism boards highlight it as one of Kashmir’s most picturesque gems.
About this place
History & highlights
Historically, Yusmarg and the surrounding Sang-e-Safed valley were used by local communities as summer grazing grounds for sheep and cattle, with nomadic and semi-nomadic pastoralists setting up seasonal camps. The “Meadows of Jesus” nickname comes from a local tradition — popularised in modern tourism literature — that Jesus once travelled to this region, though there is no historical evidence; the phrase mainly reflects the area’s serene beauty. During the Dogra period and early 20th century, Yusmarg remained relatively off the main colonial hill-station circuit, so it did not see the kind of heavy development that Gulmarg or Pahalgam experienced. After Independence, the Jammu & Kashmir Tourism Department started promoting Yusmarg as an alternative meadow destination, building basic accommodation and roads while keeping construction limited. In the last few decades, it has slowly emerged as a “hidden” but growing tourist spot, where the history is less about monuments and more about the long interaction between alpine landscape, pastoral life and carefully managed tourism.
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