Tourist destinations Yousmarg and Doodhpathri without mobile coverage, ATM services
“Visitors are typically bored here,” Yousmarg residents stated, citing telecommunication problems and a lack of other services as reasons.
The absence of cellular connectivity and ATM services at two popular tourist destinations in central Kashmir’s Budgam district has made it difficult for travellers to stay in contact with the outside world while on vacation there.
Locals from the area told Digpu News that the popular tourist destinations of Yousmarg and Doodhpathri lack a cellphone tower and an ATM machine, causing significant problems for visitors.
Residents of Yousmarg slammed the administration for failing to offer basic services such as reliable network coverage and ATMs.
Officials promised to develop infrastructure but proved to be a hoax
While on a visit to Yousmarg last year, former Advisor to Lieutenant Governor Baseer Khan promised that a mobile tower, ATM machine, and other infrastructure would be provided, but nothing has been done on the ground in over two months.
“Visitors are usually bored here,” the locals of Yousmarg claimed, citing telecommunication issues and a lack of other amenities.
Nearest ATM is 15 km away from Yousmarg
“If tourists need money, they must travel 15 kilometres to reach the nearest ATM. Such is the state of affairs in this place, which is frequented by local, outside State and foreign travellers,” a local, Suleman Khan, said.
Apart from visitors, locals claim that shepherds who visit the area to graze their flock, as well as officials from the Forest Department or Tourism department, experience issues.
Similarly, residents in the Doodhpathri region claim that the absence of services deters visitors from visiting the area.
The inhabitants, while appealing to the administration to look into the problem and guarantee that mobile connectivity is made accessible at these locations, stated that owing to the absence of amenities, no outside or local tourists choose to remain for the night.
Yousmarg is famous for lush green meadows, pine nurseries
Yousmarg (meaning ‘Meadow of Jesus’) is a hill station, located 47 kilometres (29 miles) south of the capital city of Srinagar. Beautiful scenery, fresh pine nurseries, lush meadows, and heart-warming lotic and lentic water bodies may all be found at Yousmarg.
The beauty of the meadows is enhanced by the presence of Nilnag, Doodhganga, and a newly constructed artificial dam. Yoususmarg is also home to a diverse range of vegetation and animals.
Surreal beauty of Doodhpathri equally excites visitors
On the other hand, Doodhpathri (meaning Valley of Milk) is a tourist attraction and hill station in the Budgam district’s Beerwah region.
It is believed that Sheikh ul Aalam Sheikh Noor din Noorani, a prominent Kashmiri saint, worshipped here and that once when searching for water in the meadows to offer prayers, he scratched the earth with his stick to search for water and milk gushed out.
Doodhpathri lies 42 kilometres (26 miles) from the union territory’s summer capital Srinagar and 22 kilometres (14 miles) from the district headquarters Budgam, at a height of 2,730 metres (8,960 feet) above sea level.
