Botapathri: A Destination beyond Imagination
Tourists visiting Gulmarg often skip visiting Botapathri, which is just 13 kilometres away. Botapathri is divided into small, picturesque landscapes filled with beauty and nature. Those who visit Botapathri often find it even more captivating than Gulmarg. Therefore, anyone visiting Gulmarg should make it a point to visit Botapathri to explore this extraordinary destination, which boasts charming meadows, lush greenery, and natural beauty. A visit to Gulmarg is incomplete without experiencing Botapathri.
Botapathri is just 7 km away from Gulmarg. While visiting Botapathri, one will also see and cross Nagin-1, Nagin-2, and Nagin-3 before reaching Botapathri. In the adjacent area, you will encounter unique landscapes and meadows like Asha Linger Margh like Chota Bungus, and Choor Khudan with cascading water, followed by Navan Valley with its lush green and beautiful snow-capped slopes.
Botapathri is very close to the border, hence one need to cooperate with security checkpoints. Botapathri is a picturesque meadow in the midst of thick forests, with a gushing stream flowing alongside. The drive is absolutely magical, with tall mountains dotted with huge glaciers. You can even try walking across one! While driving through, you will spot some Dhokas (mud huts) of Gujjars and Bakerwals, who graze their sheep in the valleys during the summer months, decorated with the same colours. In Botapathri, there are hundreds of Dhokas in the same colour, which makes it different and beautiful.
Recently, the Kashmir Writers Association, a literary organization that has published the magazine "The North Kashmir Gazette," reflecting the off-beat tourist destinations of North Kashmir, visited Botapathri along with authors, writers, and social media influencers. They had a full day of interaction with the Gujjar and Bakerwal people. It is pertinent to mention that the Kashmir Writers Association is working to promote border tourism on various platforms.
Road to Botapathri is well maintained going through wild flowers, steams and fragrance of deodars which fills your heart and mind with different taste. The whole road makes you happier than Baramullah to Gulmarg stretch.
The government has promoted various offbeat tourist destinations as part of border tourism. Significant development has already been made in these unseen and unexplored places, attracting a considerable influx of both local and outside tourists over the last four years. However, these places have been affected by various issues, including cross-border shelling, infiltration, and a lack of basic infrastructure. Botapathri is one such unseen and unexplored place that can be promoted with basic infrastructure without disturbing the natural ecosystem or beauty of the land. By providing washrooms with water and electricity to the Dhokas, tourists will be able to enjoy the natural and cultural life, and people living near the borders will earn income. This place will boost the state economy and engage the border communities at large.
In the whole of Botapathri, there are more than 200 Dhokas, which can cater to thousands of tourists overnight if basic facilities are provided. It is important for tourists to visit because it will not only immerse them in natural beauty but also provide them with knowledge and insights about different cultures and traditions. In Botapathri, Gujjar, Bakerwal, and tribal people live vibrant cultural lives, adding beauty and a unique experience for visitors. Their culture is unique and worth experiencing.
The little-known and hidden gem of Botapathri is a dreamland in the lap of Nagin Valley. It was opened to tourists in May 2012 by the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department, and it attracted visitors from local, national, and international locations. The famous tourist spot Gulmarg became even more popular once Botapathri was accessible, leading to a significant increase in tourist numbers. Visitors can travel from Gulmarg to Botapathri on horseback, which is a popular activity.
In Botapathri, you can sit under the open sky surrounded by greenery and enjoy tea and Maki de Roti at the Dhokas. There are also a few tea and Maggi stalls around the area. Kashmir should thrive in tourism, and border tourism has great potential here. A decade ago, horticulture was considered the backbone of the economy, providing income and jobs for many people. The fruit industry was the main market, employing a large number of people because other industries like tourism and small-scale enterprises lacked infrastructure and attention.
However, today we see rapid growth in the tourism sector, especially in border tourism, thanks to more attention, peace efforts, and better infrastructure in newly identified tourist spots in Kashmir. Kashmir is a place where every spot is a tourist destination, and every moment is filled with joy and natural beauty. It has been made accessible to everyone, and boosting the tourism sector in Kashmir will enhance the economy and increase engagement. Botapathri can be one of these key destinations.
