Tosa Maidan falls in district Budgam of Central Kashmir its 45 km from Srinagar to Drung (tehsil Khag).
This distance can be traversed by vehicle. From Drung afterwards, the path to Tosa Maidan is trekked on foot or on a horse. It is a distance of 10 to 15 Kms.Tosa Maidan is not only famous as a pasture but also for its historical background.
Bounded by dense forests, it is situated about 10 kms from Khag in the mountains of the Himalayan range. After crossing the upper mountain reaches of Drang, Zakhora and other small villages, one reaches the pasture of Tosa Maidan.
It is said that Tosa Maidan is one of those pastures which the shepherds of other neighbouring countries also used to visit in ancient times. The Mughals used to go to Poonch using this route. It is said that they had constructed a seven-storeyed building – Dam-Dam - here.
The Basmai Gali(13,000 ft) is the pass which leads into Tosa Maidan. Another pass - Poonch Gali - on its right side leads to the valley of Poonch.
This pass was deemed to be the safest, easiest, and nearest to reach Punjab in ancient times. From here, a path also leads to Nilnag.
Tosa Maidan is the largest pasture in its surrounding areas, 3 miles in length and 1.5 miles in width. Sky-touching deodars fence this pasture presenting a view of a green carpet in summer.
During the summer, the camps of the Gujjar community and shepherds with theirgrazing sheep in the pastures present a riveting picture. Also, the fragrance of wild flowers refreshes the whole environment..
What To Visit
Doodhpathri
Doodhpathri (translation; Valley of Milk) is a tourist destination and hill station in the State of Jammu and Kashmir.It is located in Budgam district of Jammu & Kashmir. Situated at an altitude of 8,957 ft from sea level, and located at a distance of 42 km from state summer capital Srinagar and 22 km from district headquarter Budgam.
Yusmarg
Located in Bagdam district, Meadows of Jesus or Yusmarg is known for its long stretches of green pastures. An ideal tourist attraction that in its humblest of ways teaches to revere nature, Yusmarg is a proud part of the Valley of Kashmir. Embark on trails that lead to exotic places like Sang-e-Safed Valley and Nilnag. Away from the confines of the mundane, Yusmarg is a little paradise in its own right.
Handicrafts Centers
Indigenous to Budgam, Bandpather is the most popular face of Kashmiri folk-art. Even now the bhands can be seen performing at Wathura.It is traditional bastion in Chadoora. In a bid to revive the the age-old culture of folk music, Budgam was in the forefront in organizing cultural shows in the district. Kanishawl the piece art of Kashmiri shawls is made in a tiny hamlet of Kanihama, from where it derives its name. The Budgam craftsmen have great mastery in creating household items from willow-wicker such as the ubiquitous small earthen firepot, Kangri,and the quintessential baskets etc.
Khanpur Sarai
Khanpur Sarai arches, a Mughal period monument in Budgam 20 Km (12 miles) south of Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian administered Kashmir, India. Khanpur Sarai (Inn) located at Khanpur on the ancient Mughal route towards south of Srinagar, used by travelers from South Asia in the Mughal Period. In recent times the heritage site has been encroached upon by locals with various structures damaged by vandals, the restoration of the structure has been taken on by the Archeological Survey of India, who have rebuilt fallen arches and restored several cells. The restoration work was first started in 1988 but stopped when the armed conflict broke out between India and Pakistan over Kashmir in 1989, during this period many such monuments were not looked after by the authorities, but the recent calming in the conflict has allowed the government to refocus efforts into conservation..
Trekking
You set up a base camp at Dam Dam. Places to trek include Chinamarg, Khilanmarg and Bandsar. Tosa Maidan is surrounded by various other meadows like Watadar, Hafwas, Kadlibal, Nagnibal, Duriyaan etc. The trek will take 10 to 12 hours and you can return to base in the evening if you leave early morning. Towards the west is Bandsar- source of river Sokhnag..
Brief History Of Occupation
Once labelled as ‘death meadow’. Tosa Maidan was leased to the army in 1964 for setting up an artillery firing range for 50 years. The lease ended on April 14 2014. The place has now been cleared and declared safe.
Tosa Maidan is not only a great choice for trekkers or travelers; biologists can find a lot of things to suit their interests. The place is rich in diverse flora and fauna. There are a number of medicinal plants that grow here. Some of them are used by the local villagers as home remedies for a number of diseases.
Tosa Maidan” is a major trekking route to -Yusmarg-Badgam and is a large meadow used for cattle grasing by nomads.
Best Season
Best time to visit Tosa Maidan is from May to September because of the pleasant weather during this time.
Winter
(October to April) are chilly and snow bound. The minimum mercury level goes below sub zero levels and the region mostly covers receives fresh snowfall. The views of the landscape are excellent with snow covered hilly terrains.
Summer
(May to Aug) are warm and pleasant. The temperature in this hilly region ranges between 15°C and 25°C. Intermittent showers are seen during this period. There is no snowfall but snow can be found on high altitudes.
To reach Tosa Maidan, hire a taxi (shared or private) from Srinagar. The most ideal season to visit this region is between May and September. During the remaining months, Tosa Maidan remained covered with a thick blanket of snow..
