Bodpathri Tosamaidan Trek

Bodpathri Tosamaidan Trek: The Historic Pastures of Budgam

The Bodpathri Tosamaidan trek covers a distance of 35 kilometers, starting at Doodhpathri or the nearby Khag village in Budgam and ending at the expansive pastures of Tosamaidan at an elevation of 10,500 feet (3,200 meters). The trek takes 4 days and runs along the foothills of the Pir Panjal range.

Day-by-Day Route Breakdown

Day 1: Doodhpathri to Bodpathri (10 km, 5 hours)
The trek begins at the Doodhpathri tourist area (elevation 8,957 ft). You will follow a forest trail northwest, crossing several small streams. The trail has a gradual incline, leading to the meadow of Bodpathri (9,500 ft), where you will camp near a stream.

Day 2: Bodpathri to border of Tosamaidan (9 km, 5 hours)
The path climbs through pine and birch forests, following a ridge trail. You will ascend past nomadic kothas to the edge of the Tosamaidan pastures (10,000 ft). The camp is pitched near the forest boundary.

Day 3: Exploration of Tosamaidan Meadow (8 km, 4 hours)
This day is spent exploring the vast Tosamaidan meadow (10,500 ft). The meadow is one of the largest pastures in the Pir Panjal range, historically used as a transit route to Poonch. You will visit the local streams and the historic watchtower ruins (Poonch route towers). Return to camp for the night.

Day 4: Tosamaidan to Khag / Magam (8 km, 4 hours)
You will descend via the Khag forest trail to terminate the trek at the road head in Khag village (elevation 7,200 ft), where local taxis are available to Magam town.

Trek Difficulty & Fitness Reality

The trek is classified as Moderate. The trails are wide and run through meadows, but the daily walking distances (up to 10 km) and the lack of permanent tourist infrastructure require self-sufficiency. The main challenge is the security registration at the entry checkposts. You must carry your Aadhaar card for registration.

Best Time for Bodpathri Tosamaidan Trek

The best season is from June to September. The meadows are green, and the road to the trail heads is clear. In winter (December to March), the entire Tosamaidan area is covered in deep snow, and the temperature drops to -10°C, closing all access routes.

How to Reach the Starting Point

Drive from Srinagar to Doodhpathri (42 km) via Khansahib. The drive takes 90 minutes. Hire a private cab from Srinagar. The trek terminates at Khag village, located 15 km from Magam town on the Gulmarg highway, from where you can take a local taxi back to Srinagar.

Permits and Guide Requirements

Tosamaidan was historically used as an artillery firing range by the army and was cleared of unexploded shells recently in "Operation Patridge" before being opened for tourism in 2014. You must register your details at the army checkpost at the entrance of the meadow and check in at the forest department office. Hiring a local guide is mandatory to navigate the registration checkpoints and trail paths.

What Makes Bodpathri Tosamaidan Different

This trek takes you through one of the largest and most historically significant pastures in Kashmir, which was closed to the public for decades. You will see watchtowers dating to the Mughal period along the old route to Poonch.

Practical Tips

• Aadhaar Card: You must present your physical Aadhaar card at the army checkposts. Laminated copies are accepted.
• Self-Sufficiency: There are no shops, guesthouses, or JKTDC huts inside the Tosamaidan area. You must carry your own tents, sleeping bags, food rations, and stoves.
• Mobile Signal: Mobile network signal is weak and only BSNL postpaid works intermittently near the forest edge.