The heavenly green Ringzabal meadows fall at the confluence of the Budgam forest division, surrounded by the Pir Panjal mountain range.
Some of the pastures are inhabited by shepherd communities mostly from the villages of Ringzabal, Kharian, and Zugoo in Khansahib tehsil of Central Kashmir’s Budgam district. They use it for grazing their sheep. From the month of May to September every year, they live in wooden and mud huts. The place has a vast potential to attract visitors for trekking and other tourism related activities.
The Ringzabal meadows are surrounded by lush green trees, mountains, and water streams at low and high altitudes, enhancing the beauty of this place.There are several other places in high and low altitudes that are yet to be explored.
Talking to rising kashmir, Tourism officer Budgam, Azad Yaseen, said, “Zoogu-Khariran” in the Khansaib tehsil has already been declared the first tourist village of the Budgam district in November 2021 by the district administration in Budgam. This area has already been brought upon the tourists map.”
He said, “We have already informed the local residents from Zoogu, Kharian, and Ringzabal villages to register themselves with the tourism department, who are going to provide homestay services and facilities to the tourists and visitors in this tourist village.”
Yaseen Azad, said that the Ringzabal village had a vast trekking scope for trekkers.
Ghulam Din Paswal, one of the local residents from the Ringzabal village, told Rising Kashmir that the Ringzabal is one of the famous tourist destinations in the Budgam district that has gone unexplored and unnoticed as of now. This place comes between the famous tourist destinations of Doodhpathri and Tosa Maidain, which are located 40 kilometers away from Srinagar city.
He added, “As the majority of the people and tourists are not aware regarding these unexplored places that are coming from the Ringzabal side, these places are Sukhnag, Kundizabal, Uppar Pathri, Shalkin, Uppar Sari, Nagnibal, Barga, Khalkhitta, Hamnagdee, and Kadalbal, Chattertaji, Chainamarg, Haffass null, Dum Dum, and Ladhmaddan.”
He said that the picturesque place housed springs and ponds in the high altitudes of the Ringzabal side, which are the main source of water connectivity for the Nallah Sukhnag and Doodhganga Nallah. As the place is yet to be explored by many, only a few visitors can be seen visiting the place during the summer season.
“There are several famous springs and ponds here, which include Bandsar, Damansar, Gadtar, and Sundooq Sar, etc.The water that flows from these springs and ponds forms Sukhnag and Doodhganga Nallahs, and is used for the irrigation of the agricultural lands and apple orchards in different villages of the Budgam district,” Paswal said.
He said that the road connectivity could be enhanced between Doodhpathri and Tosa Maidain if administration intervened accordingly, so that tourists and visitors would prefer to visit these places.
” If the government could construct the Katli Bridge upon the Nallah Sukhnag this road can connect Doodpathri to Tosa Madain tourist destinations, and this road connectivity will also lessen the distance to Doodhpathri and Tosa Maidan .
” Due to the lack of basic facilities and infrastructure, the tourists who visit the place for trekking purposes, bring their tents along with them. There are no such facilities available in this area where they can stay during the night. People should visit and explore this place. This is one of the beautiful locations covered with lush green forests and mountains, a place that provides relief and peace to the mind and soul,” he added.
Ringzabal village is the only village in the Budgam district which hosts nomadic families during the summer season every year, most of the nomadic families, along with their domestic animals and livestock, migrate to the upper reaches of the pastures for the grazing their livestock,and stay here for several months.
Iqrar Ahmad, a local of Beerwah, has travelled to Tosa Madain from Ringzabal Kharian on foot, to explore the mesmerising place.
“Ringzabal is one of the tourist attractions in the Budgam district that people can explore during the summer season. The streams , Nallah Sukhnag adds to its beauty,” Ahmad said.
He said that during the summer season, the local people from Beerwah and Khansahib Tehsils visit this place for trekking purposes. starting their trek from the Ringzabal to the Tosa Maidan tourist destination. The people prefer to visit through this trekking route.
“If the administration can intervene the tourists and visitors could come here for trekking, as this is one of the beautiful places surrounded by meadows at high and low altitudes, which adds more attraction to this place,” Ahmad said.
He said that the Ringzabal village had a huge potential for eco-tourism, but it needs to be promoted so that people and tourists can come here especially in the summer season. If tourists visit this place, it will also generate a source of income for the local people who are living in the nearby villages of the Khansahib tehsil.
In November 2021, the Deputy commissioner of Budgam, Shahbaz Ahmad Mirza declared “Zoogu- Khairan” Village as the first tourist village in the Budgam district.
