G.L Khajuria
The Chinta Valley in Bhadarwah is located about 200 kms away from Jammu having an altitude around 3000 mts from mean sea level (MSL). It is kaleidoscopically a picturesque spot perched amidst the surrounding hills to north east of Bhadarwah town itself. The serene and scenic beauty of Bhadarwah and its surroundings are equalizing the valley of Kashmir, a paradise on earth. Bhadarwah as well is nomenclasurised aschhota Kashmir in so far as its beauty, climate and culture is concerned.
The valley is bounded by the ends of spurs from the ridges of forests specked by cultivable land at their different levels. The bottom of this Valley is flat and at certain points sloppy. The terraced lands are thickly studded with small and big villages covered by grand black deodars, kail, Chir, fur and spruce at higher altitude. And still at higher elevation are vast carpet-like meadows covered with green grass and multihued, multi-colored flowers, herbs, shrubs of mutimedicinal uses. Literally speaking, Chinta Valley has an ancient name Chintan, a Sanskrit word meaning self-introspection but with rolling wheel of time the word Chintan depraved into Chinta. The enchanting Valley of Chinta falls around 18 to 20 kms away from the Bhadarwah town itself. From Bhadarwah, the road passes through various villages shrouded by thickly coniferous forests areas. The valley depicts multihued social and cultural heritage akin to neighboring Himachal Pradesh, UP and other Himalayan states of India. The higher elevation abounds in multihued hills having specks of tourists spots viz suvardhar, rowdal, fukklandhar, loirudhar with grassy meadows and towering pine trees which give pleasant whiffs and hum in gentle breeze far too distant apart. And a head about 5 kms to 8 kms on foot, the spot gives panoramic view of varied venues of solace and marry making all around the Chinta Valley and down below Bhadarwah town as if one is airily viewing the enchanting scenario far away of what we see Chita Valley. Towards the east of Chinta valley is another Charming and enchanting Valley by name Jai surrounded by thick and dark Deodars, Kail and chir forests which of course are connected by Kacha and pacca inter-linkages facilitating varied avenues for picnics, riding, climbing and fishing in small rivulets of Jai. Climacterically Speaking, the valley is temperate particularly during summer thus providing a comfortable and pleasant resting place for the tourists and other visitors like. Economically, the area is congenitally sound despite the fact that agriculture is the main stay of the people. The local are also involved in government and other jobs owing to high literacy. The locals are most hospital, peace loving and of jovial nature, always espousing religious cause, tolerance and fraternity insofar as religious faith is concerned, the Naga cult is the prominent creed and features of the vicinity. One of the most prominent pilgrimage is to Kailash( Kaplash) kund and abode of Vasukai Nag raja which begins every year in the month of Bhadaron August on 12th day of krishanapaksh.
The yatra starts from Vasukai Nag temple ghata just at the enterance of Bhadarwah town. The pilgrimage takes the same traditional route which was taken by shriVasukai Nag ji to reach KailashKund at the time when Garudji wanted to kill Vasukhi Nag ji. Instead of having a fight with garudji, shreeVasukhi Nag ji ran away to avoid fight in order to obey the promise he had made to his mother Vanita as both Gaud Ji and Vasukhi Nag ji were the sons of great saint Maharishi Kashyap. Kailash in Bhadarwah is also called kablas. It is a big lake situated at a height arrounding 15k feet from (Mean Seal Level)msl. The lake is beautiful, pure having crystal clear water which is icy cold. The lake is surrounding by high mountains and glaciers. It is most attractive and enthralling spot which had been the abode of Lord Shiva who provided shelter to Vasukhi Nag ji when he was being chased by Garudji. Lord Shiva after handing over KailashKund to VasukuiJiproceeded Manimahesh in HP. There are two other holy shrines atop Chinta Jai. Sheshnag (Sabarmag) at sabardhar and other Tara Bhuja at Roshira at a distance of 3 kms to 5 kms and are located midst of forests of Chinta Valley.It is believed that both the scared shines are oldest in Bharawah. There are multihued sared spots vizgupt Ganga adjoining Neeru rivulet where there is a temple of Lord Shive with huge Shiv lingam and parnali of water keeps of soothing Shivlingam since the existence of this temple. The Shivlingam is reported to have been brought from Machester, Neeru Nala.
To propitiate the local diets, lot of faresand festivals are celebrated in the month August and September when it is a slack in Bhadarwah to prominent colorful dances/ Melasare most prominent. Dhaku dance and pattMela are most revertially celebrated in Bharadarwah Valley. Now that the government has proclaimed a Tourists development Authority of bhadarwah and with the passage of time, this shall boost the tourist potential of the area for multihued development activities to attract and enchant tourists from India and abroad to have a charming glimpse of beauty, cultural heritage and above all the serene, scenic beauty of the area and its surrounds apart from invigorating local economy- the clarion call of the day.
(The author is former Conservator of Forests J&K).
