G L Khajuria
The Bhadarwah valley which in other words around is as well nomenclatures as Chotta Kashmir due more to its serene, scenic and splendor beauty, due more to its lush green vibrant and salubrious forests and due more and more to its enchanting landscape, sacred springs, shrines and the other Dargahs, the top snowcapped uplands and the sweet freshening tones of local populace which appeal and hunts the pilgrims and tourists over the years in huge numbers and this shall go on enhancing with passage of time. The ‘Chotta Kashmir as we most oftenly call to this enchanting Bhadarwah Township is administratively spreaded over three Tehsils et.al. Bhadarwah, Gandoh, Bhalessa and Thathri with the Sub-Divisional Magistrate office located at Bhadarwah. All these three Tehsils are further divided into Panchayats and insofaras Bhadarwah tehsil is concerned, it is having as many as twenty six panchayats as per the latest census reports and having around 12625 population including males and females of all religious communities.
Tourists Resort:- Bhadarwah or Chotta Kashmir either way we may name, is a hub of tourism, no less than the Kashmir or of that of Switzerland. The valley, of course, is prominently a healthy tourist resort, a hunt for thousands of tourists and pilgrims who throng in here at Bhadarwah- a valley of lush green paddy fields r and flowers.
Now with the development of tourism to this popular spot, the area is scaling heights in tourism and pilgrims potential is momentously excelling with every turn of the day. Situated some 80 kms from Batote, this township is a treasure trove of natural heritage, the ever-enchanting place of bliss and perpetuity, the abode of Lord Shiva (Kailash Kund), the Vasuka Nag Devta, the Gupt Gupta, Mata Chandi, the sacred shrines and other Dargahs where people of all hues irrespective of caste, colour or creed or that of religion live with love lore and cohesive harmony. The climate of this place is refreshing and soothing which soars from 16 to 30 during peak summer spells. In winter, the mountainous tops and uplands are snow-capped and at occasions, there is heavy snow fall in Bhadarwah town itself.
Kailash Yatra: The KailashYatra, which takes place during August every year where pilgrims of all hues trek around 13 kms uphill from Bhadarwah town itself. A big lake (Kund) locally spoken as Kailash Kund which is the abode of Vask Nag Devta whose temple is situated within the town of Bhadarwah. The pilgrims from far flung areas of Punjab, HP etc throng here in huge number in their clourful attire on ” Triyodshi” after a fort night of Raksha Bandan, around the year.
Gupt Ganga: The word magnify “Gupt and Ganga,” Gupt means secret or unknown and ‘Ganga’ means Ganga and this sacred shrine is dating back to the prehostric period of ‘Mahabharata’, some five centuries or so back and it is known that Pandavas have visited this place during Their sojourn to the Northern Part of India. A big cave exists there and as the legend goes that this cave opens in the other part of Pirpanchal in Kashmir valley. The legend further goes that a team of Sadhus entered this cave but could never ever return and now stands closed.
Ashapati: – Also locally spoken as ‘Suraj Baoli’ is an old Tirthsthan, situated towards south-east, some 8-9 kms from Bhadarwah town itself. Though its prominence is missing, yet its genesis is from Sanskrit Version as SuvarnaVapi’ meaning Sun’s pond. This lies in the lap of mountainous region of snowy cover of the valley. As per the local legend, water gushes out from this spring once in the year and on this auspicious occasion, peoples and devotees from far-flung area come and assemble over here with utmost shrada and get a holy dip to wash off their sins. Peoples and devotees come in the form of holy mace (chhari) pay due devotion and reverence, halt-for the night of ‘Amavasya’ at the sacred Shrineof Bhija village where there is a huge congregation of devotees in the form of mela or festival in their colourful adorn with traditional flutes, beating of drums and is being celebrated with melodious music and which echoes the softening skies. This celebration is made during the 15th day of the dark half of Assu (a Desi month).
Suez Dhar: Situated at an elevation of 10,000 ft from Mean sea level
(MSL), atop three districts viz Doda, udhampur and Kathua, is ‘Suez Dhar’occupying its rarest of rare importanceand placement. From Chenani to Jakhed to Seri’ base camp is around 90 kms motorable and while on trekking upwards, you reach Suej Dhar and thence climbing down, one reaches enchanting Bhadarwah valley.
As per local belief, though of course, the writer has experienced while being a forest officer over the area in mid eightieswhile being accompanied by a trekking team, we could comfortably catch heights with the association of trekking team upwards from base camp of ‘Seri’ to ‘SuezDhar and climbed down to Bhadarwah so long the daylight lasted. But, per chance if you are left in the midway and night befalls, you too fall asleep. This is so because of vast potentiality and porphyritic effects of the micro to macro herbal, medicinal and aromatical plants which sensitize you todozing your journey and you go in for a perennial sleep till the first ray of sun appears on the horizon and you get awakened refreshingly. These are the wonders of nature in this age of advance information and technology which ofcourse only a few luckiest can ever enjoy and dream of. Conclusively, therefore, I go to reflect Tiru Kural’s words which goas such. “The mother earth supports even those that dig into her entrails; sohave been these that traduce you’.
(The author is Former Dy. Conservator of forest, J&K).
