STATE TIMES NEWS
BHADARWAH: With other parts of country scorching under heat and humidity, Bhadarwah has turned a favourite tourist spot for the people coming from different parts of the country.
The high altitude meadows of Bhadarwah Valley, especially Padri Dhar, 35 km from the town situated on interstate Bhadarwah – Chamba Road these days is abuzz and over crowded with visitors.
Padri which has of late become darling of the visitors due to its mundane landscape surrounded with range of flowing snow peaked mountains and famous Ashapati Glacier, is not just seeing domestic tourists, but foreigners as well who are visiting the Bhadarwah Valley though in lesser, but significant numbers. The space in the Bhadarwah Development Authority (BDA) and Tourism Department owned guesthouses has fallen short with the unprecedented flow of the tourists forcing the authorities to utilise the private houses of the local residents for accommodating the tourists.
CEO Bhadarwah Development Authority, Bal Krishan said that as many as 115,000 tourists visited Padri from May 20 till August 8, which is a record of its sort. On an average, 1,400 tourists were visiting Padri daily. “It is unusual to see such a huge rush of tourists at a single destination,” CEO said, adding “it is very good for the local business community and the state’s economy.”
The tourists, besides being enchanted by the beauty of Bhadarwah, are also overwhelmed by people’s hospitality.
“We never expected this to be so nice, people here are so friendly, so nice and Muslims here are very very accommodative. I have never seen such friendly people across any tourist places, I have been so far. Definitely this is the best place, I have ever come,” said Kumaran, a tourist from Chennai, adding, “I would recommend my friends to come here, as this place is awesome. Freshness is there in the air, everywhere, in people’s face, in hospitality and in the market. Every thing is nice here and most importantly this is the safest place for a visiting tourist.” “We (family) have enjoyed our stay here and can’t get enough of this place (Padri), as this is so nice and fresh, it’s clean without any pollution and I’m enjoying the most” Kumaran’s wife Shamla said.
