Bhal Padri

Bhal Padri (Kashmiri; Bal Padri) is a hill station situated above a group of small valleys[2] covered with a dense forest[3] located in the Changa, Bhalessa.[1] area of Doda district. It borders Padri Pass, [lower-alpha 1][4] Bhaderwah at a distance of 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) northeast. Rivulets and streams flow through this valley.[2]

Bhal Padri
Bal Padri
Hill Station
Bhal Padri is a natural landscape in Bhalessa
Bhal Padri is a natural landscape in Bhalessa
Bhal Padri is located in Jammu and Kashmir
Bhal Padri
Bhal Padri
Bhal Padri in Doda, Jammu and Kashmir, India
Coordinates: 32.943901°N 75.841578°E / 32.943901; 75.841578
CountryIndia
StateJammu and Kashmir
DistrictDoda
TehsilGandoh (Bhalessa)
Elevation
[1]
3,000 m (11,000 ft)
Languages
 • OfficialUrdu
Languages
 • LocalKashmiri, Urdu, Gojri, Bhalessi, Bhaderwahi

Etymology

The name Bhal Padri is derived from the words, Bhal, which stands for Bhalessa, and Padri, the name of a nearby location popularly known as Padri Pass or Padri Top.[5]

About

Bhal Padri village is located to the northeast of Padri Pass, the highest point on the Bhaderwah-Chamba road.[6] Bhalessa is the nearest village on the northwestern side. People residing there belong to the Gujjar community[7] and live in mud houses without electricity. They use solar-powered lights.[8]

Tourism

Bhal Padri is situated above a group of small valleys,[2] at an elevation of 11,000 feet (3,400 m)[1] above sea level. The landscape around it is characterised by streams flowing through meadows, surrounded dense forest.[3] The area is popular for trekking, as the town of Bhaderwah is located only 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) to the southwest.[9]

Route

Bhal Padri is located 66 kilometres (41 mi) from the headquarters of Doda district. It is known to be the connecting link between Bhaderwah and Bhalessa.[5] It is not directly connected to any roads. However, nearby roads include the Bhaderwah-Chamba road and the Gandoh-Khilotran road. The Bhaderwah-Chamba road at Padri leads to a path by which one may reach Bhal Padri after a 10–15 kilometres (6.2–9.3 mi) walk.[10] The Gandoh-Khilotran road is 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) from Bhal Padri on foot.[5]

The route starts from the nearest airport and provincial headquarters at Jammu.

The road starts from Jammu—Batote (via NH1A), changing route from Batote—Thathri (via NH244) and turning right near Thathri-Kishtwar Bridge towards Thathri—Khilotran Highway till the Khilotran area of Gandoh Bhalessa, a footpath is found that leads the travellers to Bhal Padri.[5]

Notes
  1. Padri Pass or Padri Top is tourist attraction located on Bhaderwah-Himachal Pradesh road

    References
    1. "Adventures". www.doda.nic.in. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
    2. Chahal, Hardeep; Jyoti, Jeevan; Pereira, Vijay (28 Feb 2018). Sustainable Business Practices for Rural Development: The Role of Intellectual Capital. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 126. ISBN 978-981-13-9298-6. OCLC 1157092488. Retrieved 13 Jul 2020.
    3. "Bhal Padri Gorgeous Valley Comprising Of Innumerable Tiny Valleys". www.chenabvalley.in. 27 Jun 2020. Archived from the original on 13 July 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
    4. "Bhal Padri, Doda". www.nativeplanet.com. Retrieved 11 Jul 2020.
    5. Rather, Usama. "Bhal Padri". Retrieved 13 July 2020.
    6. "PADRI". Kashmir Hills. Retrieved 2020-07-19.
    7. Yousafzai, Tahir Nadeem Khan (11 Apr 2020). "Laborers on verge of starvation in Doda amid lockdown". Greater Kashmir. Retrieved 13 Jul 2020.
    8. "Army lights up 200 more mud houses in higher reaches of JK". India.com. 25 Aug 2018. Retrieved 13 Jul 2020.
    9. "A rare flower blooms amid slump in tourism in JKs Bhaderwah". Outlook (Indian magazine). 28 Jun 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
    10. "Splendid Tourist Attractions". Bhaderwah Development Authority (J&K Tourism). Retrieved 13 July 2020.
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