Bhalessa - A Hub Of Tourism

BHALESSA - A HUB OF TOURISM

 Bhalessa has a rich history. The area derived its name from the people inhibited in the area "Bhalay Loug" (The immaculate people with perfect destiny). The history of Bhalessa is much old and dates back as early as 200 B.C. and reveloves around the time when the revered Buddhist scholar Nagsena was invited to a discussion by king Mender in his palace at Sakla, some where in Kishtwar. In the discussions Nagsena replied all the questions of the king who then embraced Buddhism and became king Milinda. Nagsena recorded the discussion in "Millinda Panha" a Pali Treatise (article) on the fundamental principles of Buddhist philosophy.

 The Bhalessa was initially linked with Bhaderwah and was known as Bhaderwah Jagir and was known to be distributed into 15 tharas or administrative units. The total area of Bhaderwah Jagir (including Bhalessa etc) was 533 sq. miles which included some parts of Udhampur District. On the recommendations of Private Domain Assimilation Committee, the status of Bhadarwah Jagir ended in 1930 A.D. Consequently Bhadarwah became a tehsil of Udhampur District in 1931 and the area was reduced to 213 sq. miles only. The earliest mention of the place is traced from Rajatarangni around (1112-20 A.D.)

 After establishment of District Headquarter Doda, Bhadarwah was made a tehsil of this District including Bhalessa as a Niabet. Consequent upon reorganization of District and Tehsils, in 1981 Naibat Thathri and Niabat Bhalessa of Bhadarwah Tehsil also became full fledged Tehsils in. Tehsil Thathri and Tehsil Gandoh were carved out of Sub- Division Bhaderwah. District Doda had one Sub-District Ramban, two Sub-Divisions namely Kishtwar and Bhaderwah. But now as Ramban and Kishtwar have been upgraded as Districts, Tehsil Bhalessa has been upgraded as Sub-Division.

 Bhalessa is inhabited by Muslim majority and more than one third of the total population constitutes Hinddu minority. Bhalessa is known for its age old traditional communal harmony. The people generally dominate working class and are inhibiting the area without any political mileage. The two communities continue to live together in the same villages in relative peace. Owing to the commitment and mutual understanding of the Hindu Muslim secular heritage the nefarious designs has been wiped and local inhabitants diverted their attention towards the higher objectives. That is why Bhalessa has now emerged as a hub of higher education, the tattering educational affairs has been altered, there is a rising tide in the sphere of education in Bhalessa. The setting up of a Government Degree College at Kilhotran is another feather to its cap. Internally Bhalessa is divided into several zones which includes Khal Jugasar, Chanti, Neeli, Gandoh, Jitota, Pingal, Chilly and Basnota. It is beyond the doubt that both the communities of the area are living with amity and are competing with the people of the rest of the state.

 In addition it is known for its well-known and renowned personalities dominating each and every sector of the tate and the country. An epitome of peace and brotherhood late Gh. Rasool Azad is a key figure among them. He along with his associated fraternity, which includes, Nil Kanth Parihar, Mir Munwer Din, Mohd shafi Mattoo, Prof. Ummer Din, Munshi Ram Chand Parihar, Habib Malik and amny more, contributed a lot for the maintenance of secular heritage of Bhalessa. Besides this, the tattering educational affairs of the area was shaped by the then Director Education Ghulam Rasool Azad an eminent personality of the area who heads the educational cap of the area. Packed with outstanding achievements, Ghulam Rasool Azad left no stone unturned to give a face-lift to the education system of the area. But it was all in the early nineties due to abrupt of militancy in the state which also raised its ugly head in the Bhalessa area, the dream of Late G. R. Azad to built Bhalessa a hub of Education was struggling for its recognition. Though the communal harmony and brotherhood among the two communities remained unaffected yet it marked its great influence in the education sector of the area which suffered a lot as almost all the School buildings, Govt. establishments etc. were raised to ashes by the then revolutionars. Then it was only when some youths led by Mr. Mohd. Ayoub Zargar got together to think of ways in which they could play a role in the development of education in hilly terrain of Bhalessa Doda of J&K state. These young people shared the belief that education will play a significant role in maintaining the old age communal harmony in the area in addition will be an effective catalyst for social and economic change in the area. Thus, an organization with the status of an NGO was formulated with the name of Educational, Environmental, Social, Sports and cultural Society with the aim to promote the educational standard of the area besides strengthening the communal hormony. The same was then registered with the Registrar of the Societies, under Registration act VI of 1998 (1941 A.D.) and thanks to this organization the area flourished a lot in almost all walks of life and still this NGO is playing a key role in the development of the area.

 Geographically Bhalessa is one of the most remote and inaccessible parts of Distt. Doda.  Expanding its boundaries with Kishtwar, Thathri, Bhaderwah and also exchanges the border with Chamba in Himachal Pradesh. Bhalessa is sprawling over a vast area, topographically mountainous and is vegetated by dense forests. The area of the district under forest cover is also very vast.  Bhalessa being hilly one, suffers adequately in respect of infrastructure facilities namely power, trade and commerce, communication as well as availability of modern skills. The scenario of non agriculture sector is also weak. Tourism sector in this area has a lot of potential but is unexplored and abandoned.
The meadows like Kanthi, Soin Bhagar, Roharhi, Dagan, Bal Padri, etc. of the area are extremely beautiful and have tremendous tourism potential. All the area is mountainous, and has umpteen numbers of trekking routes which pass through places with unbelievable captivating scenic beauty. The dense Forest cover all around these meadows and enroute adds to their scenic beauty.

  Hitherto no person in the echelons of power had ever thought of development of this remote and backward area of the state. Forget the other sectors in the area, while travelling from Thathri to Gandoh by road, one can imagine how government had been working for the upliftment of the people of the area. Full of awe wannabe mountains and having a huge potential of tourism industry here. The narrow road passed all its way through slopes of towering hills thronging up a considerable amount of cloud and dust. However, it is worthwhile to mention here that the road widening though only 30 Km from Thathri to Gandoh, on this track was a difficult and finance consuming that no one could have bothered to think of its widening before that. Azad received accolades for this high heeded task. Now this road is in the process of up gradation which when completed, will make road journey from Thathri to Gandoh shorter and more convenient. 

 One more area which is yet to be explored in this district is its tourism potential. Although a number of tourism development authorities have been created to explore the hidden treasures of the state and also that of erstwhile district Doda, yet Bhalessa area remain unnoticed so far. The meadows of the area are god gifted landscapes full of tourism potential. There are vast natural meadows surrounded by the lush green Deodars and Kails. Beauty of the place is no way less then Gulmarg which has an international recognition. The area has been gifted by narrow rivers with potential for power sector. The old mosque and a temple on the sides and numerous hot and cold springs in and around the slopes of the mountains add in the scene of its beauty. Every one from erstwhile Doda District wants to visit this enthralling place at least once. School children from far off places choose these places for their excursions and annual picnics. Though it takes hardly few hours to track these charming places to shed ones anxieties and boreness their, but all these have remained a dream for the trekkers and tourists, as the area is a neglected gift of nature, as there is no infrastructure and residential quarters etc in and around the site for tourists to stay in and rest.

 As the former CM, Azad belongs to the Bhalessa area and was well aware of the topography of this extremely beautiful valley with tremendous tourism potential. He was of the view that a separate development authority for the areas would help in developing the area and thus attracting more tourists. As a first measure the boost the tourism in the area Tourism Development Authority in Bhaderwah was established and then the concrete measures had to be carriedf for constructing motorable roads connecting Bhalessa with Bhaderwah and subsequently, tourist huts and other facilities would be raised there. Several projects thus have been taken by the, then Azad led Govt., like Kahara Jai Road approved with sum of Rs. 20.78 crore under the Central Road Fund (CRF) Scheme. This road will connect village Kahara in Bhalessa area with Jai in Bhaderwah passing through the villages of Malanu, Gugara, Bittola, Kencha, Bagdair, Halaran, Budhi, Joura and Shamdalian before entering the picturesque meadows of Jai in Bhaderwah thus opening up avenues of development for people of all these villages. Besides this Gondoh- Chinta road is also taken which will provide an alternative link with Bhaderwah. Not stoping here, the Gowari- Khaljugasar road was taken for the execution and this road will just lead to the lap of the beautiful meadows of Dagan, Jashoo, Ruhari, Beghar and many more which then will be a single step to cross.

 The place is now a comfortable base for trekkers and mountaineers, on their way to the Great Himalayas. Bus services from all major towns such as Kishtwar, Doda, Bhaderwah and Jammu connect Bhalessa with the rest of the state. Tiny patches of wheat and mustard, like patchwork quilts, straddled the edge of the stream that rushed down from the snow-capped peaks in the distance with an irrepressible passion to merge into the Chenab beyond. Weather-beaten Gujjer and Bakkarwal men, with their hennaed beards and loosely wound turbans,are often seen to led flocks of hairy mountain buffalos, sheeps and goats which add to the beauty of the amiable meadows. Their children and womenfolk followed after them, driving mules laden with pots, pans and bedding their mobile homes.

 And as the tourism sector of this area remained unexplored and abandoned only because of lackadaisical attitude of different successive governments in the past. And now as the new coalition government headed by chief minister Omar Abdullah is ruling the state after change of guard, people of the area expect that they will not have to wait for the development and the completion of on going projects especially roads in the area for a number of years more or so. The development of area in the road sector will revolutionize the adventure tourism in this area. Only the bold efforts and concrete actions are required in this direction to look after the scenic beauties to rejuvenate the social fabric and tourism industry of the area in particular and hence of the state in general.

Prof. (Dr.) Ashiq Hussain

 R/O Vill. Kakoo, Teh. Gandoh (Bhalessa),

Distt. Doda (J & K) - 182203

C/O Deptt. of Chemistry,

Govt Degree College Kishtwar,

                                            Teh. & Distt. Kishtwar, J & K.

Email. drashiqhussain@rediffmail.com

drashiqhussain@indiatimes.com

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