Kaushal Kotwal
If Jammu is known as the city of Temples, similarly, Gatha village at Bhadarwah in Chenab valley will also be known as village of temples in coming times. Recently by installing(moorti sthapana) idols of Shri Ram Darbar, Shri Radha Krishna, Nav Grahas, Vishwakarma Ji, Kuber Ji in Mahamrityunjaya temple of Lord Shiva at this village. The national heritage temple has become a major attraction where pilgrims, devotees, throng to have blessings of almost all the devi devtas. Gatha is the home place of Lord Shri Vaasuki Naag Ji. This is 2064 years old temple. Also temples of Sheetla Mata Ji, Bhadrakali Mata, Shri Guru Ravidass Ji temple, Lord Shiva temples and also centuries old Aapshambhu temple are located near the famous neeru river bank adjacent to fish pond.
The national heritage temple of Lord Mahamrityunjaya has Lord Ganesha with family, Surya Dev ji, Lord Vishnu darbar with Mata Lakshmi Ji resting on lap of Shehnag ji, Brahma Ji, Shri Sai Baba ji, Mata Saraswati ji, Mata Durga ji(18 bhuja maa), panch Mukhi Lord Hanuman Ji, Lord Shri Shani Dev Ji, Nandi Ji and lion of maa Durga .
Gatha village is surrounded by famous Kailash hills on one side and Sone Bian hills covered with centuries old glacier and pine and deodar trees at the lower heights. It is also surrounded by famous temples of Subarnaag ji, Rahoshare wali mata, Naagni mata and temples of many devi devtas on other side of the hills. The famous Chandi Mata temple at Chinote Bhadarwah and Gupt Ganga temple adds more spirituality to Bhadarwah Town. Lakshmi Narayan temple at Seri Bazaar Bhadarwah is also a centuries old heritage of this area. Every day in the early mornings the bhajans and sound of conches from temples adds solace to the mind of the devotees of the area. During the months of July, August and September famous yatras of Mani Mahesh ji, Kailash Kund Yatra, Machail Mata, Trishul Yatra from Chinote and yatras of famous deities Gods Goddesses start around Bhadarwah. The charhi mubaraks pass through Gatha village Seri Bazaar Nagar with thousands of devotees from Chenab valley and from every part of the country. Even foreign tourists visit this place for pilgrimage tourism and get the blessings of gods and goddesses. Many pilgrims also join from Himachal Pradesh adjacent to Chenab valley Bhadarwah.
While Bhadarwah is blessed with natural beauty it is often called as Mini Kashmir, Mini Switzerland. It has lot of attractions for tourists from within and outside the country. Bhadarwah valley has abundant scope for pilgrimage tourism, adventure tourism, winter tourism, paragliding, mountaineering. It is a perfect place for tourists to enjoy. Tourists from within the country and from outside the country visit here different reasons : to have fun, to learn about other cultures, to relax from stressful working life. Tourists prefer to go to various destinations with great landmarks, places and areas of wilderness.
Some tourists visit to study the language and culture of the area. Tourists have been travelling for peace and pleasure since ancient times and tourism is important source of income here.
It is requested to the State Government that national highway NH1B connecting Batote Bhadarwah/Kishtwar needs urgent attention as the condition of this highway is totally unfit for travel nowadays. The work on this highway is going on at snail’s pace. There is lack of men and machinery. Also the long pending demand of opening of Bhadarwah Chamba road for inflow of tourists as alternate route needs personal attention of the Chief Minister. The project is incomplete for reasons best known to concerned agencies.
Chenab valley Bhadarwah is really a paradise on earth and it is a feather in the cap of Jammu and Kashmir. It just needs some attention of higher ups for its development to attract more and more tourists.
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