Beautiful Bhalessa

Sadaket Malik
Bhalessa though a remote region in Doda district in breathtakingly beautiful. It has a history of its own. It has its own cultural identity and beauty.
The folk people of Bhalessa were called Bhalls in the past which makes one believe that queen Bhala of Raja Nagpal was  from Bhaderwah. There are numerous opinions from different people regarding the origin of its name “Bhalessa”. Some talk it as Land of “Bhaley Manus” (Bhaley Lougun Ka Desh) which means  the decent people with distinct identity. Dr. P K Koul who conducted a research on Bhaderwah, Chamba, Kangra and Bhalessa in early nineties opines that the Bhalessa area derived its name from queen Bhalla, the queen of Nagpal. Some people regard it as land of “Bhalay Loug” (The right people with right destiny)
Bhalessa as it is commonly called comprises of the twin valleys of Bonjwah and Bhalessa.
The upper valley is very beautiful and picturesque. In former times, the valley of Bhalessa was easily approachable from Churah Wazarat of Chamba state through more than one pass, namely Padri Gali (12862′) and Mahlwar Pass (13027′). On the north, it is bounded by snow clad peaks of Kishtwar and Padder and in the east it is by chamba district of Himachal Pradesh through Padri Pass.
The main divisions viz a viz locations are Neeli, Jatota, Pingal, Chilli, Nanota and Basnota. has  several picturesque places like Bal Padri, Kanthi Dhar, Soin Bhagar, Naglotan etc. The area of Bhaderwah and Bhalessa comprise of glaciated mountain slopes and terraced fields. Churah and Bhalessa must have been closely linked in the social and cultural millieu as is evident from relations between Chamba and Bhalessa. There seemed a unity in social structure.
Bhalessa is full of meadows popularly known as Dhar. It has Dhars like Kanthi, Naglotan, Soin Bhagar, Roharhi, Dagan, Bal Padri, etc. The area is mountainous and  has umpteen number of trekking routes which pass through places with captivating scenic.  The place is a comfortable base for trekkers and mountaineers, on their way to the Great Himalayas.
The history of Bhalessa and Bhaderwah dates back to 200 B.C. when the revered Buddhist scholar Nagsena was invited to a discussion by king Mender  to  his palace at Sakla.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 on the fundamental principles of Buddhist philosophy.
The principality of Bhaderwah Bhalessa was distributed into 15 administrative units. The total area of Bhaderwah Jagir (including Bhalessa etc) was 533 sq.miles which after amalgamation with Udhampur district in 1931 was reduced to 213 sq.miles only. The earliest mention of the place can be  traced from Rajatarangni around (1112-28A.D.)
Bhalessa has come into existence in the year 1948 and its headquarter is located at a distance of 241 Kmts from  Jammu the winter capital and 282 kmts. from the Srinagar, the summer capital of the state.
The form of the land is rugged and mountainous surrounded by the sprawling mountains of Himalayas from north to west. These are named as great Himalayas. Besides, there are other lofty ridges and peaks.
The main river in Bhalessa is Kalgoni stretching from “Kansozoo” that merges into the Chenab. Besides this there are some other small streams such as Beer Sow with its origin from Ludoo Kansar a great height hight, Kanchu sohow near Makhan Chuchool (local popular name of Hindus and muslims) has its origin near Goha Kahagugasar. These rivers flow through gorges and are mainly exploited for generation of Hydel Power. Bhalessa is rich in natural resources and if exploited may contribute for the states economy.
The places are notorious for slides during every rainy season and cause inconvenience to all. The Soil Conservation Department is surveying the area but no concrete steps has been put in place by the concerned officers to aware the people about the soil conservation schemes.
The forest provides timber of important varieties viz, Deodar, Fir, Kail, Chir, etc.These also yield products like dhoop, resin, guchian and other products. For rehabilitation of degraded forests and increasing the forest cover several steps need to be taken up the forest department.
There might be some world’s oldest deodars  in Jitota Zone of Bhalessa. The precious stones in the area are also expected to be found in the Dudwar area.  The main crops are maize, and wheat.
There is enough tourist potential tourist in Bhalessa and the areas around.  Places of pilgrimage if promoted will help in bringing tourist to these areas even when the infrastructure is being developed.
Bhalessa presents picturesque on way to Padri Top which could be promoted places as a health resort as well as a picnic spot. This  line connects  Bhalessa and Bhaderwah. An everlasting glacier, Bal Padri is just 15 Km from Padri Top/ Dhaar/ Khanni Top.  Enough scope exists for Gandola rope ways. Bhadherwah to Kansar could be a good Gandola venture with Khanni Top, Padri Dhaar , Nagni MataTemple and Jaai Valley lying around Bhalessa. Unfortunately, the area has been divided and as not taken care of.
The Tehsil Thathri and Tehsil Bhalessa carved out of Sub- Division Bhaderwah very recently is a milestone in the history. Tehsil Bhalessa has been upgraded as sub – Division. This way there again remain two Sub-Divisions i.e. Bhaderwah and Bhalessa with three tehsils namely Bhaderwah, Bhalessa and Thathri in District Doda.
As such, in any case one Sub-Division is to have two Tehsils while the other will remain Sub-Division for one tehsil. It may not be out of  place to mention that the distance from Thathri to tehsil headquarter Bhalessa is only 30 Kms whereas distance from Thathri to Bhaderwah is around 60 Kms. Furthermore, the distance from Bhalessa to Bonjwah is only 20 kms and is geographically very close to Bhalessa.
In view of the above considerations the government proposed that new Sub-Division Bhalessa shall comprise, Tehsil Bhalessa and Tehsil Thathri.  Previously, a demand was projected by the public that twenty three villages falling in three Patwar Halqas namely Kansoo, Jora and Malanoo be attached with Tehsil Bhalessa after their deletion from Tehsil Thathri.
The demand for the setting up of Niabats at Bhatyas and Kahara is justified as the area is disconnected administratively.
Another demand received by the government team during its visit to the area pertained to attachment of eleven villages of Patwar Halqas Patnazi and Jawalapur commonly known as Bunjawa with Tehsil Thathri after their detachment from Tehsil Kishtwar on the ground of proximity of the area and convenience of the people.
After considering all counter claims in respect of these demands and taking into consideration, the proximity of Patwar Halqas, administrative convenience and public demand, the team recommended strongly that eight villages of Patwar Halqa Kansoo namely Kansoo, Bathri, Indlu, Dichhal, Bhatoli, Dharyouth, Piyakal, Kuthyara with population of 5,744 can be deleted from Tehsil Thathri and added in Tehsil Bhalessa. The demand for attachment of Patwar Halqas Jora and Malanoo with Bhalessa Tehsil is not found justified and agreeable. The Government finds it unjustified. This was suggested by the committee formed by the government.
The area of Bonjawah is in close proximity with Bhalessa including Bhatyas and Khara. Geographically Bonjawah, Khara, Bhatyas and Gandoh Bhalessa upto khaljugasar is a single geographical unit.
The locals are in favour of creation of separate political and administrative unit under the pretext of Delimitation commission by combining Tehsil Bhalessa, Khara, Bhatyas, Chilly and Bonjawah and deleting Bhalessa from Bhaderwah and Bonjawah from Inderwal.
It will be a progressive step if Bhalessa-Bhatyas -Bonjawah might be carved as a separate political and administrative unit. The state government should set up a committee for taking into account the sentiments of all three zones viz Tehsil Bhalessa, Bonjawah and Bhatyas Pingal & Chilly areas.
The advantage of separate unit may lead to the progress as far as developmental arena is concerned. The local community especially the people of all these areas be taken in confidence while preparing the final document  so that the people of the area get a chance of solving the problems facing them. This will help in preserving local culture and tradition.

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