Bhal Padri (

Kashmiri Kashmiri may refer to: * People or things related to the Kashmir Valley or the broader region of Kashmir * Kashmiris, an ethnic group native to the Kashmir Valley * Kashmiri language, their language People with the name * Kashmiri Saikia Baruah ...

; ''Bal Padri'') is a

hill station A hill station is a town located at a higher elevation than the nearby plain or valley. The term was used mostly in colonial Asia (particularly in India), but also in Africa (albeit rarely), for towns founded by European colonialists as refuges ...

situated above a group of small valleys covered with dense forest located in the Changa,

Bhalessa Bhalessa is a geographical area within Doda district in the Jammu region of India-administered Kashmir. It consists of the Bunjwah and Bhalessa Valleys, and comprises the three Tehsils of Kahara, Chilly Pingal and Gandoh. Name The name is writte ...

. area of

Doda district Doda is a district in the eastern part of Jammu Division in the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The district consists of 18 tehsils viz. Thathri, Bhaderwah, Doda, Mohalla, Bhagwa, Assar, Bhalla, Gundna, Marmat, Kahara, G ...

. It borders Padri Pass,

Bhaderwah Bhaderwah or Bhadarwah (also ''Bhaderwah Valley'') is a town, tehsil, sub-division and also additional district in the Doda district of the Jammu Division of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is also known as Chota Kashmir (Mini Kashmir) for its sc ...

at a distance of northeast. Rivulets and streams flow through this valley.

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.''

About

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

Tourism

Bhal Padri is situated above a group of small valleys, at an elevation of above sea level. The landscape around it is characterised by streams flowing through meadows, surrounded dense forest. The area is popular for trekking, as the town of

is located only to the southwest.

Route

Bhal Padri is located from the headquarters of

. It has been called the connecting link between

and

. While not connected directly to any road, some 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 walk. The Gandoh-Khilotran road is from Bhal Padri on foot. The route starts from the nearest airport and provincial headquarters at

Jammu Jammu is the winter capital of the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir (union territory), Jammu and Kashmir. It is the headquarters and the largest city in Jammu district of the union territory. Lying on the banks of the river Tawi Ri ...

. The road starts from

—

Batote Batote is a town and a notified area committee, near Ramban town in Ramban district of Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir on NH 44 (former name NH 1A) just beyond Ramban, Patnitop while going towards Srinagar. Tourism Batote is l ...

(via NH1A), changing route from

—

Thathri Thathri is a town and a notified area committee in Doda district in the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Thathri valley is located in the foothills of the Himalayan mountains, about 85 km from Batote. Apart from having ample ...

(via NH244), turning right near Thathri-Kishtwar Bridge towards Thathri—Khilotran Highway till the Khilotran area of Gandoh Bhalessa, where a footpath leads towards Bhal Padri.

Notes

References

{{reflist Doda district Chenab Valley Tourist attractions in Doda district