Physical Features

 PHYSICAL FEATURES

The narrow road snakes its way through awe inspiring mountains and towering slopes, throwing up enormous clouds of dust. It passed by little hamlets, comprising a couple of houses built around pagoda-shaped mosques and box-like temples with sloping roofs made of corrugated iron. Children play cricket on improvised pitches on patches of land left fallow or laze around on conical haystacks. Weather-beaten Bakkarwal men, with their hennaed beards and loosely wound turbans, lead flocks of hairy mountain goats. Their children and womenfolk follow after them, driving mules laden with pots, pans and bedding - their mobile homes. The perfect picture of serenity.

            Bhalessa is one of the most remote and inaccessible parts of Doda. Straddling the border with Chamba in Himachal Pradesh, the area derived its name from its people "Bhalay Loug" (The right people with right destiny). The adjoining areas includes Kishtwar, Doda, Bhaderwah. Bhalessa has a unique physical features.

            The region is known for traditional communal harmony. It has a Muslim majority, with a Hindu minority of a little more than a third. The two communities continue to live together in the same towns and villages in relative peace, beside the separatist tendencies of certain nefarious groups.

            The history of Bhalessa and Bhaderwah dates back to 200 BC. Buddhism was introduced in the region after the revered Buddhist scholar Nagsena met the then King Mender in his palace at Sakla Kishtwar and encouraged him to embrace Buddhism. On the other hand, Islam, entered the region when Alhaj Ab Gani adiqi invited the people and familiarised them of the faith.

            The principality of Bhaderwah Bhalessa was distributed into 15 tharas or administrative units. The total area of Bhaderwah Jagir (including Bhalessa) was 533 sq miles, which after amalgamation with Udhampur  district in 1931 was reduced to 213 sq miles. The earliest mention of the place is traced from Rajatarangni around (1112-28 AD)

            On the recommendations of Private Domain Assimilation Committee, the status of Bhadarwah ended in 1930 AD. And it consequently became a tehsil of Udhampur District in 1931. After the reorganisation of District and Tehsils, Naibat Thathri and Niabat Bhalessa of Bhadarwah Tehsil also became full fledged Tehsils in 1981. 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. While Ramban and Kishtwar have been upgraded as Districts, Tehsil Bhalessa has been upgraded as sub-division.

            This way there again remain two sub-divisions i.e Bhaderwah and Gandoh with three Tehsils namely Bhaderwah, Gandoh and Thathri in  Distrcit Doda. As such, in any case one sub-division is to have two Tehsils while the other will remain sub-division for one Tehsil.

Bhalessais full of meadows popularly known as Dhar like Kanthi, Soin Bhagar, Roharhi, Dagan, Bal Padri, etc. The area is mountainous; it has umpteen numbers of trekking routes, which pass through places with unbelievable captivating scenic beauty. The place is a comfortable base for trekkers and mountaineers, on their way to the Great Himalayas by road, bus services from Doda connect Bhalessa. The nearest railhead is Udhampur.

            In Bhalessa there seemed tiny patches of wheat and mustard, like patchwork quilts, straddle the edge of the stream that rushes down from the snow-capped peaks in the distance to merge into the Chenab beyond.

            It may be in place to mention that the distance from Thathri to Gandoh is only 30 Kms whereas distance from Thathri to Bhaderwah is around 60 Kms. Moreover, one has to first reach Khillani or Pul - Doda and then take another transport for going to Bhaderwah, causing inconvenience to the public.

            The tranquil land  is divided into several Illaqa’s popularly known as Neeli, Jitota, Pingal, Chilly, Basnota. And Nanhota. The area has scattered population and towering physical features.

Bhalessa had come into existence in the year 1948 and its Headquarter is located at a distance of 241 Kmts from the Jammu winter capital and 282 kmts. from the Srinagar, the summer capital of the state. The area is located between 32-52 and 41-97 degree longitude.

 The altitude of the area varies from 3200 to 15000 ft. from the sea level. The area is surrounded by Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh.

                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 nullahas like historical Kalgoni streem merge into river Chenab at Thathri. Nullahs called “Kalguni” is Pavitur in the sense that it is surrounded by historical Basaka Nag temple at the corner of village Kilhotran.

             The main river in Bhalessa is Kalgoni straching from “Kansozoo” that merge into the chenab after. Besides this there are some other small Streems/ Nullahs such as Beer Sow with its origin from Ludoo Kansar with enormous 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. Of late Bhalessa is rich in natural resources if exploited may contribute for the states economy.