Swami Raj Sharma
The inhabitants of Bhadarwah are beholden to Mr Chakrabarti lAS, the then Commissioner Urban Development Department Jammu and Kashmir Government for his pain taking tour of Bhadarwah and for making some important observations to initiate follow up action for development of tourism and to provide some civic facilities in the area. In his inspection note he wrote:
“Bhadarwah town presents a contrasting scenario with a wide open valley which provides large scope of horizontal expansion of the town. Urbanization is taking place outside the town area limits along the approach road of the town and unless the growth is properly planned, the beautiful landscape endowed by the nature shall be spoiled. The town also shows visible signs of prosperity with aesthetically designed huge mansions with liberal use of timber dominating the cityscape. The town has a large population of highly literate people with a strong sense of pride about the heritage of the town but with equally strong resentment that nothing much has been done to improve the infrastructure of the beautiful settlement. The town offers interesting possibilities of future growth with imaginative land use planning. It is a pity that the tourism and other .potentialities of the town have not at all been explored.”
In my personal conversation with Chakrabarti, he repeatedly expressed the view that he had seen no other place in India which excels Bhaderwah in scenic beauty. He wished he could have some abode to spend his days there. A standing offer was made to him by me to provide him the site of his choice so that after retirement’ he finds time for rest and recapitulation at a place of his choice. It is indeed a very rare and happy coincidence that another Calcutta born top bureaucrat of his time namely, S Banerjee IAS the then Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir Government paid a short visit of four hours from Doda to Bhadarwah In 1976 when he had gone to Doda to attend the Cabinet meeting there. He was deeply impressed by the charming scenic beauty of Bhadarwah Valley and almost identical observations were made by him in his inspection note. The most important observation made by Banerjee pertains to the sprawling snow clad Kailash mountain range in the west and Ashapate mountain range in the east of Bhadarwah town which were compared by him with mount Kilimingo mountain range of Kenya in the African continent having good potential for development of tourism in the area. Besides, the bewitching scenic beauty of Kailash Kund and Ashapate these are well known religious places of pilgrimage. In between these two sites we have dense forests of pine trees accompanied by vast meadows having wild flower plants and herbs in millions accompanied by wild life birds and beasts for the lovers of nature. This provides ample avenues for strengthening religious and scenic tourism in the Bhadarwah Valley. Some Slokas from Vasuki Puran written in 9th century AD are quoted below for information of the readers:-
Sloka 336 of Chapter 90th of Vasuki Puran reads :-
“The holy place Vasuki Kund is the king of all the holy places of pilgrimage. One who pays pilgrimage to Vasuki Kund, he need not to go to other places of pilgrimage.
Sloka 333 reads :-
” Many celestial beings, ascetics and accomplished souls got deliverance from their worldly existence after paying pilgrimage to Vasuki Kund”
Sloka 498 (ibid) states:-
“Ashapeti is the site which cleans the pilgrim from all this sins after taking a holy bath there.
Then Slokas 502, 503 and 504 repeat the scenic beauty of Bhadarwah valley:-
“Heavenly fairies and damsels of paradise are found here in the shape of such herbs after using them on human bodies one attains the beauty of full bloom moon.”
Sloka 503 (ibid) concludes such special mentions. It reads:-
“Surrounded by three mountainous ranges (in the east, west and north) the scenic beauty of Bhadrashram makes this place so beautiful which can neither be found in the heaven (Swargey) nor in the world below (Pataal Desh) nor in the Brahamloka (land of celestial beings) nor anywhere else over this planet.”
This Sloka in Sanskrit reads:-
“Na-Usti Swargey, Na Pataaley
No- Bhrahmlokay Na Bhootlay,
Bhadrashram Maha Sathanam Trikuntay”
The importance of Vasuki Puran in relation to Bhadrashram is the same like that of Neelmat Puran in respect of prehistoric Kashmir valley. Kalhana has made a special mention in Rajtarangini that Neelmat Puran is a great historical treatise for ancient Kashmir. Similarly Vasuki Puran is of great historic importance for ancient Bhadarwah.
Some suggestions:
Gradual expansion and linkage of three tourism circuits was proposed for Jammu Division namely:-
i) Katra- Patnitop and Bhadarwah-Jai circuit
ii) Lakhanpur-Basohli-Bani-Sarthal, Bhadarwah-Kishtwar-Simthan Pass Circuit
iii) Bhadarwah-Jai-Bhallessa Circuit
This will introduce and ensure inter district tourism development in different areas of Kathua, Udhampur, Doda and Kishtwar Districts. Director Tourism Jammu should introduce such inter district tourism development programs by the concerned development authorities of the area by pooling their resources in a well co-ordinated way. Similar action may be initiated in respect of Mughal Road circuit via Rajouri and Poonch districts.
iv) Regarding Bhadarwah-Jai-Bhallesa circuit there is a common saying in the area that if one has to see the highlands of Switzerland and black forests of Germany-go and see Bhadarwah. In addition I suggest the following programmes to boost tourism in the area:-
Bare minimum eco-friendly road linkage facilities need to be provided round the year in the area accompanied by stay and eating facilities. Unemployed graduates and post graduates of the area be given short term training courses and loan facilities to provide the lodge and stay facilities. This will partly solve the employment problem of the youth of these areas. Special care be taken to introduce film shooting facilities in the area. Well reputed and result oriented dynamic officers should be appointed as Executive Officers of the development authorities to be suitably judged and rewarded for honest and dedicated work in achieving the targets. It would be worthwhile to consider engagement of Director Tourism from the category of specialists from the private sector. Like-wise it would be equally worthwhile to entrust the preparation of tourism plans for each circuit by some technically qualified private sector agency. Gradual steps to introduce winter sports and adventure tourism at selective destinations also merit consideration. Holding of summer games at selective places like Sarthal in Bani and Jai in Bhadarwah would provide attractive stay facility to the student community in summer. Establishment of youth hostel at selective places will attract boosting tourism in the area followed by the establishment of one or two wild life sanctuaries in the area. Above all liberal and increased financial allocations for this sector is the primary need of the hour. Without suitable allotment of funds no progress can be made in the tourism sector. Money makes the mare go. How long more and more we have to wait in the matter is indeed a million dollar question. Before I conclude, I feel it urgent to request the Government to fill the vacant post of Chief Executive Officer of Bhadarwah Development Authority which lies vacant for the last six months with urgent directions to the new incumbent of this post to complete ongoing works on priority basis.
(The author is former IAS Officer)
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