My Bhaderwah journey

Varun� KotwalEarly in the morning at Jammu,� bags������� were� packed, slippers were on,� ready� to drive to my home town Bhaderwah. When I started my car, breeze of snow clad mountains hit me on the face� and dragged out� my nostalgic memories������� of missing� Bhaderwah.My first stop on the way to Heaven on Earth is� a� Petrol pump,� near historic� Hari Niwas, the Palace. While my car was getting fueled� up, my imagination took me to� the days when this beautiful Palace was being built , I� couldn't stop complimenting the King for this beautiful Palace, pride of Jammu . Suddenly, tank full sound from petrol pump worker put me in my place. Started� my journey once again , moving few kms� from Hari Niwas, I could witness the site of� River Tawi� giving me hope that till she is in Jammu, Jammu is safe . Suddenly to my surprise� a pack of monkeys stared at me with hope of getting something to eat from me and I didn't break their hopes. When I reached holy Peer Baba on the way, my head bowed�� in respect� and� I prayed for peace of my State and the country and safe journey ahead.On reaching Highway, sound of� 'Wah' , came out of my mouth.� What a beautiful highway!� I couldn't stop myself from thanking government of Shri� Atal Bihari Ji who made this highway possible.� My journey� to Bhaderwah may had just began but my longing to meet my land had begun much earlier.� On the way,� first stop is at new bridge over Jajjar Khotli, I still remember days when� all my� school� picnics were destined to�� this beautiful place but no such grandeur of that time� is left now, due to negligence of local adminstration. To� move away from such a sad scene, I continued my journey until I reached Maa Chandi temple on the highway and� paid� my respect� at the Darbar.On the way, I crossed Manthal,� famous for its� achar, (pickles);� Udhampur city which is full of traffic and� I also ate, famous� Mama da nutri kulcha� Wow !, what a treat to my taste buds! My next stop was just few kms away from new Nasri -Chanani tunnel. What a beauty and marvelous gift of engineering to people of� Bhaderwah and Kashmir ! Entering into tunnel was like entering womb of 'mother earth' and coming out of it� was like taking new birth. This experience cann't be explained in words and you have to visit, to have first hand experience of yourself. Finally, I� reached Bataote 80 km away from Bhaderwah,� whole weather changed, totally different from other side of tunnel, rolled down windows of my car,� switched�� off� A.C,� temperatures was refreshing, weather was pleasant, driving� became fun, site and scenes of mountains and hills were eye catching, but still� I controlled my feeling and put my heart at right place and became more cautious as driving in hill is risky and deadly if not taken well care off.What a beautiful site in fornt of my eyes ! Sign board written in bold letters "Welcome to� District Doda".� Ah, what a joyful feeling, inner happiness and feeling of contentment engulfed� me . Site of� mighty� Chenab river along side the road� welcomed� me, tall trees of Deodar� on the both side� of road� hugged me, I could not think of any other place as beautiful as My Bhaderwah .� My� people welcomed� me with open heart and opened arms as� it took me six� hours to reach� my place.� I decided to take rest and start over again next day. Next day I visited beautiful lake view� Gatha resort in the heart of� Bhaderwah, beauty at its best,� spent whole of my day in the lap of lake Gatha, next day visited Jai� meadows of heaven . The famous place� of� Bhaderwah� which you can't skip� on your visit to Bhaderwah. The� Seoj� Dhar� another beautiful creation of God, the most famous tourist destination these� days is snow covered.� Padhri meadows� and Gulli Dana, every tourist and local visit these two places to witness utmost beauty of� Bhaderwah . There are many, many other places to visit in Bhaderwah. List is very long, you should� come and experience yourself and last but not the least don't compare Bhaderwah with Kashmir. Bhaderwah is not mini Kashmir but it is� big� Bhaderwah, my land, and there can't be any other palce as beautiful as Bhaderwah on this Earth .