Bhalessa

1. BHALESSA HERITAGE: AN EYE OPENER
Extract from the book Roots of Bhalessa By Sadaket Malik
The folk people of Bhalessa were called Bhalls in the past which makes one to believe that queen Bhala
of Raja Nagpal have been from Bhaderwah. There are variety of opinions from different people
regarding the origin of its name “Bhalessa” some talk it as Land of “Bhaley Manus” (Bhaley Lougun Ka
Desh) which is meant the decent people with distinct identity. Dr. P K Koul who conducted a research on
Bhaderwah, Chamba, Kangra and Bhalessa in early nineties opine 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)
It has become very difficult for the person of my stature to gauge the history of this otherwise hilly
terrain. Before the Roots of Bhalessa saw a light of the day, I go through the pages of several researches
conducted on the Himalayan region. The historical evidence regarding the area like of Bhalessa is not
found widely in the books like “Rajtarangni” of Kalhana or other regional studies.
Nevertheless, some of the historians like Dr. P K Koul, Parvaiz Deewan (IAS) and Wali Mohd. Aseer has
had spared their three lines regarding Bhalessa.
Bhalessa as it is commonly called comprised of the twin valleys of Bonjwah drained and carved by the
rivults and Bhalessa drained by Kalgoni stream whereas the former emerges from the mountain ranges
of Chamba near the Sach Peak. The later emerges from the Katari range near Son Bain (Golden Spring)
mountain. The two rivults unite near Donadi, a few miles above Thathri on the National Highway 1 B
where it finally merges into the chenab river.
The upper valley is very beautiful and picturisque. In former times the valley of Bhalessa were easily
communicable from Churah Wazarat of Chamba state through more then 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 bounded by chamba district of Himachal Pradesh through a padri pass.
The main divisions viz a viz locations are Neeli, Jatota, Pingal, Chilli, Nanota and Basnota, these areas
seemed scattered owing to the The area is having 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.
The Churah and Bhalessa must have been closely linked in the social and cultural fields as is evident
today by a large of relations between Chamba and Bhalessa. There seemed a unity in social structure.
Bhalessa is full of meadows popularly known as Dhar like Kanthi, Naglotan, Soin Bhagar, Roharhi, Dagan,
Bal Padri, etc. the area is mountainous, it has umpteen number of trekking routes which pass through
places with unbelievable captivating scenic beauty.

2. 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.
Source: Extract from Article.