Bhaderwah, located at an altitude of 5,295 feet in the foothills of the middle Himalayas, has acquired the suitable nickname "Chhota Kashmir," or little Kashmir. Deep deodar forests provide profound silence, while vivid fuchsia rhododendrons grace the meadows. The valley's past is rich with local legends, but the snow-capped mountains will steal your heart in an instant. These peaks, which glisten in the winter light, entice visitors from all over the world.
From December 27 to 31, Bhaderwah will hold the five-day Bhaderwah Winter Festival. According to sources, District Development Commissioner (Doda) Harvinder Singh presided over a meeting this week with stakeholders in Bhaderwah to finalise the event's programmes and plans. Several activities are scheduled at well-known locations such as the Qilla (Bhaderwah Fort), Jae Valley, Guldanda, and Gatha Park. The festival will begin at Bhaderwah Fort and will include cultural activities, local artist performances, music, sports, local cuisine, and kiosks showcasing local craft and culinary items.
Music and adventure sports such as paragliding, horseback riding, zorbing, and trekking will bring the Jae Valley to life on the second day. If you are into winter sports, you can enjoy skiing, snow scooter rides, as well as music and local cuisine at Guldanda on the third and fourth days. Celebrity performers and singers will perform throughout the day until midnight to celebrate the New Year on the fifth day of the festival.
Bhaderwah, located in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district, is known for its immense natural beauty, which includes hundreds of unnamed rivers clinging precariously to the mountainsides, alpine valleys filled with centuries-old temples, and snow-capped peaks undisturbed by worldly distractions.
With its undulating green slopes and snow-capped mountains as a backdrop, Bhaderwah features a variety of meadows and valleys that are just as popular for picnics as the meadows of Jae Valley.
The meadows of Seoj Meadow are flanked by tall mountains, with the sacred peak of Kailash Kund to the south and a meandering river to the west. This meadow, known locally as Seoj Dhar, serves as a camping area for Kailash Yatra pilgrims. Adventurers can participate in exhilarating paragliding tours that cross Bhaderwah's magnificent surroundings.
The high-altitude Jae Valley meadows, located near the gorgeous Bhaderwah in Jammu and Kashmir, have become a popular tourist destination. This year, a surprising four lakh people, including 1.20 lakh students, visited this picturesque valley at an amazing altitude of 7,850 feet.
Chinta Valley, at an elevation of 6,500 feet, is also worth a visit. Visitors can ride horses from Baggan to Thuba and then visit the nearby old Shiva temple.
Jammu, which is some 200 kilometres from Bhaderwah, is the best starting point.
By Air: Jammu Airport is well-connected to the cities of Srinagar, Delhi, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
By Train: The major railheads from Jammu that you can take are Jammu Express, Shalimar Express, Sealdah Express, Jhelum Express, Jammu Mail, and Malwa Express, among a few others.