Tourists Attractions in Sapphire Valley Paddar.

Paddar in Distt. Kishtwar, J&K state in India embodies the poetry of nature, which no human language can interpret in words. Majestic ice capped mountains, verdant woods, lively rivers and placid lakes form the landscape of the area. Paddar is virgin Heaven on Earth. The land of Paddar is blessed with exquisite natural beauty. With the snow clad mountaintops, exotic orchards, lush green pastures, alpine forests and many more, the divine and delightful land of Paddar is a boon to the worldwide nature lovers. This valley is one of the popular tourist spots in the state of Jammu & Kashmir situated at a height of about 1700m from sea level and at a distance of 298 KM. from Jammu. This virgin heaven carves for itself a prominent place because of its variegated tourism potential. This land is a happy combination of the mighty splendour of mountains, lakes, hot-springs, lush-green meadows, water-falls, indigenous art and architecture, lovely glades and forests. The mighty river Chenab and Bhot-nallah adds to the fascinating look of the place. This valley has a vast potential for tourism : pilgrim tourism having places of attraction like Machial Yatra,ChittooYatra etc. ,eco-tourism offering unique and unmatched virgin destinations for eco-tourists on account of the vivid diversity in terrain, environment ,climate ,ethnicity, culture, language ,food habits ,dresses etc. Paddar offers a good many numbers of places that have acquired immense popularity as tourist destinations. Each and every tourist spots is unparalleled in the scenic beauty.

  The panoramic view of the long stretches of sun kissed mountains and vast spread meadows makes the uniquely beautiful land of Paddar, a real Paradise for the tourists. The natural beauty of the place is sublime and among the sightseeing spots of popular tourist attraction of the state. 

   Lakes also dot the landscape of Paddar. Paddar has beautiful lakes like Barnaz lake situated at a distance of about 3KM.from Machail village, Mondhal lake situated at a distance of about 5KM.from Gulabgarh and there are many more small lakes, waterfalls and streams which add to the richness of the beauty of this area. Besides, this area also abounds in hot and cold springs. .A large tract of land at Tatapani village situated at a distance of about 5KM.fron Gulabgarh is full of hot springs ranginging from extremely hot to lukewarm water .There is a temple of Shesnag just behind the pond of hot springs covering an area of about 40 feet in length and 20 feet in width.People from far off plac es flock to Tatapani for taking bath and getting themselves relieved of their rheumatic diseases and troubles. Besides hot springs, there are many cold springs as well. The entire area has been endowed by nature with cold springs at the required locations. The forests of this area are perfect retreat where tourists can spend time for exploring nature and snatching occasional glimpses of the animals in their natural habitat. The area is famous for sheltering several species of mammals that include Himalayan thar, monkey, blackbear, snow leopard etc. Moreover, bird lovers can have a wonderful time regaling themselves in the cheerful and melodious twitters of birds .This Teshil is dotted with a no. of famous pilgrimage sites, all located in the lap of splendid nature. The sites attracts thousands of people every year. A visit to any pocket of the area richly endowed with nature's wealth is a life time experience.

One such popular place, which is very significant both as a religious pilgrimage as well as a popular tourist palace thronged by devotees in large numbers, is Shrine of Mata Chandi or Machail wali Mata. 

Another popular pilgrimage is shrine of Chitto Mata or Singhasan Mata situated at a distance of about 30 KM.from tehsil headquarter Atholi Paddar.This pilgrimage starts in the first half of July every year. This yatra begins from Chisoti enroute Massu, Leondi, Gulabgarh, Sohal and Chitto, the holy abode of Singhasan Mata with night halts at Leondi, Sohal and finally Chitto where 'jagran"is held. This site is thronged by pilgrims from far and wide across the J&K and adjoining Himachal Pradesh.

    Hagyouth- A place in Paddar amidst of the Himalayas and cradled amidst the natural beauty. Just a few kilometers from Hagyouth Dhar, there is a Latroth Dhar rich in greenery in summers, the place has a complete different look when it is snowing. The snow covered peaks, chunk of the glaciers in the streams, and the alpine and deodar trees all appeals the tourists. This place has become popular and thronged by visitors from far and wide. A yatra

     The art and architecture also adds feather to the popularity of this area. This area abounds in stone-fountains called 'noan'in Padri. A noan slal is generally a tetrahedral single piece of rock chiseled round usually with a circular design around the neck. An open furrow is cut along one of the hedrons of the noans for flow of water. The furrow is open up to the neck wherefrom it further runs through a hole bored in the round face of noan.A noan is usually rested on a wall with its round mouth protruding out for flow of water. The noan spring is covered from three sides with the help of walls .Some noan springs are covered with roof stone beams and planks adjusted in such a matured workmanship that not only a single drop of water can trickle inside .These stone fountains are found in Dhundi, Ligri, Kirthai, Leondi etc. At Leondi, an image of Nandi -Shiva's Bull has been sculptured from a hard sandstone with all physical features by local sculptors. The statue is about 4 feet in length and 3 feet in height. A saddle sculptured over hump and fringed with designs is clearly visible on the back of Nandi. A Nandi, Lord Shiva's attendant, has also been sculptured in the statue. The entire work, however, lacks finish and smoothness but is in excellent indigenous art.

    To see nature at its best make a trip to the various tourist places of Paddar. This area would leave everybody spell bound with its remarkable spirit of adventure activities and tourism sites. If anyone has imagined trekking through the snow heaped mountains, Paddar is the place.

    There are very few places to enjoy the soaring hills, lakes, river, and the historic cities. This valley is nothing different from Kashmir in charm and elegance. The area of Paddar though small in land area draws immense number of tourists. Temples, apple orchards, gardens, and the festivals make it a worthwhile place of visit as well. Take a tour of the handicraft textile in the region making blankets, clothes, and other woolen accessories.

    This tehsil has also eco tourism potential as it has undisturbed natural areas with specified object of studying, admiring & enjoying the scenery & its wild plants & animals as well as any existing cultural aspects both past as well as present . This valley has many attractions in the form of alpine pastures for the adventure tourism. Cultural diversity is equally charming in this area. 

Beauty of the Biodiversity rich valley Paddar

Paddar valley famous for one of the world’s purest and highest Sapphire mine is situated at the extreme south-east corner of district Kishtwar. The valley touches its border with Pangai valley of Himachal Pradesh, Zanskar valley of Ladakh and Marwah-Wadwan valley. The lowest altitude of the Paddar valley is 1700 meters asl at the base of rivers Chandrabhaga and Bhotnallah whereas many of the mountain peaks are more than 5000 meters asl in height. Thus the lower altitude areas of the valley are occupied with temperate vegetation whereas the higher altitude areas consist of sub-alpine vegetation and alpine pasturelands. Due to the diversity of climate there is also a rich diversity in flora and fauna. More than half of the area in Paddar valley has no connectivity with roads, electricity.  Thus the lifestyle of the people is still traditional depending mostly on the Biodiversity of the area to fulfill most of their daily needs. Many plant species are used by the locals for edible, commercial, medicinal, religious and other daily life purposes.

            The plant diversity of the valley consists of about 50 species of trees, 50 species of shrubs and more than 300 species of herbs. The lower altitudes are dominated by broadleaf Oak species (Quercus baloot), which is being heavily impacted by the locals for its use as fuel wood and fodder. Other associated tree species are Alder (Alnus nitida), Maples (Acer species), Elm (Ulmus wallichiana), Ash (Fraxinus excelsior), Poplars (Populus species) Horse chestnut (Aesculus indica), Willows (Salix species) etc. Many temperate cultivated fruit species like Apple (Malus domestica), Apricot (Prunus armeniaca), Sweet cherry (Prunus avium), Allo Bukhara (Prunus bokhariensis), Wild cherry (Prunus ceriosoiodes), Plums (Prunus domestica), Peach (Prunus persica), Pomegranate (Punica granatum), Pear (Pyrus communis) are present in the valley. Some of the wild fruit species are Bird Cherry (Prunus cornuta), Kanth (Pyrus pashia), (Sorbus lanata), Hawthorn (Crataegus songarica), Quince (Cydonia vulgaris), Hackberry (Celtis australis), Wild fig (Ficus palmate) which have edible as well as commercial importance for the locals. The Wallnut (Jugalans regia), Hazelnut (Corylus cornuta) and Chilgoza pine (Pinus gerardiana) are a big source of income for many people. Various coniferous species of the area are Deodar (Cedrus deodara), Kail (Pinus wallichiana), Spruce (Picea simithiana), Fir (Abies pindrow), and Himalayan yew (Taxus baccata). At the tree line Birch (Betula utilis) trees are found. Deodar and Birch trees are heavily impacted by locals for construction of traditional houses of Paddar valley.

            Many plants species of medicinal importance are a source of earning for some local Hakims and traders of these plants. Various species are Himalayan yew (Taxus wallichiana), Kala zeera (Bonium persicum), Picrorhiza (Picrorhiza kurrooa), Patish (Aconitum heterophyllum), Dischorea (Dioscorea deltoidea), Kuth (Saussurea costus), Kasturi kamal (Saussurea gossypiphora),  Artemisia (Artemisia meritima), Wild Thyme (Thymus serphyllum), Himalayan Arnebia (Arnebia benthamii), Himalayan blue poppy (Meconopsis aculeata), Dandelion (Traxacum officinale), Hourse mint (Mentha longifolia), Himalayan May Apple (Podophyllum hexandrum),  Indian Rhubarb (Rheum webbianum), Spiked Rhubarb (Rheum spiciforme), Jatamansi (Valeriana jatamansi), Himalayan Bergenia (Bergenia stracheyi) etc. Rhododendron species are also used for their medicinal importance.

Some plant species like Gugal Dhoop (Jurinea macrocephala), Juniper (Juniperus communis), Shangel (Skimmia anquetilia) etc. are used for religious purposes in the homes and temples. Shrub species like Witch hazel (Parrotiopsis jacquemontiana), Desmodium elegans, Indegofera heterantha, Lonicera quinquelocularis, Spiraea canescens etc. are used by the locals for various craftworks and formation of agricultural implements. Other comman shrubs of the valley are Viburnum species, Rhus wallichi, Lyonia ovalifolia, Rabdosia rugosa, Astragalus species, Berberis species, Cotoneaster species, Dephne oleoides, Sorbaria tomentosa, Zizyphus oxyphylla etc. Shrubs of the alpine pastures consist of Junipers, Rhododendrons, Salix, etc. Various fungi growing on the trees and in the litter of coniferous forests are also used by the locals for edible purposes. Guchi (Morchella esculentum) is one of the major sources of earning for major portion of the local population.

            The carnivorous mammalian fauna found in the forests of the valley includes Leopard (Panthera pardus), Brown bear (Ursus arctos), Black bear (Selenarctos thibetanus), Jackal (Canis aureus), Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) etc. Snow Lepord (Uncia uncia) is also found on the glaciers near the Zanskar border. Various wild herbivores of the valley are Musk dear (Moschus moschiferus), Himalayan ibex (Capra ibex), Himalayan Tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus). Rhesus monkey (Maccaca mulata) and Comman Langoor (Presbytus entellus) are also common in the valley. Avian fauna includes birds like House sparrow (Passer domesticus), Chukar (Alectoris chukar), Koel (Eudynamys scolopaceous), House Crow (Corvus splendens), Wild crow (Corvus species), Bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus), Himalayan snowcock (Tetraogallus himalayensis) etc.

 Although there is a rich diversity of flora and fauna in the Paddar valley but increased population, unchecked hunting and commercialization of forest minor products have increased the threats to the rich Biodiversity. The anthropogenic disturbances in the form of timber extraction, fuel wood, fodder, grazing, trade of forest minor products have reduced the population of many ecologically important species. The unchecked felling of deodar and Oak trees has also reduced the density of the trees in the forests. The regeneration of the plants has also reduced due to the above factors. Thus there is requirement of timely management of the forests and proper management policy with the involvement of locals can help in the conservation of the Biodiversity.