The enchanting Padri Pass or Padri Galli or Padri Top which connects Chamba in Himachal Pradesh with Bhaderwah in the Jammu and Kashmir UT at around 10,400 feet at mean sea level.
It is located around 110 kms from Chamba Town and around 40 kms from Bhaderwah and is the highest point of the Chamba Bhaderwah Highway. This is one of the important Passes which connects Jammu and Kashmir with Himachal. In older times Bhaderwah was a part of the powerful Chamba Kingdom which held Kishtwar as well and even Zanskar. For many years Bhaderwah was the bone of contention between the Jammu Kingdom and the Chamba Kingdom until in the mid 1800!s it was taken over by Raja Gulab Singh of Jammu as terms of settlement of the Territorial boundary with the Chamba Kingdom after he acquired Kashmir as per the Treaty of Amritsar.
A boundary dispute has erupted between Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir over the Padri Jot area bordering Chamba and Doda. Himachal has sent a dossier in support of its claim over the area falling in Salooni subdivision of Chamba district. The issue will now be raised at the inter-state council meeting as the Jammu and Kashmir has reportedly encroached upon around 8-9 km into Himachal’s territory.
ALTITUDE: 3100m to 3212m
CLIMATE: Rain-1230mm Temp -10 to 35 C
VEGETATION: Western Mixed Coniferous Forests Moist temperate deciduous forests, Kharsu Oak forest, Brich/ Rhododendron forests and Alpine pastures.
REPORTED FAUNA: Common Langur, Himalayan Black Bear, Brown Bear, Fox, Himalayan Weasel, Jungle Cat, Leopard Cat, Leopard, Jackal, Goral, yellow-throated marten, Royle!s Pika. Himalayan Palm civet, Musk Deer, Himalayan tahr, Indian Porcupine and common giant flying squirrel. Cheer, Koklas, Himalayan Monal, Variegated Laughting thrush, White-browed Blue Flycatcher, Rufous-bellied Niltava, Yellow-browed ground warbler, Large-billed Leaf-Warbler, Large-crowned Leaf-warbler, green-backed Tit, Spot-winged crested Tit, rufous-billied Crested.
ECO-TOURISM SPOTS: Kailash Kund, Seoj Meadows, China Valley, Jai Valley.
ECO-TREKS: Langera-Padri-Bhaderwah, Langera-Bhaderwah, Bhandal-Kihar
BEST PERIOD TO VISIT: April-June & September-October
HOW TO REACH: By Road: From Pathankot-Banikhet-Bhalei-Paadri Jot(189Km) Banikhet to Bhandal via Bhalei, Salooni (88Km). Another route is from Chamba to Bhandal (88Km) Nearest railhead Pathankot (161Km). Nearest Airport: Gaggal Kangra (171Km).
