Geography

Lies 32° 57' 50.50" N 75° 58' 48.88" E. There are most famous mountain peaks/Dhars in
Bhalessa like Mehlwar Pass, which rise to a height of 7705 ft.above sea level. The area is
endowed with vast wealth of natural beauty and resources. Full with natural
endownments, scenic splendour, places of tourist interest, Worship, round the year snow
claded mountain peaks and challenging tracks allure the adventurers and trekkers.The
area has good potential for tourism including pilgrim and adventure tourism, The Kalgoni
Temple, Durga Maa shrine at Tipri khaljugasar deserve special mention here. owing to its
captivating scenic splendour, pilgrim centres and lofty mountain peaks. Unfortunately,
there area is in shambles due to unexploration. The area need to be explored.
In these areas there is lot of snow fall during the winter season and the summer is
as pleasant as Kashmir. These places are worth visiting in the winters for enjoying the
Snowfall specially.
Due to its varying physical features, Bhalessa does not have a uniform climate.
The climate is temperate Average rainfall in area and other parts of Doda have been
recorded as 35.08 inches per year which is lowest as compared to other areas of Jammu
Division. Due to low average annual precipitation, the area has been declared as Drought
prone.

Culture:
The District is having mixed culture and the people are speaking
several dialects, viz Mixed Kashmiri, Gojri, and hindu’s speak Pahri.
Overtime, there is an evidence of migration of some pandits from
Kashmir valley. “KOUD” is a popular cultural festival celebrated in
Bhalessa.

Climate
The climate is almost dry. The rainfall is scanty, because of this reason
the area is declared as Drought Prone Area by the Ministry of Rural
Development Govt of India. The temperature remains snow bound for
five-six months of the year. Summer is generally without rain and
precipitation often occurs during the winter season.

Natural Resources
The soil is generally loose and Gruti and in some places
Sandy with very low moisture. The incidence of soil erosion is very high
and roads blockage is frequent during the rainy season.
The places are notorious for fall of slides during every rainy
season and cause inconvenience to all. The Soil conservation
Department is surveying the area but no concrete steps has been put
in place by the concerned officers to aware the people about the soil
conservation schemes.
 The role of NGOs is strongly laudable in this direction for
contributing their bit owing to which many wastelands became green.
Bhalessa is rich in coniferous forest wealth.
The forest provides timber of important varieties viz,
Deodar, Fir, Kail, Chir, etc.These also yield products like dhoop, resin,
guchian and other products. For rehabilitation of degraded forests and
increase the forest area by plantation in the area taken up in a big way
of the forest Department.
There might be some world’s oldest Deodars s in Jitota Zone
of Bhalessa. The precious stones in the area are also expected to be
found in the Dudwar area in abundance. The main crops are Maize, and
wheat.