Enchanting Dudu Valley

Dudu Valley in Udhampur district lies amidst the lush vibrant coniferous forest intermingled with broad leaved trees, shrubs, herbs, climber with multi-hued variety of other flora.

- @ GL KHAJURIA

The valley lies around 171 kms from Jammu city. The break up journey through local buses, hired/ owned vehicles is from Jammu to Chenani (100 kms), Chenani to Man Talai (50 kms) through various hamlets viz Basti, Bast, Gauri Kund, Sudhmahadey (where 2800 meters above sea level temple exists).

At Sudhmahadey, an annual Shiv mela is religiously celebrated where pilgrims across the country assemble in the form of a pilgrimage in the first week of June every year.

The journey proceeds across through Mantalai (12 kms) prominently known as a beautiful spot amidst deodar, kail and chir forest. Here, late sh. Dharendra Bhramehari raised beautiful structures for yoga center of international fame apart from petrol pump, gaushalla, mini zoo, rosary, and a swimming pool. But unfortunately with the passing away of yog guru for back around 90s's in a helicopter crash while landing under a dense fall. All his further ambitious planning stood at standstill. It is painful to add over here that many writers have of repeatedly emphasized about the hefty invested money on yoga ashram together with allied developments to warrant their up keep, preservation and further enhancement to restore the beauty of the spot by bringing it under Patnitop Development Authority (PDA) but nothing concrete has so been materialized.