Proper Budhal is a small town containing about 100 shops, Police Station and about 300 houses. It is situated on the mound near Gabbar Nallah in between 33 degree 23 mnts latitude and 74 degree 41 mnts longitude. The town falls on the Southern range of Peer Panchal which is connected with motorable road with Rajouri. Another road from Budhal to connect Gool Gulabgarh is also under construction. This beautiful spot is existing on enroute to Budhal pass or Sedhu pass which leads towards the valley while the Sedhu pass is about 24 kms from Shopian (Kashmir) and 25 kms from Budhal town.
Budhal is a beautiful valley located in between the main Peer-Panchal Range of mountains. The geography of the area is comprised of snow capped attractive peaks, thick forests, gushing streams, crystal clear lakes, meadows and pastures. No doubt that the area could not be developed properly and no tourism activity is available, but keeping in view the natural scenic beauty, this area easily be compared with the terrain of valley and can be developed for tourism purposes by constructing huts/touist sarais at Koteranka. By this way, the condition of the people can also be improved.
Proper Budhal is a small town containing about 100 shops, Police Station and about 300 houses. It is situated on the mound near Gabbar Nallah in between 33 degree 23 mnts latitude and 74 degree 41 mnts longitude. The town falls on the Southern range of Peer Panchal which is connected with motorable road with Rajouri. Another road from Budhal to connect Gool Gulabgarh is also under construction. This beautiful spot is existing on enroute to Budhal pass or Sedhu pass which leads towards the valley while the Sedhu pass is about 24 kms from Shopian (Kashmir) and 25 kms from Budhal town. Most of the trekkers are using Budhal as a base-camp and track the Peer Pachal range via Sedhu pass towards Kashmir.
Renowned Research Scholar Late Moti Lal Saki wrote in one of his article that the native place of Khasha Tribes was between Banshala (presently Banihal) and Rajouri (presently Rajouri) i.e Budhal area. Khashas were great worriers who ruled Rajouri and Kashmir in 9th and 10th century AD. Some historians go upto this extent that the name of Kashmir was derived from Khasha Tribe as Khashmar. Lateron, it changed from Khashmar to Kashmir. From 10th century onward till 19th century, there is no direct reference about the Ruler who ruled Budhal area. It appears that during this period, Budhal remained the part of Rajouri principality which remained mostly ruled by Jaral Muslim Rajas and the worrier tribes of Budhal area were also remained taking parts along with the parts in the battles along with the forces of Rajas of Rajouri.
In 1846 AD, when Rajouri was captured by Maharaja Gulab Singh, Raja Rahim Ullah Khan of Rajouri was compelled to leave the principality. Thakker Namdhar Khan’s son Bandhu Khan alongwith his other family members, also accompanied Raja Rahim Ullah Khan and in light of the decision taken by the residents of Lahore, Raja Rahim Ullah, Bandhu Khan and his family left their native places once for all and settled in village Rohallo of District Kangra in Himachal Pradesh. Bandhu Khan died there leaving behind his two sons namely Sherbaz Khan and Mohammad Hafiz Khan. They tried to come back to their native principality Budhal but they were not allowed by Maharaja Gulab Singh and so they left back and Budhal remained governed by the Dogras.
From 1846 onwards, Budhal remained part of Rajouri Tehsil which was initially governed by Mian Hathu. In 1860 AD, this area became the part of Bhimber District while in 1904 AD Budhal was also affiliated with Reasi District like Rajouri and this Administrative set up continued upto 1947.
In 1947, like other parts of the state, Budhal area also became hot and tense due to infiltration and attacks of raiders and PoK army. Immediately after Independence, Pakistan tried to capture Poonch and Rajouri area. Since at that time, Maharaja Hari Singh was having only 8000 Dogra forces which were scattered throughout the state i.e in Ladakh, Gilgit, Kashmir, Jammu and Poonch. On the other hand, the revolt of Suddans which was started from Poonch was comprised of about 60000 retired ex-servicemen of 2nd World War besides 30000 tribesmen of MWFP. This revolt was also having full support of Pakistan army. Therefore, they became able to capture almost all parts of Poonch except Poonch city upto 26th October, 1947 when the raiders declared so called Azad Government under the leadership of Sardar Ibrahim Khan in a Primary School at Trarkhal a village of Poonch District. On 13th of November, the infiltrators and deserters of Maharaja’s forces under the command of Captain Rehmat Ullah and Sakhi Diler Suddan captured Rajouri after committing large scale atrocities at Rajouri. They also went towards Budhal and captured the town. The infiltrators nominated Mirza Mohammad Hussain as the Administraor of Rajouri area which included Budhal also. Mirza Mohammad Hussain further nominated Sardar Jalal Din as Administrator of Budhal. This set up remained continued during the winter of 1947 and upto the beginning of summer of 1948.
Presently , 65 percent population of the tehsil is living below poverty line. Due to locational disadvantages, very less development has taken place in the past. Serious efforts are being made for the development of the area by creating infrastructural facilities like road linkages, construction of school buildings, health institutions, provision of drinking water facilities, electrification of villages etc.
Under Beneficiary Oriented Schemes, people are getting full benefit of plan funds while under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), old-age pension is being provided to 2500 persons. 725 trainees have so far been trained under various trades enabling them to start their ventures. No doubt that due to militancy related activities, the tehsil has suffered a lot and the officers are not in a position to monitor the schemes in remote areas. Even then, full efforts are being made to help the people to create infrastructure, to implement various nature of Beneficiary Oriented Schemes and to redress their grievances by solving their problems.
Budhal has good potential for tourist point of view. Its scenic beauty can attract tourists from the State as well as from outside the state. Moreover, this track can be used for adventurous tourism also. Therefore, there is need of development of this area for tourism purposes so that the poverty could be removed in one side and area could be developed on the other side.
