The name Bhaderwah derives from the Sanskrit word Bhadarwasa meaning "a place of living of supreme and intellect mankind".

'a good resting place') and Bhadar Pura in the 12th century Sanskrit chronicle Rajatarangini, with the former likely a name given to the region by foreign Kashmiri rulers.

Local hill chieftains or Ranas of the Pal clan (originally Chanderbansi Baloria Rajputs from Billawar princely state) ruled the area during the 8th-16th centuries AD.

In 1820, the cousin of last ruler of Pal dynasty, Raja Pahadchand, ascended the throne and fought against Chamba forces who were led by Wazir Nathu.

The region became part of the Dogra Kingdom of Jammu and Kashmir following the Treaty of Amritsar in 1846, according to which the possessions of Chamba state to the west of Ravi river, including the Bhaderwah principality, were given to Gulab Singh.

Bhaderwah's status as a jagir ended in 1930, and it was fully absorbed into the princely state, becoming a tehsil of district Udhampur in 1931.

[17] The Jagir comprised Bhadarwah, Bhalessa and the vast area left of river Chenab from Thathri up to Marmat (Doda).

It also has heritage sites like the Ratangarh Fort, hundred-years-old Jamia Masjid, and an ancient Vasuki Nag Temple.

[21] The tehsil also had a large Kashmiri-speaking minority (33.6% of the total), and significant numbers of speakers of Dogri (4.7%), Gaddi (3.35%), Hindi (1.6%) and Gojri (1.5%) languages.

The administration is emphasising on creating Shopping Malls, luxury hotels, gaming facilities, food courts, and other amenities to attract international and domestic tourists along with promotion of religious and historical destinations.

The festival is organised in collaboration by Directorate of Tourism Jammu, the District Administration Doda, the Academy of Art, Culture and Language, and the Bhaderwah Development Authority (BDA).