Budda Amarnath

8/11/2019 Budda Amarnath

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BUDDA AMARNATH

Situated around 20-25 kms far away from Poonch to its North- East is

perched this "sanctum sanctorum" of "Buddha Amarnathji" are!y 2-

kms downfoot hi!! of #$andi %i!!a&e a!so nomenc!aturised as "'ajpur

$andi" a!on&side !eft ank of "Pu!sata stream"( As per a popu!ar

e!ief "Pu!sata stream" is attriuted to a sa&e y name "Pu!sata

'ishi") &rand father of "'a%an") who had an arduous penace of the

"supreme Shi%a" here at $andi*s foothi!!s and otained Shi%a*s

fa%ours o%er the remotest past( +his "sanctum sactorum" is e!ie%ed

to e much of a&e than "Shri Amarnathji ho!y ca%e" and is reported to

e eyond 2 !akh years ack when the sacred "Shi%a*s" spot was

disco%ered and a!! this e!ucidate on "Shi%a*s" e,istence which

emu!ate its eminence when we impe! someone aout the

omnipotence of supreme Shi%a emittin& meadowsweet hea%en!y

fra&rance to a! his de%otees who thron& in for ho!y darshan.

irrespecti%e of re!i&ion. caste. co!our and creed(

As per an e/ua!!y prominent !e&- end. it has een reported that in

those remotest past a /ueen y name *oran 1handerika* was an

arduous de%otee of *ord Shi%a* and e%ery time around the ear. she

&ot used to ho!y *3arshan* of the ord 4 *Shri Amarnathji 1a%e* and on

miss4in& one *atra* she went wi!d i&norin& mea!s e%en to the e,tent

of water( +he *Supreme ord*. the Shi%a fa%oured and appeared inher dreams(

And on the dawn of the ne,t day. a saint appeared efore her and

assured to ha%e her ho!y darshan of "Shri Amarnathji" in her own

nati%e p!ace of $andi itse!f(


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Astonishin&!y. on the day of fu!! moon!i&ht of "'aksha Bandhan". the

sa&e in a miracu!ous manner with hi!ariousness. a hu&e atra in the

form of ho!ymance off-shooted from "$andi" and its surrounds ein&

!ed y the saint towards an unknowned hi!! and whi!e the ho!y mace

reached the destined hi!! found a sacred spot when the sa&e went

missin& amon&st the hu&e mace) where the /ueen was in the !ead(

4t was a time of wonder of won- ders when hea%en!y-!ike ima&es

emer&ed de!i&htin&!y- to the utmost surprise of a!! as if they are in

hea%en. miracu!ous!y and some with hea%en!y aode ne%er e%er

seened or throu&ht to e seened( +his a!! was muy in its entirety

rather a sem!ance of &od!ihood( +his was that *ord*s $a&nanimity"

with e,pression of %o!uminous which thou&h. indeed. soothen their

sou!s y the &reat &race of "Shri Buddha Amarnathji" and is e!ie%ed

further that 3arshan of ord "6ar 6ar $ahade%" is not comp!ete if this

*Sanct!7m Sanctoru789* is not &one o%er for ho!y darshan. pay

oeisance and otain !essin&s from the &reat &race of the supreme

!ord(

+he ho!y mace #ata: di%u!&es on "Shra%an Puranmashi" y pu!a and

ha%an and the hu&e proces- sion off-shoots and a foot towards the

spiritua! spot. enchantin& 6ar. 6ar. $ahade%. en route. which de facto

echoes the wafty c!ouds o%er the aure sky on the hi!!s and this is

ein& 4nitiated y the what is !oca!!y spoken as the representati%es of

Akhara* and whi!e on way to the *Sanctum Sanctorum; there is an

immensi%e disp!ay of !an&ers. sta!!s of mu!tihued nature for the

de!i&hted de%otees on their (Nay to ho!y temp!e(


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+he surrounds of the temp!e is ha%in& c!ustered *owies* and

amon&st those is one spoken in !oca! par!ance a "Paap Nashi" ow!i

which washes off a!! the sins( So. the de%otees ha%e a ho!y dip in the

spirn& #Bow!i: efore proceedin& for ho!y darshan of "Supreme

Shi%a". pay oeisance and otain !essin&s( An ido! of *Nandi&anji*

e,ists on spot adjoinin& the temp!e comp!e, of "ord Shi%a". who too

is worshipped with due re%erence and de%otion( 4n< order to faci!itate

the incomin& and out&oin& pi!&rims. the !oca! Shrine Par%andhak

1ommittee in association with !oca! and e,istin& =o%ernment

a&encies to make ade/uate arran&ements for the food. !od&in&.

medica! ser%ices and their a!!ieds to make the pi!&rima&e comforta!e.

apart from !aw and order situation and security arran&ements in these

hi&h peaked mi!itancy scenario(

+his sacred temp!e #sanctum sanctorum: is of utmost importance of

*Shakti* and demands !ot of impro%ements y carryin& out

e,tensi%eintensi%e afforestation works and the forest deptt( sha!!

ha%e to pick up the thread( >n the same ana!o&y. the f!oricu!ture deptt

and other sister a&encies need to e ener&ie at their respecti%e

assi&nments to enhance the &randeur and &!ory of the area(

4nsofaras. the f!oricu!ture deptt( is concerned. it needs raisin& of

ornamenta! p!ants. the c!imers. creepers. hed&es and many more of

its i!k in order to enhance pi!&rims inf!u,. apart from impro%in&

eco!o&y and oostin& tourism( +he area do demands to e rou&ht

under *Shrine Board* with due co-operation associatin& !oca!s to

ensure up&radation of the area. apart from !ayin& out of she!tered -


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stop-o%ers. enroute. the toi!ets and the %iews points so on and so

forth?77

Saardhar < +he Aode of Sheshna&(

@asuki Na& was hi&h!y re%ered and miracu!ous Na&a !eader and may

ha%e or&anised the scattered nation for stru&&!e and that was the

reason @asuki was e!e%ated as deity(

@asuki had two rothers one of them was Shesh Na& #popu!ar!y

known in Bhaderwah as Saar Na&: who was more powerfu! of a!!.

the nati%e Na&as(

hen @asukina& ecame the 'aja of Bhaderwah. he di%ided his

kin&dom and &a%e ri&ht side of Neru stream to his rother Shesh Na&

who had his esta!ishment at Saardar #Saar means Sheshna&

dhar means a sma!! hi!!: a p!ace of sa!uri- ous c!imate. thick forests.

enchantin& %iew of hi!!s mountains and postures. esides i& and

sma!! ham!ets at a hei&ht of 000 feet from sea !e%e!( +hus Saarna&

had his sway o%er a !ar&e area comprisin& 1hinta. Bha!ra. Bedote.

1hira!!a and other adjoinin& %i!!a&es(

Accordin&!y a di%ine edifice stand erected at a commandin& site in

the shape of a temp!e !on& ack( +he p!inth of the temp!e is in a 2C

s/uare feet hi&h p!atform !eadin& a hand- some f!i&ht of steps from

the &round( +he s/uare ce!!a of the temp!e is ui!t in stone masonry

of 95 feet hi&h accommodatin& an ido! of Shesh Na& co%ered with

coi!ed serpents in !ack( +he outer co%er of the temp!e is with


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projectin& portico on each side( +he cone ein& D92 feet with a stee!

ka!ash on top ha%in& a commandin& !ook(

Shesh Nag popularly known as Sabar Nag is considered a

supreme power among Nagas. The early legends and radiions

show ha Naga !ords o"en mani"es o noble souls and

someimes appearing in human "rom and alked o hem "ace o

"ace.

An interestin& and wide!y acknow!ed&ed !e&end !eads us to mirac!es

of Saar Na&(

>ne =odan c!an of 1hinta were Na&ku! 'ajputs and one of the scion

residin& in 8a!&a were spiritua!!y associated with Saar Na& and one

of their ancestors a sa&e was a top in spiritua! %irtues ha%in& c!ose

association with Saar Na&. wou!d often %isit Saardhar whi!e tendin&

his f!ock of sheep in the meadows and sit with Saar Na& to p!ay

chess #a &ame p!ayed y two with 9D eads: and wou!d discuss

certain wor!d!y and spiritua! pro!ems too( +his was usua! pro&ramme

of the two(

>ne day the Na& ord interdicted the Sa&e not to %isit on the day of

unjatra #day of Na&as: ecause as usua! an important meetin& of

the Na&as was to e he!d to perform certain Na&a ritua!s on that

particu!ar day( As kunjatra is the day of Na&as which &enera!!y takes

p!ace 95 days efore the commencement of !oca! jatras ce!erated in

honour of the Na&a ords(

But the sa&e inad%ertent!y happened to reach there on the same day.

and to his &reat surprise he found that a &rand darar of Na&a*s was


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ein& he!d under the patrona&e of Saar Na&( 4t was a secret

meetin& of the Na&as to perform certain Na&a ritua!s and the

appearance there other than the Na&as was undesira!e(

+he Na&as resented the presence of the mankind there and cursed

him to face death after se%en days when the first rays of the mornin&

sun wou!d touch the peak of the ai!ash und(

+he sa&e did not mind it. ut asked one fa%our from Saar Na& that

he wou!d persona!!y come-to rin& down a wood on his pyre( +he

Saar Na& a&reed and promised(

>n the appointed day when the first rays of the risin& sun touched the

peak of the ai!ash und the sa&e reathe his !ast( +he fami!y

memers and re!ati%es ade farewe!! to the departed sou! and

marched towards crematorium to perform !ast rites( 4t atFout 500

yards on the way tne-re was a i& o!d $ohru tree and the ier of the

dead was kept under the tree as was a&reed in the promise( +hen a

twi& of the tree was p!ucked and p!aced &ent!y on the ier and a i&

!ack snake appeared headin& the.

dead march up to crematorium. when reached there dead ody was

p!aced on the prayer the snake hissed and disappeared there and

then( +he !e&- end is sti!! preser%ed and narrated to the comin&

&enerations( +he Saar Na& showers !essin&s to the de%otees when

propitiated with faith and re!i&ious de%otion(

Another nota!e incident pertainin& to the !essin&s of Na&a ord

# Shesh Na&: a!so found recorded in the anna!s of ancient

Bhaderwah( 4t is said that 'aja Amar Sin&h oun&er Brother of


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MANDA #$!D !$%& SAN'TUAR(

E%er dri%en out to the wi!d!ife sanctuary of $anda in the c!ose

pro,imity of the city of temp!es 8ammu. one fee!s %ery much akin to

nature and its natura! ein&s( At one point of time not in the so remote

past. a !eopard was seen in wonderous nature. en route. $anda

near" ar Na!!ah". which drains into the ri%er +awi(

ith e%er e,p!odin& GPopu!ation man*s needs are e%er increasin& not

just for his mere needs ut much more eyond &reeds. which is

yie!din& a remorsefu! scenario( And stran&e enou&h. this piece of

*&reen &o!d* as we &!impse it today is we!! under the nose of e%ery

8ammuite. !east to ta!k of those who are at the he!m of affairs. thewi!d!ife department and the =o%ernment at !ar&e( +hou&h the

department of wi!d!ife is makin& a!! out efforts for the preser%ation and

conser%ation of the &reen &o!d %is-a %is the fauna which susist

therein. yet !ot of fundin& if( the dire demand of the day in oostin& a!!

entire scenario in its entirerity and oye a!! humans wi!! ha%e to imie

that est and ea! to rin& up the historic prominence to the mark of

desired standardiation(

4n such a fri!ed situation. nothin& seems sentine! to the sensationa!

scenario of &hast!y amp!itude( E%ery one of us is we!! aware of the


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fact that y the turn of the day we are confronted with e%er-amountin&

&ra%e situations @i( po!!utions noise

&ara&e menace. urnin& and charrin& of fi!th. mushroomin& ma!!s

and many more of its a!!ied and the 8ammuites are !eft with twin

*!un&s i(e( *$anda* and *$anamaya* forests to refresh in the ee hours

of mornin& or e%enin& to inha!e o,y&en for sustenance and many

more of its i!k(

+his &o!den sanctuary of $anda is the richest and aundance of the

6ima!ayan &o!den ea&!es. the eaded %u!tures. the 4ndian !ack

partrid&es. the 6ima!ayan snow cocks. !oca! cocks. the jun&!e

fow!ers. jacka!s. the !ack neck(( cranes. do%es the war-headed

&oose. man- &oose. duck. &eese and swans. the ea%ers.

chame!eons. ni&htin&a!e. ady irds. spotted dear and !ast ut not the

!east Peacock-our nationa! irds( And a part from the" win&ed %isitors"

who f!ock in here with seasona! chan&es from across the &reater part

of the 6ima!ayas for reedin& etc(

+here are as many as si, Protect- ed Areas Network #i!d!ife

sanctuary which. there is sin&!e Park y name. " ishtwar 6i&h

A!titude Nationa! Park" 1o%erin& an area around C25 s/ kmts and

other fi%e fa!! under wi!d!ife sanctuary %i( 'amna&ar #$anda:.

Nandni. Surinsar. $ansar. Nandni and +rikuta wi!d!ife sanctuaries(

'amna&ar or (. $anda wi!d!ife" sanctuary is ha%in& a co%era&e of9(50 s/( kmts( Apart from these sanctuaries. three wi!d!ife reser%es

in 8ammu re&ion( 4nsofar as ashmir re&ion is concerned there are

as many as #: wi!d !ife sanctuaries of which 3achi&am is in the top

s!ot. ha%in& an area around 9H9(25 s/(kms with richest inhaitation of


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wi!d!ife anima!. irds and repti!es. han&u! ein& the most prominent(

4n addition. there are 9 conser%ation reser%es and nine wet!ands

areas(

1omin& to !adakh re&ion. this part is encompassin& as many as #92:

Protected areas and amon&st those arakoram #Nura:" wi!d!ife

sanctuary and "6emis hi&h" a!titudina! Nationa! Parks are on the top-

s!ot ha%in& areas around 5000(00 s/( kms and C900 s/( kms

respecti%e!y(

+he =o%t( shou!d take a!! necessary steps to preser%e the iotic

di%ersity of $anda( Side y side appropriate steps shou!d e taken to

promote it for ecotourism( A %ery we!come step. therefore. is to raise

chain -fencin& of the hei&ht D feet and ao%e and disp!ay entry as

we!! e,its routes with !east disturance to the e,istin& io!ife and that

way*

the spirit and sanctity of the Act sha!! e carried out in fu!! spirits and

at the same time trekkers-wi!! ha%e the hi&h time to enjoy the nature

and its surrounds(

SA'R&D SHR$N& )% MATA*$ BA!A SUNDR$

4n the c!imatic termino!o&y. 8ammu ein& a su-tropica! re&ion ha%in&

most!y "and! e!ts" with arid one ran&in& from akhanpur to the !ast

reach of "!ndo-Pak" Border of Poonch and scruy forest of Acacias.

Sh!sham. Sema! and Bamoos 4ntermin&!ed with the shrus and

hers of ower strata. and with the attitudina! &ains. we find pinus


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ro,ur&hi!!. p( wa!i!chiana upto Idhampur. 1henani. Bi!!awar. Basho!i.

Bani on the eastern sides and atra. Panchari. 'easi.

+hakrakote. a!!dhar. Sunderani. $ahender. a!akote. 'ajuri.

Nowshera and Poonch on the western side( +he +rikuta 6i!!s of Shri

$ata @aishno 3e%i 8i occupy their own uni/ue and appropriate

p!acement and ascendin& uphi!! where one encounters the !ush-

&reen. Sy!%an and s!ar!ous amience of %irant majestic deodars of

the Patnitop associated with oaks. firs and spruce of yet most

enchantin& and ewi!derin& "3udu %a!!ey" sadd!in& across the "Pride

1hena" which 4s the richest and i&&est forest area of the state(

Shr! $ata Ba!a Sundri 8i;s 4coated atop two tehsi!s %is athua and

Bi!!awar. sadd!in& southwards to athua. en-route. umri-athera

and Northward to Bi!!awar on routin& throu&h *Bhini* ham!et( +he

sacred spot is !ocated around 5500 ft from $ean sea !e%e! #$S:

&i%es a panoramic %iew from atop the sacred spot and

a!eidscopica!!y. &!impses when %iewed airi!y( +he sacred shrine of*$ataji* is approacha!e from athua after journeyin& throu&h

motora!e road upto around 9C kms and thence an uphi!! trek around

9C kms or so passin& amidst rich pines. oaks. uteas. 3edonias.

termina!ias. cassias. em!ica associatin& with dch. %ide %arieties of

hers. shrus. c!imers and f!ora of !ower strata on the other

e,tremities from Bi!!awar. the sacred shrine of *$ataji* is !inked o%er a

stretch of 90 kms or so and thence are!y a uphi!! tek aroundin& C

kms one reaches the foot steps of Shri $ataji(

+he sacred shrine of *$ataji* ha%e had remained ne&!ected ar- rin&

two occasions around the year durin& *Na%ratras* when pi!&rims in


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and around the *Sacred shrine* come o%er here for ho!y darshan. pay

oeisance and otain !essin&( +he area to&ether with its sy!%an

surrounds is an enchantin& ut waits for the de%e!opment for tourism

y in%o!%in& mu!tidiscip!inary departments et( a!( Jorest. A&ricu!ture.

6orticu!ture. f!oricu!ture. P3 etc and etc(

'estorin& ack temp!e comp!e, ot of efforts with e,tra e,pertise

need to e incu!cated to make this monumenta! herita&e and sacred

shrine a piece of hea%en o%er the pious .( $other Earth"( +he

*Archeo!o&ica! 3eptt* sha!! ha%e to take the !ead and make their dents

4n its restoration. apart from makin& more additiona!ities to haunt and

attract the pi!&rims for the sanctity of the spot apart from oostin&

tourism which is the most warrantin& and a c!arion ca!! of the hour(

+he =o%t of 4ndia is makin& a!! dents in ade/uate fundin& not on!y to

this state ut other states( +he desira!e moto is to !ay out p!ans y

the e,pertise. thenoe its imp!ementation so that the spot ecomes

enchantin&. charmin& and ewi!derin& in and around the sacred

shrine of "Shri $ata Ba!a Sundri"( +his year the =o%t has a!!ocated

around 50 !akhs for ecotourism throu&h socia! forestry deptt( And they

are supposed to make it a *masterpiece* o%er this atoped sacred

piece of santomomous importance(

A""oresaion worksnce the area is fenced. afforestation works are to e afooted and inthis respect ad%ance pit workin& of C5 cm sie sha!! ha%e to e done

fo!!owed y e,tensi%eintensi%e p!antation dri%e. prefera!y of those

species which are we!! suited to site to ensure &reenry and no

enefits in respect of fue!. fodder. &rasses. firewood or as that of


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timer #sma!! or !ar&e: sha!! ha%e to a!ienated( 4n other word. the

area so afforested shou!d e nomenc!aturised as *@ir&in Jorest*(

Apart from forestry species. horticu!ture p!ants are warranted to e

incu!cated to enhance fruit industry and impro%e !oca! socio-economic

status of the popu!ace( At most of the occasions. with the onset of

summer spe!!s most of the areas in the kandi e!ts are en&u!fed y

the fire haards and it sha!! ha%e to e ensured for creation of fire

!ines of a desira!e and prefera!e width so that the entire e,ercise

may not &o futi!e(

+ 'onsrucion o" en roue sheler,sheds -,

Since the "atries" durin& Na%ratras twice in a year most!y on foot to

in shape of ho!y $ace #1hari: to the sacred shrine. so it is as such

warranted for the constructions of she!ter-sheds. en route. at

e/uidistance of 2 kms ti!! the pi!&rims reach the sacred shrine( 4n

order. therefore. to pro%ide she!ter to the pi!&rims. the construction of

such structures are of paramount importance durin& inimica! weather

conditions(

+ 'onsrucion o" Toiles "or ladies and gens -,

+his is most pertinent to maintain the rida! sides hea!thy and

hy&ienica!!y neat and c!ean as most of the *atries* he!ter-she!tered!y

disfi&ure the path ways makin& therey the pi!&rima&e %ery much fi!th

reddened and water pipes connections as we!! as are warrant to e

connected to these toi!ets(

+ $nroducion o" ornamenal plans climbers and clippers -,


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4ntroduction of these %irant !ush- &reen s!arous ornamenta! p!ants.

1!imers and 1reepers a!on& oth sides of rida! paths sha!! not on!y

reinforce chain !inkin& ut sha!! further add to the eauty of the rida!

path for the tourist and pi!&rima&es a!ike( And when the f!owers sha!!

!oom. this wi!! add further eauty to the spot and as such their

introduction is of paramount importance(

$mpro/ising The Bridalpah -,

4t is pertinent to incu!cate the cement-!ock of sie 2*,2* in and around

the %jcinity of temp!e comp!e, to faci!itate pi!&rims and the tourist a!ike

for comforta!e mo%ement o%er the meadow area whi!e ein& on their

momentous spree in the sacred shrine criss-crossin& the pathways(

R&0$0A! )% SHARDA 1$!2R$MA2&

'e!i&ion he!ps the man in rea!iin& di%inity in him and se!f rea!iation(

Since anti/uity %isit to shrines and pi!&rima&es ha%e a!ways een

considered a powerfu! aid towards this end(

+he $oj-asheer #$other ashmir: to which we e!on& is a !and of

shrines and pi!&rima&es( 6indus. $us!ims. Sikhs e%en Buddhist ha%e

p!aces of worship here(

+he temp!e of =oddess *Sharda 3e%i* at @i!!a&e Shardi in district

$uaffaraad of Pakistan Administrated ashmir is centuries o!d(+his p!ace is just across the o1 at the conf!uence of ri%er rishen

=an&a and ri%er $adhumati and was a centre of !eamin&. meditation

and prayer durin& ancient times(


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+he temp!e is dedicated to e =oddess Saraswati. the =oddess of

!earnin& and as such ashmiri Pandits since a&es ha%e a!ways

considered it as one of their most re%ered and re!i&ious site( +his

Shrine is %ery important and ho!y for 6indus in &enera! and of

ashmir Pandits in particu!ar(

4n ear!ier times ashmir used to e referred "Sharda 3esh" and was

famous e%en far off re&ions of the country( +he famous ce!erated

$us!im Scho!ar. Au 'aihan A!eruni and historian Au!-Jai! ha%e

not on!y mentioned the importance of this 6o!y Shrine in their works

ut ha%e %isited it a!so( Besides them the e!o%ed in& of ashmir

*Badshah*. Kain-u!a-3in is said to ha%e %isited the tem- p!e and

prayed for the we!fare of his state( Noted historian 8onaraja. Bi!han

and other ha%e mentioned aout their pi!&rima&e to Sharda and ha%e

spoken hi&h!y of it( +he &reat anti/uary Sir. $ark Aure! Stein who has

spend coup!e of years in ashmir. has a!so %isited the ho!y shrine in

Septemer 9L2( +he famous Shaskrit scho!ar of =ermany.

$a,mu!!er has a!so spoken hi&h of the Sharda Shrine in his works(

$us!ims seers and saints ha%e a!so %isited this p!ace in

&ood numer efore partition of the 1ountry(

Jamous saints of the country in y &one days from %arious parts of

the un-di%ided 4ndia which inc!ude Ben&a! and South 4ndia ha%e een

%isitin& here( 4t is know that 8a&at =uru Adi Shankaracharya #HLL-L90A3: too ha%e %isited this sacred shrine( Besides him the famous

@edic phi!osopher of the 92th century Swami 'amanuj . Acharya

ha%e also come here and studied 6indu scriptures. as the p!ace was


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%ery famous centre of 6indu phi!osophy( A hymn in praise of the

3i%ine $other is

"Sharda Varda Devi Mokshidata

Saraswati, Sharneye Trambike

Gauri, Narayani Namostute S

Namastasyey, Namastasyey

Namastasyey, Nammo, Namaha'

An annua! me!a a!on& with the *6awan* and puja used to e he!d in

the month of Au&us@Septemer on *=an&a-Ashtami* day

correspondin& to 6indu ca!endar on the Ashtami of !uner fortni&ht of

Bahadun( +he day is a!so ce!erated as the irthday of =oddess

Sharda( Peop!e from far off p!aces of the %a!!ey used to come %ia

iderwan a sma!! %i!!a&e in upwara district and a!so from Iri.

Baramu!!a( 4t is said that P*s had shops etc in the vicinity of shrine(

3o&ra $aharajs =u!a Sin&h and Partap Sin&h had constructed3haramsha!a for the yatries and a!so had appointed priests to per

form dai!y puja etc( +he famous yo&ni of ashmir in 20th century

*$ata $athrade%i* has spent a coup!e of years here in meditation(

She passed away at the a&e of 90D on 8anuary 5. 9L5( Before

partition Samaj Sudhar Samiti. ashmir. was !ookin& after the ho!y

shrine and one Shri !ate. Shridhar 8oo 3har. than conser%ator of

forest was !ookin& for its up-keep( +he other important p!aces

associated with the Shrine and are worth to %isit are Narda peak.

=anesh =hati. Sharda peak etc( +here are other sma!! temp!es of


17/38

Sharda 3e%i found at +ikker and +rih&am #=uchii: in upwara district

and Bandipur in Baramu!!a district(

4n addition to it there is a sprin& ca!!ed *Shardaa!* dedicated to

&oddess *Sharda in Na&aeran* meadow near 3achi&am %a!!ey a

famous &ame reser%e in ashmir aout 25 ms from Srina&ar city( 4t

is a!so said that on the ad%ise of anchi seer the then 3o&ra

$aharaja of 8ammu and ashmir. had constructed a temp!e of $aa

Sharda at Nimach in $adhya Pradesh( Accordin& to &aetter of

ashmir and adakh on Pa&e D0. $uaffaraad was known y the

name of Shikri in o!den days( +he ear!iest script used for a ashmiri

!an&ua&e was Sharda script. and de%e!oped to its fu!! durin& 90th and

99th century( E%en today some ashmiri Pandit*s sti!! use this script

for writin& of horoscope etc(

Now. with the impro%ement in the re!ations etween 4ndia and

Pakistan and openin& of 'ai!. 'oad and Air routes and especia!!y with

the openin& of Srina&ar-$uaffaraad road a cross section of peop!eof the state especia!!y e,i!ed 6indus are demandin& the openin& for

the permission oth from =o%ernment of 4ndia and Pakistan to

undertake the pi!&rima&e to the ho!y shrine which has &reat re!i&ious

si&nificance(

Since 9CH. this temp!e is in di!apidated condition and as such needs

immediate repairs so that temp!e can once a&ain re&ain formersp!endour and &!ory( Beside. it wi!! oost-up i!atera! ties etween the

two nei&hourin& countries and a!so open new a%enues for

de%e!opment of tourism in the area(


18/38

Peop!e are ea&er!y waitin& for the day when they wi!! e a!e to pray

at the temp!e( +hey demand that !ike the !aunchin& of restoration

work at another famous atasraj +emp!e at ahore same parameters

shou!d e app!ied to this temp!e a!so( ast year #200C: there were

reports in newspapers that Pakistan Administrated ashmiri has

a!!ocated a sum of 's >ne mi!!ion for the reno%ation of the temp!e(

+his announcement has created more interest amon& the peop!e

here and are ea&er!y waitin& for the 3ay to pay oeisance;s the ho!y

shrine(

Pi!&rims who want to %isit the temp!e are demandin& that same type

of faci!ities shou!d e pro%ided to pi!&rims who %isit their re!i&ious

p!aces in Pakistan and a!so &i%en to pi!&rims of Pakistan who %isits

Ajmeer-Shrief and 6arat. Niam-u-3in 3ar&ah at 3e!hi etc() p!aces

in 4ndia( Sikhs of the state who resided in $uaffaraad efore 9CH

a!so are %ery ea&er to %isit the =urdwara 1hatti-Padshahi situated on

the ank of rishen =an&a and to pray there(


19/38

+he &reat 4ndian epic the $ahaharata and 6ar!%amsa Purna

mentions as 1handra Sha&s( +he Nee!mat Purna. which has

4mportant historica! records atashmir. the name 1handra Sha&a

seems to ha%e ecome /uite pre%a!ent( 3urin& $us!im period. the

ri%er came to know as 1hena( Joster who tra%e!ed throu&h

ashmir around. 9HL A(3( ca!!s the ri%er as *1hanan* deri%ed from

1hena( @i&ne another tra%e!er of the %a!!ey durin& 9L A(3(

ca!!ed it 1hand 4(e( "water from the moon"(

+he ri%er ori&inates at Bara!acha Pass #9D000 ft: in ahu!

#6imacha! Pradesh: and two streams 1handra and Bha&a tra%e! in

the opposite direction of Bara!acha for 200 km and 0 km

respecti%e!y( +he Pass in 6imacha! Pradesh is at the hei&ht of CL9

meter ao%e sea !e%e!. considered as the source of the &!acier fed

Perennia! 'i%er( +he ancient knew the ri%er as Asikni. it has two

sources one. which f!ows down south known as 1handra and that.

&oes to north named as Bha&a( Aout 2D m further south from

$ana!i #a tourist spot in 6imacha! Pradesh:. a motara!e road runs

a!on& the ri%er. from hoksar to +andi #6imacha! Pradesh:. in a!!

90H m of road run y the side of ri%er durin& the sojourn in

6imacha! Pradesh( +he 1handra and Bha&a meets to form

1handraha&a at +andi #2L25 $S:( 4t ecomes 1hena when it

joins 'i%er $arau at Bhanderkot. 92 m from ishtwar +own #8M:(

+he ri%er then tra%e! to 'easi. which it dammed at Sa!a! #N6P1: a

hydroe!ectric project in 8M a!so there is a motor a!e road runs

a!on& the ri%er in the stretch etween Atho!i. $a!hori. Perah and

'aman. autham and 8ourian( +he road is often 50 to 900 meters


20/38

ao%e the ri%er 1hena with wonderfu! %iew of %arious facets of the

ri%er(

+he peop!e of the hi&h !and %a!!ey of 1hena are mountain

dwe!!ers !ead a happy contented hard !ife and proud of their

secretati%e !ife( +he difficu!t nature of the terrain and inherent hard

!ife made these peop!e toi! for their !i%e!ihood. ased main!y on ter-

race framin&( +he scattered fie!ds on the s!opes of the hi!!s where%er

they ha%e source of water the orchards of fruits around their

dwe!!in&s dotted in the %a!!ey and mountain top( +he dai!y !ife of

these industrious peop!e runs in two para!!e! track of !ife( >ne. the

!o%e and !i%e!ihood from the !and and second!y fast increasin& dai!y

re/uirement of the !ife from which they ha%e to run up and down to

the nearest town( 3urin& the winter time. these peop!e en&a&e

themse!%es for wearin& of woo!en c!oth for %arious purposes and the

characteristic %ariety is the* pattu* from ishtwar. Padder re&ion is

hand wo%en. road !i&ht co!ored check in se!f desi&n with red. !ue

ye!!ow and !ack stips( +he pattu made on the hand!ooms cou!d

withstand the ser%er winter of the 1hena @a!!ey(

+he area with aundant water as thousands of streams joins the

ri%er from the hi&h mountains of 6ima!aya ran&e throu&hout the year(

+he ri%er forms a narrow &or&e cut out of i&neous rock with perpetua!

f!ow of water and !ocked up in the rock fi!! it forms a dam !ike shape

efore 3u!-6asti project( +he water f!uctuate with the season. the

white foamin& &ushin& water of the ri%er recent!y uti!ied for

hydroe!ectric power &enerations y damin& at two p!aces( >ne

efore ishtwar town as 3u!-6asti project and other eyond ishtwar

down as Ba&h!ihar hydro- e!ectric project( +he damin& of the ri%er is


21/38

!ike handcuffin& the free f!ow of the water of the 1hena( 4t !ost its

natura! eauty. its noise. and its charmin& white foamin& water

fore%er(

+he 'i%er 1hena has c!ear crysta! %ery fast f!owin& water and

spannin& its ank !ike the fins of a wha!e as it deouches from the

hi!! downafter tra%e!in& for thousand ki!ometers in mountains in the

p!ains of Akhnoor near 8ammu and enter the Pakistan after wards(

Before Akhnoor town. a fort !ocated o%er!ookin& the ri%er and

e,treme!y important proto-historic site as the northern most site of

1ha!co!ithic period or 4ndus @a!!ey 1i%i!iation or 4ndus Saraswati

1i%i!iation of $anda( +he 6arappan site of $anda named after the

%i!!a&e $anda. e!on&s to third mi!!ennium B1( Akhnoor situated

o%er!ookin& on the hi&her terrace of the 'i%er( +he town focatedon

the 'i%er 1hena on the ri&ht ank with the history &oin& down with

archaeo!o&ica! e%idence of 5000 years from now( +he !eft ank is

p!ain and arren sti!! has many archaeo!o&ica! sites in her !ap !ike

$a!pur. a Neo!ithic site #New Stone a&e site: +he Ancient site of

Amaran !oca!!y known as "Pamaran" is !ocated in Akhnoor Jort

north west of 8ammu on the ri&ht ank of ri%er 1hena (+he Buddhist

Stupa site is spread in an area of aout 500 m in east west direction

on the ri&ht ank of the ri%er terraces of 1hena in etween two

ri%u!ets. which come down the hi!! and join the ri%er( +he site is aout

900 m in width from north south( >n either side of the ri%er. there are

midd!e P!eistocene ou!der con&!omerate deposits o%er which there

are !oose ou!ders and pe!es mi,ed with sand. si!t and c!ay

e!on&in& to the !ate P!eistocene period. which is the natura! soi!

e!ow the cu!tura! deposits(


22/38

+he 1handra and Bha&a unite at +andi #6(P(: after tra%ersin& a

distance of some 200 km in the Pan&! @a!!ey of 6imacha!( 4t enters

the Padar re&ion of 8M 4n !shtwar district and then enters 4n the

p!ains of which undi%ided Punja near Akhnoor town #2L km from

8ammu:( +he 'i%ertownstra%e! 4n %a!!eys of Padar. 3achanand

$adwa in ishtwar. Bha!es. Bhadarwaha. Sira(: and Banniha! in

3oda district. Poonch and 'ajouri and Anji 4n 'easi #Idhampur:(

+he +awi of 'ajouri and 8ammu unite with 1handra- Sha&a near

Sia!kot #now 4n Pakistan:( +he fast current of the ri%er. the c!ear

crysta! co!d water 4n summer and e,treme!y co!d 4n winter. the

co!our of water chan&es with the season are 4mportant

characteristics of the 1hena 'i%er(

NA0RATRAS

"Na%ratri" or "Na%ratra" 4S a comined word which trans!ated means

nine ni&hts( " Na%" means Nine and "'atri" means ni&ht. so comined

it means Na%ratri or Nine ni&hts( 4n northern parts of 4ndia this festi%a!

is ca!!ed" Na%ratra"( Na%ratri is a nine day ho!y festi%a!. which is

ce!erated to propitiate =oddess of Shakti or 3i%ine $other( $any

de%otees keep fast on a!! the nine aays >+ this ho!y festi%a! of ni&hts(

3e%otees thron& the 3e%i temp!es a!! o%er 4ndia where =oddess 4do!

is decorated eautifu!!y( Na%ratri ce!erations are oser%ed %ery

enthusiastica!!y in the state of =ujarat where a!! nine ni&hts of

Na%ratras are spent in %irant =ara and 'asa dance( 4n est Ben-

&a! 3ur&a Puja is. the most important festi%a! and is ce!erated with

&aiety and enthusiasm(


23/38

(Accordin& to 6indu mytho!o&y. =oddess 3ur&a is $other =oddess

or Shakti #+he 3i%ine Jema!e Ener&y:( Accordin& to( the !e&end ord

Brahma &ranted a oon #@ar: to $ahishasur who was kin& of the

demons( Armed with the powers of the oon. he created ha%oc in the

uni%erse. and no one cou!d defeat him or ki!! him(

6e &ot so inso!ent. that he started terroriin& the =ods # 3e%tas: a!so(

6e one day reached 6ea%en # Swar&!ok: to ki!!indra #in& of =ods :(

=reat!y distressed. 4ndra asked ord Brahma to he!p him( ord Brah-

ma was enra&ed at such !atant misuse of his oon and the power

associated with that poo!:.he a!on& with ord @ishnu and ord

$ahesh .re!eased their ener&en the tenth

day. =oddess u!timate!y trapped him under her foot and the 3emon

was ki!!ed. and the uni%erse was sa%ed from the terror of $ahishasur(

+his %ictory symo!ies the %ictory of &ood o%er e%i!( +hese nine days

are de%oted to the propitiation of the $other =oddess or Shakti

(6induism is the on!y re!i&ion the wor!d which has emphasied to

such an e,tent the motherhood of =od(

Na%ratri is ce!erated twice in a year(

+he 3ur&a Na%ratri is ce!erated in Ash%in or Aswayuja #se%enth

month of the year accordin& to 6indu ca!endar. e&innin& on 2


24/38

Septemer and endin& on 22 >ctoer(: and the 3i%ine =oddess

$other 3ur&a is worshipped durin& Na%ratri(

Na%ratri*s each ni&ht #ratri: is dedicated to one form of =oddess

3ur&a( at is e%ery ni&ht #ratri: of the Na%ratri corresponds to worship

of different forms of =oddess 3ur&a(

4t is a!so said that the nine days are di%ided and de%oted to the +rinity

of =od worshipped in a fema!e form in which for three days $aa

3ur&a #=oddess of %a!or. Power M Ener&y: is worshipped. for three

days $aa akshmi #=oddess of ea!th M Prosperity: and three days

for $aa Saraswati #=oddess of now!ed&e. earnin& and Art: is

worshipped(

3urin& these Na%ratri days most of the peop!e eat %e&etarian food.

some peop!e eat food without any form of cerea! and some fast for a!!

the ei&ht days(

4n the case of Na%ratri festi%a! ce!erated as ur&a Na%ratri in Ash%in

or Aswayuja #se%enth month of the year accordin& to 6indu ca!endar.

e&innin& on 2 Septemer and endin& on 22 >ctoer:. the tenth day

of this festi%a! is ce!erated as @ijaydashmi or 3ussehra( Peop!e in

North 4ndia %ery . often %isit the wor!d famous ho!y shrine of $aa

@aishnode%i . which is situated on +rikoot mountain #par%at: near

8ammu durin& this period( unches and 3inners are a!so or&anied in

temp!es and community p!aces which are known as handaras( 4n the

states of =ujrat and est Ben&a!. Na%ratras are ce!erated with &reat

pomp and show( 4n =ujrat at ni&ht time. &ir!s and youn& women

dress up in est of their &ha&ra cho!is and riys and youn& men wear

their est urta pajams and &ather for the traditiona! =arha dance or

dandiya rass(


25/38

+he crown of this eauty showered %a!!ey. the rose of this f!ower rich &arden. the

mother of this nature house. is none other ut "3a! ake and a!! these e,to!s

makes it e!i&i!e for a wa!k of %anity( +he aesthetic sur%ei!!ance of the di%ine

ne%er earned comp!acency and a!ways imparted its waters a crysta!!ine eauty

and a pictures/ue pride(

+he !ake dwe!!in& in the crad!e of the manifo!d majestic mountains rip piin&

throu&h the !en&th and readth of the %a!!ey has a!ways een the def- inition of

this !and(

+he wor!d famous !ake. a para&on of pristine eauty ha%e since times

immemoria! attracted peop!es from a!! wa!ks of !ife with admirers !ea%in& there

imprints in sonnets and a!!ads for the !ake (Besides ein& a proud herita&e the

water ody has een a read winner. a she!ter. a hope. an inspiration and ao%e

a!! a mode7 of perfection residin& in e%ery heart( +he !ake not on!y a mere water

ody has een a poo! of inspiration for the ashmiri peop!e and has kept the f!ow

of rotherhood a!i%e( 3a! has witnessed air of different a&es. has we!comed

e%ery c!imate and endured e%ery season(

E%ery sprin& has a waitin& autumn. e%ery dawn dips in dusk and e%ery !i%in& has

to decay and ri&ht!y* so. !aw of nature has this irony in its repertoire ut

unfortunate!y for this wor!d famous !ake the aerrant pre%ai!ed and the te,t of itsp!i&ht and fast approachin& demise had its authors here on!y7 None other than its

own peop!e( 6ad it een the %erdict of $other Nature no one wou!d ha%e spi!!ed

a word ut emotions rim when we see-the materia!istic a,e tearin& it apart(

Such an unaatin& carna&e of this master piece was ne%er e,pected( A

suffocatin& death owin& to sheer ne&!i&ence and se!fish desires mu!tip!yin& faster

than mos/uitoes e%en shrouded the dyin& shrieks of the !ake( Sur%eys confirm

&a!ore acteria! and fun&a! sheets omnipresent on its upper surface which a!as7

wou!d s!ow!y &et rid of its a/uatic !ife y renderin& the water unc!ean and

haardous( +he ono,ious weeds defeatin& the waters and spreadin& at a

sate!!ite speed wou!d !ea%e no stone unturned to con%ert the !ake into a marshy

!and with no mercy for !ife( $oreo%er the unendin& wastes and unsympathetic

disposa! of %arious &ara&e*s s!ippin& from different channe!s into the !ake


26/38

confirms its !itt!e !eft immunity surrenders efore comin& into action( A!armin&

construction with its echoes fri&htenin& the ca!m waters. con%ersion of f!oatin&

&ardens into a&rarian !and and ao%e a!! a &ara&e dump treatment has wa%ed

the &reen f!a& for the monster of death to en&u!f it without !ea%in& any trace of it(

A!! of us of course ha%e a ro!e to p!ay in at !east endea%orin& to sa%e this

price!ess herita&e( Peop!e shou!d rea!ie that this nature"s neck!ace. a eauty

amon& eauties. is unra%e!in& to scatter and destined to the court of u&!y( e

can*t ha%e our contriutions as the authors of its e!e&ies( e a!! owe a mora! det

towards our own "3a! ake- its ripe time to repay when it is in need(

et us a!! comine and %oice in resonance to wake the s!umered !ot( e ou&ht

to ha%e more or&aniations comin& into p!ay where indi%idua!s and &roups can

contriute in what e%er way they can( et a!! peop!e join hand and stand roust

for the cause to sa%e da!(

Awareness pro&rammes shou!d not take a ack seat) they ha%e to e in !i&ht a!!

the time( 4t is of ace importance that peop!e rea!ie what nature has estowed

them and what cou!d( e a sordid ta!e in near future( 1a!amities cance! ca!endars

ut this one is a manufactured one so it ecomes the responsii!ity of a!! to face

and amend the pro!em and this need to e %oiced at the top of its pitch( +he

ordea! faced y the !ake is asica!!y a curse whir!in& ao%e us to architect an u&!ypaintin& of this eautifu! !and( 4ts hi&h time for e%ery-one of us to contriute

towards the mission of sa%in& da! without otherin& aout any persona!

di%idends(

Basohli Tehsil "ull o" ouris poenial

Aesthetic sense is the on!y sense which differentiates human ein&s

from the anima!s( A human ein& is a!ways in the search of a p!acewhich is eautifu! and &i%es so!ace to his fati&ued ody and Sou!(

+his is the reason why do the peop!e rush to the mountains or p!aces

which ha%e p!easant weather( +here are two factors. %e&etation and

water which decide the eauty of a p!ace(


27/38

Basoh!i has a!ready een estowed with immense wea!th of eauty

and charm in the shape of snow c!ad mountain peaks. ratt!in& rooks

cascade type water fa!! of SatSeer" and stair !ike farms of Bhoond.

8anoo. =adodi and %ast p!ain of "8orian"( Not on!y this the pondin& of

'anjit Sa&ar ake has rou&ht !aure!s to the eauty of Basoh!i( +he

who!e course of the ri%er 'a%i has een con%erted into L0 S/(mts(

!ake formin& major !ake. sma!! creaks. and !a&oons y the ack

waters of the !ake( +hou&h the formin& of 'S3 has renderd

irrepara!e !oss to who!e tehsi! Basoh!i. ut the &od has compensated

this in the shape of &!itterin& waters of the !ake( 4f compared with

other !akes of the country. this !ake e,ce!s in its eauty and %astness(

4n order to rin& the economy of the state on so!id footin& the

&o%ernment is serious in re%i%in& tourist industry in the state( ike

other eautifu! p!aces of the state situated in ashmir !eh and ar&i!

di%ision Basoh!i can offer mu!tifarious uses of the !ake in the tourism

sector( 4 he p!aces of tourist importance in Basoh!i tehsi! if de%e!oped

in accordance with the way ein& su&&ested wi!! tota!!y &i%e a new

turn to the state tourism in future( +he si&ht seein& huts can e

constructed near the p!aces where the rooks f!ow or where there

are water fa!!s( +he eautifu! haitats and the stair !ike fie!ds which

stea! the attention of any ody can we!! supp!y an idea! si&ht for

makin& fi!ms and other documentaries(

+he wide part of the !ake which is near aout 90 ms !on& and aout

0C ms wide can e used for or&aniin& nationa! as we!! as state

!e%e! a/uatic &ames. !ike 'owin& achtin& Boatin& water skiin&

$otor- oat races. +rainin& for rescuin& operations .water &!idin& surf

ridin& etc(


28/38

Steamers can operate etween Sat wain and Basoh!i for carryin&

passen&ers from Bani and other parts of the tehsi!( Steamer decks

can carry the sma!! %ehic!es of the passen&ers who want to take

a!on& with them( +his wi!! sa%e their D0ms of the journey(

J!oatin& restaurants c!us and house oats ser%ices can e started

which can fetch &ood re%enue for the state( +he famous festi%a!s !ike

new year day ,-mass dewa!i etc( can e ce!erated on oard the

oats( $oreo%er the tourists can stay in these restaurants and house

oats(

6ead /uarter of the Na%a! win& of N11 can e made at Basoh!i

where actua! trainin& in Na%a! ski!!s can e imparted to the cadets(

As re&ards ack waters a&oons formed near P!assi .$ara and

$ahanpur many tourists from within the state can e attracted for

safe oatin& swimmin& and or&aniin& tours and picnics(

By doin& this many usiness opportunities can e pro%ided to the

!oca! youth of these p!aces(

+he o&a or other c!asses or officia! meetin&s seminars of different

deptts( 1an e or&anied at a ca!m and peacefu! p!aces !ike decks

and the ferries(

Para &!idin& sport can e started from the "$ata 1anch!o 3e%i" fort

which is situated at a suita!e hi&ht needed for the sport(

@ast p!ans of neary %i!!a&e $and!a offers heart tochin& scene where

nationa! standard stadium can e made(

$ountaineerin& and trekkin& institutes can e opened at the chain of

sma!! &rounds at 'am 'achna near 8orian $ata hi!!( No dout the

&o%ernment is tryin& its !e%e! est to rin& Basoh!i on tourist map of

the country( But if attention towards possi!e su&&estions is &i%en due


29/38

consideration then the day is not far when Basoh!i wi!! e known for

a/uatic and other a!!ied e%ents (+he dam affected peop!e wou!d

consider it sympathetic step from &o%t( side(

1oonch %or 3 A symbol o" he heriage(

Poonch Jort is a symo! of the herita&e of Poonch district( +his 2CL

year o!d ui!din& had seen numer of ups and downs. sti!! it remains

intact( 6owe%er durin& the earth/uake of 2005. Poonch Jort was

ad!y dama&ed its northern and western part constructed durin&

$us!im ru!e #9HD0-9HLH A3: and Sikh ru!e #9L9-9LC5 A3: in Poonch

was tota!!y co!!apsed( +he fronta! portion had a!so de%e!oped cracks

in such a way that it had not remained haita!e and out of 29 offices

!ocated in the Jort ui!din& 45 were shifted from the Jort(

+his ui!din& stands on a mound which is 900 mt distance from South

estern 1orner of the city( 4t has een ui!t at such p!ace from where

we can &au&e and o%er!ook the who!e %a!!ey of Poonch Jrom Pir

Pass #Pancha! ran&e: in the east to +o!i Pir in the west( +he Jort

comp!e, has een constructed on 29 kana! piece of !and( +he Jort

ui!din& comprises of D rooms. these inc!ude four i& ha!!s. one

%aranda. +osha hana. =oa! =har #office chamers of Poonchi

'aja*s: +emp!e. $os/ue and =urdwara( +here are four entrances in

the Jort( +he main entrance is on the southern side which !eads

towards the o!d structure 1onstructed y $us!im ru!e 'aja 'ustam

han #9HD0-LH A(3(: +he second entrance is on the northern corner

of fronta! !ock which &oes towards 3arar 6a!! and =oa! =har( +here

are two more entrance on the north-western side( +he south-western


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!ock has a!ready &ot co!!apsed ut the wa!!s and asic structure is

intact(

4nitia!!y the fort was constructed for the defence of the city( ateron it

was con%erted into the residence as we!! as 3arar of 'aja*s( +hat is

why the !ookin& of its fronta! !ock is !ike a pa!ace( +his fort remained

centre of power for centuries durin& the ru!e of Poonchi 'aja*s. when

this 4!4a/a was ha%in& a status of Poonch State( At present. the Jort

was ein& used for housin& the offices of %arious departments and it

was just !ike a $ini Secretariat. +he ui!din& is sti!! dominatin& the

entire Poonch town( +his structure is possi!y the on!y of its kind in

8M(

4n 9D A3. the $u&ha! Emperor Akar had nominated Saraj-ud-din

'athore of %i!!a&e ahuta as the ru!er and Poonch with the ru!e tit!e of

'aja Poonch. 'aja Saraj-ud-din shifted from nati%e %i!!a&e to Poonch

city and dec!ared this town as the capita! of his in&dom( At that time(

poonch was %ery sma!! town with 2H5 huts( 'aja Saraj-ud-3in was

residin& in a acha Jort which was constructed on a mound of

horinar rid&e #a moha!!a of Poonch town:( +his acha Jort was

known a 3upp!i in Pahari !an&ua&e( 'aja Saraj-ud-3in and his son

'aja Jateh $ohd han cou!d not thou&ht of i& fort as they remained

usy in susidin& and diffusin& the interna! disturances(

4n 9H09 A3 Adu! 'aak han ecame the 'aja of Poonch( 6e

decided to construct a stron& Jort for the fortification of Poonch town

and !aid the foundation of this Jort ut 'aja cou!d not construct it

durin& his tenure due to in%asion of ashmiri ru!ers on poonch( 4n

9HD0 A3. A!i =ohar han the youn&er son of 'aja Adu! 'aak han

ecame ru!er of Poonch with the tit!e of 'aja 'ustam han( 6e was


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%ery fond of art and architecture( 6e started the main construction of

Poonch Jort( +he !e&end &oes that the work of main entry to the fort

was not &ettin& stai!ied ti!! the on!y sur%i%in& teena&er son of a

Brahmin widow from Surankot area was emedded in the main wa!!

as per the %ision of the 'aja in a dream( A commemorati%e temp!e of

this unknown martyr is sti!! a%ai!a!e near the southern entrance of

the Jort ear testimony to this !e&end( After sacrificin& the oy in the

wa!!. the main construction of the Jort was started and it was

comp!eted y 'aja 'ustam han in 9HH A3 'aja 'ustam han

shifted in the Jort and started conductin& his 3arar( +he

architectura! sty!e of the !ock constructed y 'aja 'ustam han has

distinct $u&ha! inf!uences( At present L0O portion of this !ock has

&ot co!!apsed(

4n 9L9 A3. Poonch state was captured y $aharaja 'anjit Sin&h .

when he was on the way to con/uer ashmir( 6is =o%ernors had

con%erted Poonch Jort into the &arrison of ha!sa forces( 4n 9LH A3

a !oca! ree!!ion Shamas han $a!dya! re%o!ted a&ainst the re&ime of

ahore 3arar and dec!ared himse!f the 'aja of Poonch( At that time

apart from Poonch town there were 92 other sma!! Jorts #3upp!ies: in

Poonch 4!!a/a( Shamas han captured a!! these Jorts( +hen

assau!ted on the Poonch Jort with a i& Jorce( $ian Bishna a ha!sa

=enera! with a contin&ent of Punjai so!diers was stationed in the fort

at that time( 6e successfu!!y defended the Jort from the assau!t of

Shamas han on!y ecame he was takin& she!ter of this stron& Jort(

Jrom 9L2H to 9L50 A3 Poonch was a 8a&ir of 'aja 3hayan Sin&h the

Prime $inister of 'aja 'anjit Sin&h( +his 44!a/a was direct!y &o%erned

y the ha!sa 3arar of ahore( No dout that this was the most


32/38

disturin& period in the history of Poonch e%en then Punjai

=o%ernors ha%e done a commenda!e work not on!y in repairin& of

the ori&ina! Jort ut a!so they added !one i& !ock on the north

eastern side of this fort which ears the inf!uence of Sikh architectura!

sty!e( $ore than D0 percent part of this !ock ha%e een co!!apsed

and dama&ed ad!y durin& the earth /uake of 2005(

4n the !i&ht of the %erdict of 1ourt of $ent&umry orence of ahore in

$ian $oti Sin&h a third son of 'aja 3hayan Sin&h ecame the first

3o&ra ru!er of Poonch state in 9L52( At the time of his arri%a! at

Poonch. the condition of Jort was &oin& from ad to worse( 4nitia!!y he

passed orders of repairin& and reno%ation of the fort( After sometime

in 9LH2. 'aja shifted in the fort a!on& with his fami!y and 3arar( +hen

he ordered for redesi&nin& of the fort on western sty!e( 6e en&a&ed a

European architect who desi&ned the fronta! !ock of the Jort( 4n this

way. the fronta! !ock was added (y 'aja $oti Sin&h in the Jort

durin& . his tenure from 9L52-9L2 A3( +he work was so super that

the appearance of the Jort chan&ed into a pa!ace( Ipto 9C2 A3

Poonch Jort was used as a Secretariat y Poonchi 'ajas( At that

time Jort 1omp!e, was consisted of Ba&hi han. 6ans!i ana!. Ba&h

3eodi and Jountain &arden( After the happenin&s of 9CH. the Jort

ui!din& remained un- reno%ated 3f for a !on& period( ith the

passa&e of time. H0O par9 of southern !ock constructed durin&

$us!im period and C0O par9 of nor9hern !ock ui!t y Sikh

=o%ernors &ot co!!apsed( No dout that fronta! !ock was intact ut

that too was dec!ared unsafe durin& 9LL y AMB e,perts and a new

construction after demo!ishin& the ori&ina! Jor was proposed( ucki!y

Ashok 8ait!y. the then Jinancia! 1ommissioner P!annin& and


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3e%e!opment 3epartment paid a %isit to Poonch in 9L and after

inspectin& Jort ui!din& he rejected proposa! of demo!ishin& the Jort

and asked the e,perts to prepare a proposa! of reno%ation of this

historica! monument of Poonch( By this way. As 0(00 !acs were

sanctioned for the reno%ation of the Jort durin& 90( But the

reno%ation work was &eared up on!y durin& 90-99 on the

initiati%e of P( 3har 1hakararty. 3istrict 3e%e!opment 1ommissioner

Poonch( Ipto the end the $arch 99. 52 out of H rooms were

reno%ated y the department and the 1onstruction work in fronta!

and northern !ock ha%e een comp!eted ut the reno%ation of

southern !ock constructed durin& $us!im period was not taken in

hand( Present!y when the re construction of Jort ui!din& ha%e a&ain

een started from 200H-200L it is e,pected that this Jort a&ain. attain

its ori&ina! &!ory and &!amour in the future(

Hea/en "or 1ilgrim ourism , Sudh Mahade/

A district which is strate&ica!!y !ocated is just !ike a uffer etween

8ammu P!ains and Pir Pancha! 6i!!s( Idhampur 1ommands a

panaromic %iew of the Shi%a!iks( +he a!! important Nationa! 6i&hway

winds up as if it were a neck!ace round the neck of the district( Apart

from the scenic eauty that Idhampur is endowed with it has some of

the most sacred spots which too ha%e a %ast tourist potentia!( +here

are many archeo!o&ica! and historica! spots in Idhampur which a!so

ha%e a tourist potentia! of their own( 4t wi!! e %ery apt to draw the

attention the readers owards he /as poenial o" pilgrim ourism

in Udhampur.


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De/ika Temple- +his ho!y ri%er in district udhampur ori&inates from

the foothi!! of =an&era. situated in the %icinity of the udhampur

district. this i& temp!e situated in the west ank. a!on& the 8ammu

-srina&ar nationa! hi&hway. of the udhampur district from the main

shikhar there are a!so toms of other &od M &oddesses. main

entrance towards north side( +his temp!e is reconstructed y

$aharaja 'anir sin&h durin& 9LD #as per a%ai!a!e resources.

1ourtesy< 3u&&ar ke mandir- By Shi% Nirmohi 8i :.y the order of her

mother 'ani 'akkwa!i.where as 'ani*s parenta! house was 1hak

'akwa!!a in Idhampur district( As this temp!e is situated near the

ank of ho!y ri%er 3e%ika a!so ha%in& temp!e of Aap shamhu. e!ie%e

to e %ery o!d(1ilgrims Touriss throu&h out


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!ike touch df*fea%en( As this temp!e has Shi@L !in&am !ooks to e--

%e7*f o!d it Qems that it has eerr made durin& 9Hth century( 4t e!ie%es

thQ it is the p!ace where =od Shi%7 appears. so it is ca!!ed as Shudh

#A p!ace where a!! sins has een destroyed:. y takin& a dip of the

paap nashini Bow!i( $anta!a!. famous for its eauty M sthan 09 =uru

3hirendhara rahamchari an independent Shrine oard on the

pattern of shi% khori shrine oarQ must e constituted wherein

Sudhmahade% M $anta!ai may

undercome(

Aamna&ar< +his different M historica! temp!e of =od Shi%a situated 5

kms west of 'amna&ar tehsi! of Idhampur district. name!y 3a!sar

re!i&ious p!ace( Accordin& to the a%ai!a!e resources. it has een

reconstructed y 'aja 'am Sin&h in 9L2. then it was just a temp!e

of simp!e shi!as(this temp!e has ama- in& Shi%a !in&am which

chan&es its co!our. in the -$ornin&. afternoon M e%enin&( +his !in&a is

+rimukhi. ha%- in& c!ear picture of Shi%a M is %ery much attracti%e(

3a!sar area is a!so known for its re!i&ious %a!ues. a!so ha%in& a i&

Saro%ar which was spreaded in o%er 2 kana!s of !and. now it is

s/ueeed( Around this Saro%ar so many archae!o&ica! scripts are

a!so present around the saro%ar( +his p!ace is a!so %ery important

from the archae!o&ica! point of %iew( Now this temp!e is

((known as Parkash +emp!e wherein !ar&e numer of de%otees

throu&h- out the country %isit. may a!so come

under shrine oard( Not on!y attracts*

de%otees 4tourists ut a!so increase 4 the Shrine oard re%enue( *

0 c"

-Sanker) 3e%tM-$efteif-Q


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tPa'cheri< +Qi5 tem!*ie is situatedQ

aout 0 kms away from udhampur district towards Idhampur to

Pancheri -!ander road. famous for its worship. this temp!e shows one

of

4 the face of =od Shi%a where !ar&e . no( of de%otees throu&h out the

f country %isit here e%ery year. may 4 find their desires to e fu!fi!!ed(

So 7 many stories are associated with j this temp!e( A 3an&a! a!so

or&a- . nied e%ery year durin& the three y days me!a. where in e%ery

deptt(

P!ay its own ro!e(

1ancheri famous for its scenic eauty must e de%e!oped so that

!ar&e numer of tourists may %isit o%erhere resu!tant!y impro%e-

((rnent in the socio economic condition of the inhaitants may e

seen(

6rimachi Mansar 1anda/ Mandir Temple- 8ust H km away from

Idhampur. o%er pancheri -!ander road. near the ank of iutesh-

%ari stream .2de&ree N from e/ua- tor M H5 de&ree east from centra!

!ine. ha%in& se%en &roup of temp!es- ased on Na&ar She!!i.made up

of o!d Pashan M Shi!as.p8ace is a!so known as Bhuti 'ajya in 3o&ra

his- *tory) e!ie%e to e recons*


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Baboor 2roup o" emples- +his &roup of temp!es situated towards

the south end of udhampur near y 9 km of 'i%er +awi .M L km

towards north of $ansar !ake(920 kms far away from 8ammu( 6istori-

an*s e!ief is that this de%astated Na&ar was the capita! of 3u&&ar

state durin& mid era( >!d name of Baoor was Baapoor.ru!ed o%er

y 3har @ansh Mthe first kin& was Surajdhar (4n 'aj tarin&ini .there

were inscriptions of irtidhar M @ajradhar with the kin& of ashmir

'aja a!ash MSussa!(

3e%i Bha&awati mandir.3hera $andir. Nand Baoor temp!e "" +he

temp!es not on!y famous for their architecture desi&n ut a!so put

!i&ht o%er 3o&ra Scu!pture art( 4n this. @ishnu. Shi%a. Shi%a in Nartya

$udra. Bhaira%. Bhrish %ahan Shi- %a. =anesh M Sun( +hese temp!es

spreaded o%er three s/( km( area( 4t is e!ie%ed that in #9L-:

+amoor*s sena rocked the $anu Na&ar. none other than Baapoor

that is why other name of Baapoor is $anuwa!( A!so e!ie%e that this

capita! was safe from the attack of $ahmood =ajnai M Aras(

Suggesions

tourismtrade in district udhampur. A LQQ" camp 484IMt e forQed

ecause there is dire need of openin& of +ourist 'eception

1entreatri

Niwas. as it is the centra! p!ace where oth 3har road M N69A meets(

So tourist comin& from oth these roads may &et specia!ty o%er" here

!ike yatri niwas. +icket 1o!!ec- tion 1entre for Amarnath Shrine) may

not on!y increase the Socia - economic status of the inhaitants ut

a!so increase the opportunity of

emp!oyment to thousands of unem-77"


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Budda Amarnath

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Transcript of Budda Amarnath