Jammu, Nov 13 (KNS): National Conference Provincial President and MLA Devender Singh Rana on Tuesday called on Governor Satya Pal Malik and sought revival of the ancient heritage route to Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine passing through ancient temples and worship places spread across Nagrota Assembly Constituency, originating from historic Kole Kandoli Temple.
“The revival project could be taken up under the aegis of Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB), which will not only give further impetus to the world famous pilgrimage but open up heritage places for spiritual bliss of the pilgrims”, Rana told the Governor during his meeting at Raj Bhavan this morning.
He also stressed the need for fillip in tourism promotion across the Jammu region, especially harnessing of Mansar and Surinsar lakes, promotion of Sanasar and Patnitop besides promotion of Dogra heritage and culture, particularly time bound completion of work on Mubarak Mandi complex, expeditious completion of various development and welfare schemes in Nagrota Assembly Constituency as also regularization of daily rated workers of PHE and other departments and other categories of employees.
Rana apprised the Governor, who is also Chairman SMVDSB about the salient features and brief details of the project report, prepared by Indian National Trust for Arts and Cultural Heritage INTACH for the development of ancient route of the revered Mata.
“The route, passing through serene environs and spiritual ambience, offers spiritual solace and Darshan of several revered temple which used to pre-requisite before embarking on the yatra to holy Bhawan on Trikuta Hills over seven decades ago”, Rana told the Governor, adding that it will be appropriate for the Shrine Board to explore this route optimally and undertake its all-round development. He said the INTACH has prepared the exhaustive report after carrying out detailed mapping of all the important heritage assets like step-wells, ponds, sarais, wells, temples and springs along the trails, which were once used and maintained by the pilgrims. The route starts from village Jagti (Nagrota) on the National Highway 1A and passes through Jagdamba Mata Kheer Bhawani Temple-Jagti, Durga Mata Temple - Pangali, Shiv Temple-Thandapani - Drabi, Shiv Shakti Temple, Raja Mandleek Temple- and Raja Nowalgarh Temple – Marh, Drabi, Kali Mata Temple - Gundla Talab, Ram Darbar, Shiv Temple- Bamyal and Oli Temple Chhapanoo-Bamyal. By reviving this route, he said, adding the devotees could back home after paying obeisance at the Durbar of the Mata with enlightenment they have been searching all their life. He highlighted the religious, spiritual and secular characteristics of the ancient route during yesteryears, saying while it used to take off amid serene and spiritual ambience of the highly revered Kol Kandoli Mata Temple, the pilgrimage used to reach Nomain, where the Jyot (holy light) used to be carried by white turban bedecked Gujjars over their heads in true spirit of Jammu’s secular ethos.
“Keeping in view the holistic development carried out by the Shrine Board in ensuring world-class facilities to the visiting pilgrims in terms of infrastructural development etc and considering the financial constraints of the State Government, we expect the SMVDSB to take up this ambitious project”, Rana urged the Governor, saying this can be upgraded as an alternate route. He said the route will create pilgrim interest in the area and turn out as an economic boost for the people, who too are stakeholders in the pilgrim tourism. He said promotion of these areas as heritage pilgrimage sites will go a long way in promoting tourism in Jammu region as well, Rana added.
He told the Governor that this monumental heritage route has suffered neglect for decades even though the bliss of revered shrine on Trikuta Hills had transcended continents. “We have been envisioning restoration of this route and have many expectations from the Shrine Board”, the MLA Nagrota said, adding that the opening of the route to pilgrim traffic will enable the devotees know about the rich heritage of the historic place in the footsteps of Maa Vaishno Devi.
Sharing his concern about the hardships being faced in Jammu due to incessant strikes by daily rated workers, especially the PHE daily wagers, the MLA Nagrota sought immediate redressal of their grievances and regularization.
“This is a vital area that needs personal intervention of the Governor”, Rana maintained.
On promotion of tourism activities across the Jammu region, Rana stressed the need for devising a holistic plan so that the spill over the Mata Viashno Devi and Amarnathji pilgrimages could be diverted to these places of attraction. He gave an overview of the immense tourism potential in the region and hoped that the Governor’s Administration would look after this in greater detail and on priority.
Rana also drew the kind attention of the Governor towards development of his constituency Nagrota, saying being strategically located on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and in immediate periphery of the winter capital, it needs priority in execution of various schemes to ensure utility services to the people. He also called for special focus on raising the educational and health standards across the constituency and informed the Governor about his initiative of roping in Bharati Foundation on imparting quality education in select schools in the first phase. He said the experiment has worked very well.
H also presented a booklet prepared on the developmental scenario in the Nagrota constituency with special reference to status of various schemes and interventions necessary for their expeditious completion. (KNS)