AARYAN SHARMA
JAMMU: Despite spending crores of rupees and preparing voluminous reports on preserving and conserving architectural /cultural heritage of various Dogra historical sites spread across different parts of Jammu region, majority of them are facing neglect at the hands of the successive State governments.
Till date even the Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex has not been completely restored to its pristine glory. For the past several years, conservation work is going at snail’s pace and almost every Chief Minister, after making round of the heritage complex, accords it a top priority but beyond that no major headway is achieved.
Poor planning and lack of administrative initiative has led to total neglect of the preserved portions of the heritage complex.
Till date no comprehensive planning has been done to make best use of the cultural heritage.
Several historians of Jammu region fear that the day is not far when places of historical importance would go off the map and converted into ruins.
“I shudder at the thought of teaching glorious history in the class room holding a picture story method that there was a Royal Palace called ‘Mubarak Mandi'”, a senior History Professor of Jammu University commented.
Referring to other historical places, these historians raised question marks over the intention of the successive State governments and even the alliance government, claiming what road map has been prepared by the Tourism Department to connect these places with famous tourist spots and divert the tourist traffic.
Other State Government agencies have failed to even provide basic infrastructural facilities to promote these places on the tourist circuit.
The Royal Palace of Basohli, Jasrota State, Royal Palace of Chenani, Ambaran, Akhnoor Fort, Reasi Fort, Ramgarh Fort, heritage temples in Bhadarwah, Doda, Kishtwar, Poonch and Rajouri forts have not be given their due share by any government in the state.
Some of these places have been razed to ground to create new infrastructure.
The Royal Palace of Chenani was acquired by the Government for construction of a Tehsil building after its demolition.
The Royal Chenani Palace of Chandervanshi Kings belonged to early medieval period and it was in a remarkable position. Some of the movies were also shot in the palace and now it is lying in shambles.
In addition, there exists one ancient temple of ‘Mata Jalandhra” in village Laddan (Udhampur). The same is facing the neglect. This temple seems to have been built in eighth century when Chenani country/State was established. Similarly, ancient ‘Fort of Kotli is facing neglect of the governmental agencies. Even the renovation of Bahu Fort has not been completed. Barring outer wall, most of the portion behind Kali Mata temple in the complex is facing utter neglect and no conservation agency or experts have spared a thought to retrieve the monument of significant historical importance.
