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SUNDAY, JUNE 27, 2021 INTERNET EDITION : www.dailyexcelsior.com/sunday-magazine Historical Town of Ramnagar Ashok Sharma Ramnagar is a historical town located at a distance of about 38 Kms to the west of Udhampur. It is named after its last ruler, King Ram Singh who was ousted by the Sikh forces in 1822 AD. It is a beautiful town divided into thirteen wards and has got the status of a sub division functioning under the administrative control of Sub A top view of Ramnagar Fort. Divisional Magistrate. It has also a municipal Committee to look after the civic affairs of the town and a Degree College located at a scenic and serene place on the outskirts other in opposite wings.The outer walls are high and are supported by buttresses. felt and a site was selected which was a ridge situated at a distance of about 800 mts of the town, spread over an area of about 300 Kanals of land. The Campus of the The rooms have wooden ceilings and the interior walls are decorated with floral from the old palace.It is square in structure 42.65 x 42.65 mts in measurement. It University of Jammu is also functioning here. Ramnagar was earlier ruled by the designs. boasts of a masonary work of huge cut stones mortared with lime powder and the Bandral Rajputs and it was the capital of the erstwhile state of Bandralta. It was Shesh Mahal was built during the reign of Raja Ram Singh in 1885.It is a royal paste of legumes.There are four corners of the fort which make the four turrets con- founded by the royal family of Chamba belonging to Chambyal Dynasty. The first mansion consisting of two forecourts having burjis at the corners. Behind these are structed on solid foundation. Perfect in structure, the fort has walls which are as king of this state was Bahattar Dev Verman,brother of Vichitar Verman of Chamba halls and rooms flanked on either side of the central passage. Sheesh Mahal is a long as 200 ft and constitute the outer parapet of the fort. There is a main gate who ruled Chamba in the 10th century AD. The vansavali or lineage of the kings of peculiar building constructed on the pattern of old Havelis with a wide decorated opening towards to the eastern side of the moat which is 40 ft in height and 20 ft in this dynasty contains only 21 names.This dynasty ruled over Bandralta till 1822 when entrance flanked by lavish chambers profusely decorated with wall paintings. On the width. The entrance to the gate is covered by two heavy wooden gates 20 ft long and Maharaja Ranjit Singh conquered it, overthrowing the much loved ruler, Raja Dev in right side of the entrance, there are three halls popularly known as Darbar Hall, 5 ft wide. On both sides of the gate, there are images of god Hanuman and Durga 1822.It was then granted as fief to Raja Suchet Singh,who was a great general and the Sheesh Mahal and Rang Mahal. Darbar Hall is a big chamber having size of 46 feet and to the left side of Durga, there is an image of Bhairava. There are two wells, one younger brother of Maharaja Gulab Singh. He ruled Bandralta from 1822 till his by 18 feet the walls of which are decorated with frescos. These wall paintings are just on one side of the door and the other at the back of the courtyard. Entrance to death in 1844 AD. After the death of Raja Suchet Singh in 1844 A.D in Lahore, his done in the pahari style of Bandralta and great epics, Mahabharata and Ramayana, the Fort is through a large Deodi with measurement of 10.5 m x 4.4m supported by Ranis became Sati and Ram Singh, the second son of Maharaja Ranbir Singh became the subject exhibited with acumen and skill. Some wall paintings carry the portrait fluted pillars. On the right lateral side of the Deodi, there is a wide chamber perhaps of Raja Suchet Singh with his courtiers and a few portray the battle scenes with the the feudal lord of Bandralta and renamed it Ramnagar. After the death of Raja Ram meant for the security officer. The interior of the fort is well maintained with lush king in the centre of the episode.This Hall must have been used as the royal court. Singh,this jagir was merged in Jammu Kingdom as both Raja Suchet Singh and Raja green lawns and close to the Fort, there is an ammunition chamber wherein can- The second big chamber is smaller in size but profusely decorated in several panels Ram Singh had no progeny. non-balls of solid iron are well preserved. The fort is joined with the green land with richly adorned with the panels of runners, creepers,, trailers the help of wooden bridge bridging the gap of the moat, 15ft wide & 15ft deep. The and flowery borders covering the frames of hunting scenes, Fort was declared a protected monument by the Archaeological Survey of India in working court scenes and portraits of kings and courtiers, as 1972 for its upkeep and maintenance. also hunting scenes. Unique feature of this part of the place is When the Queen of King Suchet Singh heard the news of the king's death in the beautiful portrait of Nayikas adorned with the transparent 1844,she performed the rites of Sati at the place where the Samadhi is now located. petticoats. Nayika is well covered with upper garments orna- This samadhi is constructed in the mausoleum style with a door having pinnacles mented with necklaces, earrings, nose rings, and hair with four metallic pitchers tapering upto the apex. clips.Some paintings include battle scenes with thousands of Ramnagar is also famous for many temples as religion has deep roots here. cavaliers, elephants, armoured soldiers marching to the bat- Narsingh Temple located in the town is most famous of all the temples since the tlefields.They are equipped with weapons followed by guns on ancient times. A large number of people from Udhampur, Jammu and adjoining wheels. This part of the palace is known as Rang Mahal and it places, besides the local people, visit this temple and organise Havna and langars. must have been in use for entertainment, music and dance for There is famous Akshardham Cave on the outskirts of the town and 'Aapshambhu' the royalty. Moreover, the walls of Rang Mahal are decorated temple at Dalsar visited by a large number of devotees. The Shiv Mandir located at with a series of love frolics of Lord Krishna with Gopies.There the Bus stop is another temple most visited by the devotees. Chountra Mata shrine, is also a painting of the marriage scene of Raja Suchet Singh in Pingla Mata Shrine, Sheetla Mandir and temples at Badhole and Tarmian are other which the rites and rituals of the marriage ceremony of Dogra religious spots in the vicinity of Ramnagar, which are quite famous and attract a huge Society are highlighted. The third chamber adjoining to the footfall of devotees. There are tourist spots of Gandhtop, Dudu-Kirchi, Basantgarh, Rang Mahal is that of Sheesh Mahal the walls of which, as the Shiv Gali, Seoz Dhar, Dalsar Lake, RC, Peak, Bharnara etc which are endowed with name suggests, are decorated with cut glasses intermittently unparallelled natural beauty and attract a large number of tourists every year. A view of Shesh Mahal in Ramnagar woven with fine paintings. The subject matter of these paint- Not only this, Ramnagar is also famous for milk products and eatables. The vari- ings is the same as that of Rang Mahal but in the corners, some ety of Cheese and Kalari from Ramnagar is much in demand throughout the Ramnagar is famous for its rich culture and priceless heritage. The Royal Palaces paintings of English ladies have taken place of the paintings done by masters of Jammu Division. The sevian made from 'Besan' and called 'Boor' in the local parl- were constructed by the Bandral lords but they were renovated and reconstructed Bandralta School. ance and golgappes (Pani Puri), Burfi etc are also liked by the locals and the by Raja Suchet Singh who used to reside there. He also built a fort and the Purana The Baradari or pavillion of Raja Ram Singh has six doors to allow the free flow tourists. Ramnagar is also known for producing best quality Rajmash (Kidney Mahal which consists of a complex of rooms rising to three storeys having high of air rather than 12 doors. The structure has 3 doorways on one side of the square beans), Kachalu, Khoya etc. In the upper reaches, coats and pyjamas (called ghut- walls with watch towers at regular intervals. The walls of the rooms are decorated shaped structure in spite of every side. It was built by Maharaja Ranbir Singh in tanna) made from the wool of local sheep, locally woven and stitched reflect true with stucco work and painted with floral designs.The wooden parts of the ceiling are 1844.The pavillion consists of two storeys and the central area where Raja Ram Dogra culture. Folksongs and folklores namely Geetrus, Bhaakh, Goaalu songs, profusely decorated and the corners of the roofs have projections in the forms of Singh held court has a mirrored ceiling. Massade, Kud etc, are quite popular in Ramnagar and bear ample testimony to rich lotus flowers. Nama Mahal or the New Palace was built by Raja Ram Singh.

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