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Tracing the History, Heritage and Scenic Beauties of Martand and Chatbal Destinations in Twin Parganas of Mattan and Kuthar

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Tracing the History, Heritage and Scenic Beauties of Martand and Chatbal Destinations in Twin Parganas of Mattan and Kuthar International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 7, Issue 7, July 2017 742 ISSN 2250-3153 Tracing the History, Heritage and Scenic Beauties of Martand and Chatbal Destinations in Twin Parganas of Mattan And Kuthar Shaib Mohd Research Scholar, University of Kashmir, Dept. of History, Uttersoo, Anantnag Abstract- Martand site is very popular throughout the world. It into which there are numerous inlets forming straths3 on a level can also guide the further growth of tourism in district Anantnag with the plain, but all having a lofty pass at their upper very easily. It has a potential to contribute a big share in extremity.4 The north area above the Anantnag town is Bawn. promoting heritage tourism of the valley. The people who visit Nilmatpurana locates the Gautamanaga, named by the name of this site feel an aesthetic pleasure. Some tourists have been Martandamahatmya.5 Both Parganas (Mattan and Kuthar) asking for archeological guidebooks, photo cards of this presents its salubrious and invigorating climate during the monument. This paper tries to trace out the historical background summer season due to their close association with lush green and heritage attractions of Martand site and also it tries to place forests and towering mountains. Study over the area reveals that Chatbal as nascent picnic attraction for tourists to enjoy hustle apart from heritage tourism, it can easily promote eco-tourism6 free vacations at this virgin spot which has emerged as mini- because most of the historic or religious or scenic sites in the area phalgam in Pargana Kuthar. The scenic land of Chatbal is located are sandwiched in between the forests and lush green fields. Here on the remote corner of the east of the Pargana Kuthar. Moments the focus of the study is Chatbal and Martand site in twin after stepping into the land of Chatbal, tourists will definitely fall Parganas of Mattan and Kuthar. Chatbal is all winded with high in love with the striking beauty of the place. The best way to and low Range Mountains from all sides and silently presents a explore the town of Chatbal is to take nature walks and beautiful experience same is true with the historical heritage of experience a strange yet pleasurable kind of closeness to the lofty Martand which has been identified as site of attraction for mountains, lush green surroundings and the sound of streams bollywood shootings popular Hyder movie was also picturized running down the rugged body of mountains. For people looking here. out for some adventure, Chatbal offers thrilling trekking routes as well. So this study is an effort to highlight the potential products 3 A wide, Flat River Valley for tourism in twin Parganas like Kuthar and Mattan. 4Vinge, G.T. 1842. Travels in Kashmir, Ladak, Iskardo, Vol. I, London: Henry Colburn, Publisher, Index Terms- Pargana Kuthar and Mattan, Martand, Chatbal, Great Marlborough Street p.283. Heritage, Tourism, Rural, Eco- Tourism. 5Stein.M.A2005. Ancient Geography of Kasmir,Srinagar: Gulshan Books, p.178. 6 I. INTRODUCTION Panda.Tapan. K.2004. Tourism Management, Socio argana Kuthar is located in the south-east of district Economic and Ecological Perspective (Hyderabad: P Anantnag. It comprises of a cluster of villages on its north, south, east and west. The area features hillside villages and also University Press. p. 20.Eco tourism is a form of tourism the villages lying in lower plains. It was one the Parganas of 1 involving to visit fragile, pristine and relatively undisturbed Kashmir in Mughal period. The Kuthar valley is very rich in terms of its scenic beauty and archaeological wealth. Although it natural areas, intended as a low impact often small scale has already been explored, scope for further exploration still remains there. Mattan Pargana is situated at the North- Western alternative to standard commercial (mass) tourism eco- boundary of the Kuthar Pargana. It is on the top of the lofty tourism focuses on socially responsible travel, personal plateau, at whose feet stretch the broad green plains of Mattan 2 and Kuthar valley. It is surrounded on every side by mountains growth and environmental sustainability (for detailed information see Rural Tourism Development: An overview 1 of Tourism in the TipumPhakey village of Naharkata in --Majboor. Arjun. Dev. 2001-2. Section iv-Some Memorable Dibrugarh District, Assam(India) by NitashreeMili, Shrines in Districts –The forgottenTirthas in Shambles. International Journal of Scientific and Research VitastaAnnual no. vol. xxxv p.180. 2 Kak, R.C, Ancient Monuments of Kashmir, p.131. Publications 2(12), Dec.2012. www.ijsrp.org International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 7, Issue 7, July 2017 743 ISSN 2250-3153 14 II. DISCUSSING THE HISTORY OF MARTAND (SUN Kanauj. So his power and valour naturally would have made TEMPLE) AND SCENIC CHARM OF CHATBAL him Lalitaditya Muktapida (Swelled with pride) and he paid 15 MARTAND:-The temple of Martand is situated at a homage to the fierce luminary by founding Martanda. Walter distance of 5 miles away from Anantnag.7 In order to reach Lawerance is of the view that the temple structure must have been started somewherebetween 370 to 500 A.D. and completed Martand temple one has to go 2 kilometers up from the Mattan to 16 reach Ranbirpora Village on the Mattan Karewa (Plateau). It has during the reign of Lalitaditya Muktapida. General Cunnigham, latitude of 33045! and a longitude of 75016! It is at an elevation of however, on the strength of a passage in the Rajtarangini ascribes 5,817 feet from the sea level.8According to local legend, Surya, the building of the temple to Ranaditya, who reigned from A.D. the sun god of Hindu mythology was born of Aditi from a lifeless 578 to 594. Hasan recognizes it with the name of Martandashwar and reffered that it was built by Raja Ram Dev egg called Martanda. Aditi was the wife of Kashyap, the saint 17 from whom Kashmir probably takes its name. Surya was her on Mattan Karewa in year 95 Kaljugi. He also mentions that Martand temple was repaired with fair amount of money by Raja thirteenth child. The spring of Mattan is attributed to this legend. 18 Lord Vishnu-Surya has been worshiped in his Martanda Lalitaditya during his rule and was adorned with gold. Mr. manifestation. The modern name of the Mattan seems to have Fergusson, nevertheless, doubts the correctness of this opinion been evolved from the Sanskrit Martanda (Mart =dead/ and< --- and does not consider it to be clear that it is dedicated to the sun. 9 He also thinks that it was probably built about 100 years after the anda= egg) with the passage of time. 19 Vinge mentions in his account that it is said that Kashyap temple at Awantipora, about A.D. 852 or 853. According to Rishi after his desiccation work walked about in the greatest Stien the Martanda temple was built along with its enclosure wall by Lalitadiya Muktapida. Stein’s view has been accepted delight; that he accidently found an egg (the mundane egg of the 20 Hindus) shining most brilliantly, which he picked up. It broke in practically by all scholars. his hand, and from it flowed the springs of Bawun or Maha- It occupies undoubtedly the finest position in Kashmir. 10 This noble ruin is most striking in size and situation of all the Martundt. 21 Kalhana has given contradictory reference regarding the existing remains of Kashmir Grandeur. The solid walls and founder of Martanda for example at one place he has mentioned bold outlines towering over the fluted pillars of the surrounding that king Ranaditya founded Martand.11 And in another book he has mentioned the famous warrior king Lalita Ditya Muktapida.12 The king appeared to be a worshiper of sun as an all pervading 14Kalhana’sRajtarangini, vol-I, p.132-133. (See also Early phenomenon.13 He defeated the Yashovarman the king of History of India by V.A. Smith, 3rd edition, 1914, p.372 and “Unsung Heroes 3: Lalitaditya”, 23 Dec, 2014, http://.ariseindiaforum.org (AriseIndia Forum), 15Sri Sathya Sai Bal Vikas, Jan 2012. 7 Kak, R.C. op ct, p.131. 16Lawerence, Valley of Kashmir,p.171. (Cunningham attributed 8Bates.2005. A Gazetter of Kashmir, Gulshan Books, p.270. the central edifice to King Ranaditya and to his precedessors 9https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.phd/martand-temple and the colonnade to lalitaditya Muktapida. The two annexes 10Vinge, G.T. 1842. Travels in Kashmir, Ladak, Iskardo, Vol. I, on the north and south of the mandapa were built by p.359. (Two perennial bubbling springs gush out from its toe Ranaditya and his queen Amritaprabha. – See Agrawal, R.C. with equal volume of water at bawan and Anantanag. Along 1998. Kashmir and its Monumental Glory, New Delhi: the toe of matan karewa, towards Mattan, Pehroo and Aryan Books International, p.136) Kanganhal viilage, one can notice clearly the pebble-beds 17Khuihami, H.S. Tarikh Hassan, vol-I,p.266. (According to and layers of shingle, about which some Geologists, believe Hassan, there was a town named Babul in theKarewas of that these are obvious beach-marks or shore-margin deposits South Kashmir built by Raja Ram Deva ( Ranadatiya). In of former Kashmirian lake satisar, as the tides of vast water front of his royal palace he built Martandeshwara body area besides hawing its shore are held mainly temple.Khuihami, H.S. Tarikh Hassan, vol-I, Eng Trans. by responsible for such deposits. See Atta Mohammad Mir. A.R khanp.70. 2013. Kashmir Dells and Dales, Srinagar: Gulshan Books, 18Ibid,vol-I, p-267. p.41.) 19Collet, J. 2014.
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