“Brilliant is ......Page 4 SUNDAY, MARCH 13, 2016 INTERNET EDITION : www.dailyexcelsior.com/magazine The Siachen Hero.....Page 3 Religious Tourism in Jammu Region Prof(DR) R.D.Gupta Bawe Wali Mata Temple Shivkhori Cave Tourism has become a popular activity not only in Jammu and Kashmir but across the country. Jammu and Kashmir state offers vast tourism potential in its all regions viz. Jammu Province, valley of Kashmir and Ladakh region. It is because Jammu and Kashmir has been gifted with a number of religious tourist spots and picturesque places, wildlife, wetlands ecosystems, lush green meadows and thick coniferous and deciduous forests. Snow capped Pir Panjal Mountains, valleys and rivers, Siwalik Hills coupled with springs and lakes have immense potential to entice tourists. The Jammu region endowed with natural beauty, is dotted with a number of historical monuments like Mubarak Mandi complex, Bagh-e-Bahu, Bahu Fort and Mohamaya Rakh, Gurudwaras, Darghas and a number of temples. Raghunath temple, Pirkho temple, Ranbireshwar temple, Panchvaklar and Panjtirthi temple, Mohamaya temple, Gurudwaras at Jain bazar and Raghunath bazars, Darghas at Pir Mitha, Mastgarh, Ustad Mohala Talab Khatikan and Gumat are the main religious places in and around the Jammu Vaishno Devi Bhawan Budha Amarnath Temple city which have the potential for the development of pilgrimage tourism. Jammu region is also characterised by having historic forts and other such places of Ramnagar, Reasi and Udhampur. There are couple of famous reli- gious sites enroute to Katra and Reasi. First comes the famous Agar Jitto which is at a distance of 6 km from Katra. It is cool scenic spot located amidst beautiful hillock with a number of perennial springs lending a cool and refreshing ambience to the place. A huge statue of Babba Jitto besides that of his daughter Bua Gouri dominates. Jammu region has bountiful places of Gods and Deities confined to hilly and mountainous region such as Mata Sukrala Devi of Billawar in district Kathua. Mata Sukrala Devi is also called a female Deity of foregiveness. Lakhs of people throng around this sacred shrine to pay obeisance and to obtain blessings. Apart from this, Jammu region has a vast variety of tourist attrac- tion to offer and holds potential for developing various tourist spots and places for pilgrimage tourism offering substantial heritage, leisure and adven- ture tourism to tourists of wide ranging interest. Just in a well organised trip one can be exposed to grand edifices of Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Sikhism and Christianity. At the same time he can see our stunning natural posses- sions. One such better site for making pilgrimage a big success, Vaishno Devi temple. This temple is situated at the Trikuta Hills which constitute an over- mountains of Pahalgam in Vale of Kashmir. Kailash Kund is infact a lake mentioned that Devika river is a manifestation of the mother Goddess Parvati whelming majority of tourists who turn up in the state. The Mata Vaishno shrine of Bhadarwah. About 20 km south west of Bhadarwah is the mountain herself to remove the sins of the people of Mader Desh that covers areas Deviji is now world famous pilgrimage. of Kailash. This mountain too is the abode of Lord Shiva but it is different between the river Ravi and the Chenab. A recent study was conducted with regard to the pilgrim tourism econom- from the world famous mountain of the same name which arises almost ver- Sudh Maha Dev- Mantalai is a holy spot in Chenani near Patnitop which ics of Katra- gateway of Vaishnodevi pilgrimage in Kashmir. It was found that tically from the holy lake of Mansarovar in Tibet. This is sacred lake on this stands erected at an altitude of 1225 m. This shrine has not only been visited the pilgrims were injecting annually as much as 475 crores into its economy, mountain and is known as the lake of Kailashpati Shivji Maharaj. It is said by a large number of pilgrims on the full moon night during May - June but is that Lord Shiva along with his family also visited this spot. Seven stream flow with a total of nearly 28,000 employees in various sectors. Such sectors main- also attracted by many tourists.Thial a very small village situated about 50 km out of this place. The river Tawi, the Basantar and Ugh are some of the exam- ly consist of commercial establishments, hospitality, transport sector / priests from Udhampur on the Dhar road, where an old temple of Lord Jagannath ples in this respect. It is the biggest pilgrimage of northern India as has been and ponywallahs. Puri is the main centre of pilgrimage. This village is well connected with stated by Lord Shiva to Mata Parvati in Vasuki Puran. Other pilgrimage centres in the Jammu region are Shahdra-Sharief, Mansar lake temples. Jamia Masjid and Ziarat Shah- Farid-Ud-Din,are the other holy places in Buddha Amarnath and Nangali Sahib in Rajouri and Poonch. The shrine of Shiv Khori cave is a majestic shrine of Lord Shiva and is a place of pilgrims Kishtwar. The former, is the oldest mosque in the Kishtwar district which was Shahdra-Sharief in Rajouri district, about 177 km from Jammu, is one of the attraction which enjoys high order of esteem among all sections of people. In constructed before 1650 AD. The Jamia Masjid, in fact, is the largest mosque most popular Muslim shrines of Jammu region, visited by thousands of devo- view, the everlasting religious significance and sanctity the majestic and in Jammu Province. The latter is situated in the heart of Kishtwar town dur- tees everyday irrespective of caste , colour and creed in deep faith. ancient Shiv Khori shrine cave in district Reasi is now witnessing great rush ing the region of Raja Jai Singh to propagate Islam.Shah-Farid ud-Din hailed of pilgrims. To reach Shiv Khori shrine, all type of vehicles are available either Budha Amarnath temple is situated about 25 km north east of Poonch on from Bhagdad. the left bank of Pulsta stream.This place has a great religious importance as from Jammu or Katra. Paddar, in district of Kishtwar has much of its own to offer pilgrimage. A this temple is considered older than Swami Amarnath of Kashmir. Legend While visiting the religious wealth in the form of numerous shrines and well known sacred and holy shrine of Mata Chandi located at an altitude of goes that Lord Shiva had visited this place. Thousands of pilgrims come to places of worship at Mahabilvakashawar temple in Billawar, Mahadev temple 2850 m is present at village Machail. The holy journey of Machail shrine is this place with great devotion from various parts of the country particularly about 320 km from Jammu city. The foot journey of 31 km from Atholi to at Basohli, Shiva temple at Airwan, Ziarat of Pir Fazalshah at Kathua, Pir during Sawan or Shravan Poornima. Machail is a treasure of nature's glimpses, attractions, enroute temples, Chhatarshah near Parole, a temple of Mata at Bala Sundrikot, the pilgrims Nangali Sahib Gurudwara is situated on the left bank of Drungli Nallah caves, bubbling streams, springs, greenery and at some places sharp bare after performing worship, they can visit water tourism in Ranjeet Sagar Lake. which is 4 km away from Poonch city. This Gurudwara was established by mountain peaks. This lake is amidst Siwalik hills in Basholi. It is one of the largest fresh water Sant Bhai Mela Singhji. Maharaja Ranjit Singh had paid a visit to this shrine lakes of the country which was formed as a result of ponding of the Thein Dam The most famous amongst the religious and historical places and monu- during 1819 AD, when he was on his way to conquer Kashmir. This place is of at the river Ravi. It begins from the village Thein and culminates near Khajura ments in Udhampur city- the second largest city of Jammu region are the great religious importance and thousands of pilgrims of all religions through- village of Basholi. It is point to mention that being located at central place Babore temples, Krimchi temple complex, Devtaa Mandir in Pancheri, out the country pay a visit to this place every year. touching Jammu region at Basholi, Pathankot of Punjab and Dalhousi of shrines of Chountra Devi and Pingla Devi as well as the river Devika. Owing There is a tremendous scope of religious tourism in Doda and Kishtwar Himachal Pradesh, the Ranjeet Sagar Lake can add one more feather in the to the presence of Devika river Udhampur city is known as Devika Nagri. In cap of water tourism vis-a-vis religious tourism. districts of Jammu region. Kailash Kund in Bhadarwah at an altitude of 4320 the Nilmata Puran which was written during 7th century by Nela Muniji, m isTHE one of the leading pilgrimagesLAW-KEEPERS just like Sri Amarnath confined to the ON SCREEN(The author is Associate Dean Cum Chief Scientist, KVK Jammu District, SKUAST, Chatha, Jammu.) police-criminal nexus for the first time. “Anant Velankar could may be, a bit more. The policewoman in uniform has appeared Prakash Jha’s Jai Gangaajal sees arguably emerge as the most significant character of the ‘80s rarely in films bent of woman as the avenging angel such as because he symbolises the brutalisation of an essentially sensi- Dimple Kapadia in Zakhmi Aurat which was a strong patriar- Priyanka Chopra, currently much in tive man,” writes critic Maithili Rao. chal statement that claimed that a policewoman was as vulner- The angry young cop with distinct, negative traits such as able to rape as any ordinary woman on the street.