A.N.Kerni
Karlah Nag temple has been provided with road links from Patnitop and Kasal Morh. The Jammu-Srinagar High way passes through a top of hill at a distance of 45 Km from Udhampur through a famous tourist spot known as Patnitop. After provision of two kilometer road link ,the number of tourists visiting Nag temple are at considerable increase for past few years. There are number of normal and luxurious hotels available at Patnitop and counting goes beyond eighty five at present.
Nag temple is located on the north-west top of village Karlah. In case one wishes to visit another attractive tourist spot known as Gauri Kund, one has to stroll along the margin of Karlah village skirted with Pines and Deodars. As one looks upwards from temple site there are misty mountain tops that bound the horizon and thrill the mind as it were conscious of all the conceivable objects. The path becomes muddy during rains and prone to slippery. No separate track is available for mules and horses..
The drinking water was being utilized from natural resources only in the past. The population explosion was not as high as today. Improving and creating of new water resources was treated sacred in the society. The scriptures are full of such supporting stories and teachings. The Puranic literature contains many references to this effect where repairing and cleaning of old water resources was believed as holy as creating of new water resources. Kings, queens, rulers and prominent personalities of those days were keenly committed in digging of wells, creation of ponds and construction of Baulis. May this be the reason that Bauli art was fully developed by seventeenth century in the region. Some of the Baulis pertaining to that period continued to receive repairs from time to time. Some of them are in good condition even today and some were ruined due to lack of repairs and maintenance. Some Baulis have lost their existence due to geological ravages.
There is a big Bauli below the Nag temple site with a handful flow of water through out the year. The water of Bauli remains cold during summers and warm in winters. Bauli existed in the area since old days and was repaired few years back. Tourists visiting temple are oftenly seen taking bath in Bauli. The tourists staying during night are also seen sitting on the side walls of Bauli enjoying the gleam of moonlight on the Bauli water.
After walking over a kilometer distance on the stated path, there exists another Bauli known as Patti Bauli. It has duo big tanks connected with each other with pipe. Water passes from one tank to other. The spring water falls to first tank and then passes to the other tank. The handful plenty of spring water is brought into use by the population residing around. The surrounding land is very suitable for growing the vegetables. The Bauli water is also being used for irrigating grown vegetables by the villagers. This has enabled the villagers to improve their economy to some extent presently.
If one proceeds further by another half kilometer there is one more big Bauli available having a big quantum of spring water available through out the year. The Bauli is popularily known as ‘Jally Bauli’
Strolling further by other two kilometers one more Bauli comes which is known as Mandola Bauli. This Bauli is believed to have been constructed during the seventeenth century when an old Bauli was ruined and vanished probably due to natural calamities on soil formation of the site. The existing Bauli was got repaired some years back. The carved murals on stone slabs have been refixed. This Bauli is existing below 20 mtrs from the site of old ruined Bauli. It is believed that this Bauli came into being only after old Bauli disappeared. The villagers of Mandola endured scarcity of water due to leakage of spring water pouring to the existing Bauli.
Generations old legend is common among locals that there existed an old Bauli pertaining to Pandava period which had a big gargoyle allowing water to pour to a big tank and outer end of the big tank was also provided with seven stone carved gargoyles with double holes. The water of gargoyles was falling to bowl shaped stone mortors placed under each gargoyle so that the water flowing in the gargoyles could fall conveniently in them.
Based on the legendary information the locals decided to dig up the site for search of water. After excavating few feet of soil, the locals recovered the ruins of old Bauli. The structure of Bauli so recovered is a finest specimen of sculpture. The stone -cutter of those days have shown a wonderful skill while cutting and carving a stone gargoyle of the size 8’x2’x1′. It was the main gargoyle containing a hole on lion shaped mouth. Those days water poured through the main gargoyle to a tank below built of stone slabs. The art of elegant carving and inland sculptures work made on stone slabs is greatly thriving. Art of stone carving and sculpting statuettes is also of great archaeological importance. The ruins of the Bauli are of great use in setting the topography of ancient Duggar villages.
While carrying out the excavation locals found spring water naturally stored in the tank of Bauli. They put a rubber pipe in the tank and water automatically passed through the pipe. The other end of the pipe was placed below on slope so that water could be conveniently used by the locals.
The tank was again covered by dumping the beautifully carved stone slabs recovered from the site. A quire of village-maids and children come on site and break statuettes and stone slabs being unaware of art and its historical value. No such Bauli has ever been found in this area except the Mandola Bauli . The art of Bauli throws light on the history ,culture and civilization of Duggar. History of Duggar must not be allowed to be confined merely to the life sketch of few erstwhile rulers of the principalities only. The remains of archaeological monuments, old baulis need the specialized study in order to establish the parameters of old art and culture. The Bauli needs to be constructed de novo with the concert effors to preserve the stone work. It may not be feasible to give it the original shape at this stage. In case task to reconstruct the Bauli is taken up by some volunteer orgaisation or agency, the future generations would be thankful for preserving the memories of past for them.
After walking over further two kilometers from Mandola Bauli the famous point known as Gauri Kund comes where Parvati known by the name of Gauri also carried out meditation in a cave. The natural water available in a kund where she took bath. The points is located underneath a hill amidst the trees and bushes along the small stream. The steps are provided to reach road leading to Sudhmahadev. It was believed that long back there was a cave which was closed for safety reasons as once a seer entered the cave and who never came back. Temple is built and idol of Parvati and Shiva are placed in a small cave for the devotees. The administration of temple is being managed by Dharamarth trust . The place is sacred and many devotees visit to receive the holy bath in Kund.
In case road link is provided from Patnitop to Gauri Kund,hardly measuring not more than seven kilometers; the lot of tourists visiting Patnitop may turn to visit Gaurikind, Sudhmahadev and other spots of heritage importance being the short distance. With the present arrangement if a tourist plans to visit from Patnitop to Sudhmahadev one has come back 26 Km to Chenani and then to cover another 23 Km to visit Sudhmahadev which is not convenient and most of the tourist cancel the plan to visit these spots. The locals supply milk from Gaurikud area to Patnitop loaded on mules. The construction of a small piece of road would also be very useful for the locals also. In order to promote the heritage tourism in region the construction of road being the basic amenity needs to be given priority in development plans.
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