Sir,
This has a reference to Daily Excelsior Sunday Magazine article titled “A wonder in ruins” written by Mr Aruditya Jasrotia dated March 20, 2016.
The author has successfully brought about the cultural, historical and touristic importance of palaces and forts of an erstwhile powerful Princely State of Jasrota. Apart from very rich heritage site, these forts are regularly visited by Jasrotia Rajputs throughout the year for religious purpose in the great old temple of Maha Kali Mata Ji. There is no pacca road to visit this place and this great heritage has been allowed to turn into ruins. Just imagine about the greatness of this palce that it was the capital city of great Jasrota State and many palaces, ponds and forts were built at different locations. It was our duty to save this heritage, develop it and bring it on tourist map. The Tourism and Archeological Departments should do something at this time to save the roots of Jasrotias and also the historical heritage of Duggar Pardesh as a whole. The area of forts and palaces should be denotified from Wildlife Department and should be handed over to Archeological Department for immediate preservation and development. Tourism Department should also work on it.
Not only Jasrota, but the forts and palaces of all old twenty two hill states of Jammu region should be located and developed. It is painful to state that where the palaces and forts of old twenty two hill states of Jammu have gone. I would like to give example of Royal Palace of Chenani which was all right till the shooting of Jaani Dushman film and after that one portion got burnt. The remaining Royal Palace was broken down to construct building of tehsil Chenani. See this is our respect for our heritage. Similarly, the Kotli Fort of Raja Dayal Chand of Chenani was all right till ninetees but it therefore turned into ruins. The State Govt. should prepare DPR of heritage lost for its preservation and do something at ground, so that common man like me could see Jasrota Fort, which is only about sixty kilometer from Jammu.
Yours etc…
Rajinder Chand Anthal
Zonal Education Officer (Rtd.) Chenani
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