Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 24: As a part of World Heritage Week Celebrations, INTACH Jammu chapter in association with Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Jammu (JU) organized Heritage Drive on the traditional route to Mata Vaishno Devi Ji Shrine in Katra.
A group of 70 students along with 10 scholars, faculty and INTACH members participated in the Heritage Drive.
Prof Keshav Sharma, Dean Academics Affairs, JU, along with S M Sahini, convener INTACH Jammu chapter, Dr C M Seth, co-convener, INTACH JK, Prof Anil Raina, Reactor Bhaderwah Campus and Prof R K Rampal, HoD, Environmental Sciences, JU flagged off the Heritage Drive.
S M Sahini explained the salient features and importance of this heritage route which in ancient time was used by the devotees to reach the holy cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi Ji.
Dr C M Seth briefed the students about the natural heritage beauty of area with traditional plants, pollution free environment and streams along the route from Nagrota to Katra passing through Bambayal-Deva Maiji and Nomain.
Prof Keshav Sharma emphasized that the students must study and learn about their cultural heritage and suggest the ways and means to conserve and preserve the same for posterity.
During the Heritage Drive, students were shown Pangali village complex having a Sarai, Stepwell with five chambers, pond, small temple, Mango tree grooves, traditional stone pitching wells at village Shiba, village Thandapani, village Marh and Gundla pond.
They were also shown Heritage temple Oli with Stepwell, Sarai, sandy rocks towards hills side (east), a stream towards lower side (north) and track Deva Maiji-Katra.
O P Vidhyarathi delievered a lecture (tree talk) to the students in the lush green lawns of Food Craft Institute, Nagrota, followed by a visit to the Institute.
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