Shiv Kumar Padha
Mata Chanchlo Dev is kuldevi of natives of Basohli and of all those living in the adjoining areas falling under Punjab and Himachal Pradesh states. Mata Chanchlo Devi shrine is housed in an old historic fort built on the peak of pyramid shaped hill covered with thick forest from all the sides. The fort is linked with the Basohli town by a 3.5 km asphalted road which runs with one side along the hill while the other parallel to the creek formed by the back water of the RSD. The road terminates near the shrine where the devotees and the tourists park their vehicles.
Mata Chanchlo Devi is worshiped not only by the natives but by the entire population of adjoining states also. Hundreds of devotees from the town and the neighboring states visit the shrine daily. During Navratra festivals, a sizable number of the devotees from different religion, and faiths pay obeisance to the goddess every day. It is believed that the wishes of the devotees are cherished by the blessings of the goddess. Before the newly married couple crosses the threshold of their houses, the parents bring them to the abode of the Kul Devi for seeking her blessings. During the Navratras many volunteer organizations arrange Bhandaras, where the sumptuous meals are served to the devotees throughout the day. It is pertinent to mention that Chanchlo Mata and its surrounding is the combination of both religious and eco-tourism in Jammu region. Bringing the shrine and the thick forest on the tourist map and developing it into a tourist spot will prove as the income generating unit for the state exchequer. A little and sincere efforts by the tourism department in tapping the tourist potential of the shrine can go a long way in boosting the tourism, creating job opportunities for the youth and earnings for the state coffers.
As we know that there had always been some unforgettable instances, incidences and compulsions of the contemporary societies which compelled them to install the idol of innocent souls killed treacherously by the royal families. Before mentioning the incidence which leads to the instant appearance of Mata Chanchlo Devi, I feel it worthwhile to mention here that majority of the Pal Rajas, who ruled Basohli state had been the persons fond of dance and music who possessed exemplary character. According to the legend, there were dancing girls in the royal durbar,who used to entertain the inmates of the Palace by their art of dance in the Rang Mahal of the Palace. One day Raja asked a dancing girl, who gave excellent dancing performance, to demand any reward for her. The girl, without any hesitation, expressed her desire to marry the prince present there. The girl was granted the boon with the condition that she will have to reach the Palace through the rope tied between the two forts. But as the ill luck would have it the stretched rope was chopped when she had covered almost whole distance and was near her destination. The girl fell down in the deep gorge below and died. While breathing her last she cursed the entire royal family that the fort will lose its glory and will be reduced to ruins soon, with the result many princes started dying during child hood and in the prime of their youth. The Pandits of the royal family consoled the soul and installed her idol in the temple which stands in the premises of the fort.
There is a thick and dense forest all around the fort which abounds in the trees like Emblicaofficinalis (amla), billav, Dalbergia sisoo (sheesham ), Kachnar, Kainth, Cassia fistula (amaltas), Cedrela tuna (tunu), Eugenia cuspidate (jamun), Bakain (draike),Murrayakoinigi (curry patta, Gandla), Terminalia (Arjun) Acacia catechu (khair) and grooves of bamboo and other fodder yielding trees . The thick trees provide shelter and natural food for the wild life living there. Many leopards, wild goats, antelope, pigs, peacocks and fowls can easily be spotted in the forest. The whole jungle around the fort echoes with the cawing of peacocks and crowing of the fowls. The interior of the forest is very charming and beautiful. The silent cool and peaceful environment around provides congenial atmosphere needed for conducting yoga classes in the laps of the nature. The link road which passes through the forest along with the canal of ranjeet Sagar Dam backwaters proves tempting for the tourists who visit the shrine during the morning and the evening hours. Providing amenities along the link and maintaining the greenery of the forest can prove a miracle in the history of tourism and generate opportunities of self-employment for the youth of the town. But it is shocking that in spite of big army of forest protection force, forest guards and other allied staff, the trees from the forest are being chopped mercilessly under the nose of the local authorities which is consequently affecting the wild life and the ecology of the area badly. The forest is gradually becoming too thin to provide shelter to the smallest wild life living there. The cattle from villages and of the nomads keep grazing unchecked in the forests which eat away the grass needed for sustaining the wild life. The sincere efforts by system can only bring revolution in the field of developing tourism.
Basohli town and its surroundings are lucky enough to have enormous scope for historical, religious, cultural and natural tourism, which, if exploited fully can help revive the tourist industry of the place again.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
