Sir,
I would like to request Tourism Minister of J&K State to prepare and circulate Directory of temples of Jammu city which should include their location, area, religious background and approach road etc. It is pertinent to mention that not to speak of outside visitors and tourists, even the local population is less aware of location and religious significance of these temples.
The management of these temples is in the hands of J&K Dharamarth Trust and it is the prime duty of Trust to protect and renovate these temples which have given Jammu name and fame as City of Temples. The sources of Income of the Trust are limited, so the Govt should come forward with sufficient grants for the renovation and up keep of these temples because they are not for religious purpose only but play major part in promotion of Tourism in Jammu Division. It is seen with pain that somewhere encroachments on temple lands have been done and the original construction designs changed with unskilled hands. So it is requested that J&K State Govt should approach Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Govt of India to declare these Temples as “UNESCO” protected heritage sites. Only this approach can save the identity and greatness of these temples. There is no harm to place suitable yearly grant at the disposal of Dharamarth Trust by the State Govt to promote cultural and religious heritage which is directly linked with promotion of Tourism in Jammu. In the first attempt, all the city temples should be linked with road and adequate parking facility be also arranged near these temples.
The Trust should write a short note on the front wall of these temples showing history and religious importance as has been done in Lord Shiva temple of Sudhmahadev. The Directory should include all temples of Purmandal, Utterbehni, Udhampur, Sudhmahadev, Mantalai and all others from different parts of Jammu province and detailed information should be given in the shape of free booklet to every visitor of Shri Raghu Nath Ji Temple and Tourist Reception Centre. All the efforts will give new life to religious pilgrimage and tourism on large scale in Jammu province.
Yours etc….
Rajinder Chand Anthal
Chenani (Udhampur)
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