Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 7: Launching the restoration project of heritage Oli Temple at Bamyal Nagrota on the ancient Shri Mata Vaishno Devi route, Senior BJP leader Devender Singh Rana today exuded confidence that the revival of the centuries old link will connect the devout with their spiritual moorings.
He launched the project, initiated by Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) in virtual mode in the presence of the Convener of its Jammu Chapter S. S Sawhney and others.
The BJP leader underscored the historical and religious significance of the Oli Temple at the Yogabhoomi of Nagrota and said the efforts of the revival of the original route to the holy cave shrine at Trikuta Hills– passing through Kol Kandoli Temple Nagrota, Durga Mata temple – Pangali, Shiv temple – Thandapani – Drabi, Shiv Shakti temple – Marh, Drabi, Kali Mata temple – Gundla Talab, Ram Darbar and Shiv temple – Bamyal, Oli temple Chhapanoo-Bamyal will go a long way in seeking the spiritual bliss by the pilgrims and giving economic fillip to the areas enroute the track.
Rana said he had all along been thinking why this monumental heritage route has suffered neglect for decades even though the bliss of revered shrines on Trikuta Hills had transcended continents.
“We have been envisioning restoration of this route and the firm resolve of the people have made it possible to undertake the pilgrimage through the Pracheen or ancient route”, he said, hoping the effort will get momentum in years to come, which will be a major step towards creating pilgrims interest in the area.
“The pilgrims used to go to Mata Vaishno Devi via this route prior to 1947”, he added.
He hoped that the conservation work of the assets like step-wells, ponds, saarais, wells, temples and springs along the trails on the old Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine route will be taken up as per the detailed project prepared by the INTACH. He expressed happiness over the initiation of the renovation work.
He also appreciated the efforts of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Sanstha – Marh, Bamyal, headed by Harbans Singh and his team Randeep Singh, Ashok Kumar, Jagdish Raj, Sanjeev Kumar, Rakesh Kumar, Puran Chand, Vinod Kumar, Jadgish Kumar, Kartar Chand and others for their relentless efforts in restoration of the project.
Expressing his gratitude to S. S. Sawhney, Convener INTACH Jammu Chapter, Arvind Kotwal, Coordinator Heritage Tourism, Jammu Chapter and Kirpal Singh, Life Member of the INTACH, Rana hoped that their efforts in getting this prestigious project, as also the other projects in the pipeline, will be accomplished in a time bound manner.
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