Not many people of the state may know about a unique place in Ramban district where sun rises twice a day within a gap of three hours.The unique spectacle is created by a vast forest area facing village Batroo which hides the sun soon after it rises and emerges again in couple of hours presenting a magnificent scene. But this small hamlet is also popular for entirely different reasons.Personalities like D.D. Thakur (former Dy CM of J&K and Governor of some states), his son T.S. Thakur (Chief Justice of India) and many senior Judges and advocates hail from this sleeping hill locked hamlet standing on a sloppy land elevated from the bed of Pogal stream. It is situated at a distance of 178 km from Jammu and 4.5 km from Magarkote, a small station on Jammu –Srinagar National Highway.Over 50 families of Hindu and Muslim communities live there in beautifully arranged cluster of houses. The distance between Batroo and tehsil Headquarter is only four kilometre.
If one starts his journey from Magarkote, majority of villages fall on left side. The multi-storey buildings lined on the sloppy land have no less resemblance with those found in Kashmir.Whenever people talk about the development of this region, they never forget to recall the name of D.D Thakur former deputy CM of J&K. Over 61 advocates have come from this small hamlet and adjoining areas.The area showcases the Mother Nature in all its colours, while daily life around gives impression of a simple and primitive style.A two way narrow black-topped road ascending towards Ukhral presents charming and pleasant experience of nature’s beauty. A visitor is surely attracted by the natural views which appear more appealing when blend with white-marked foot paths, small bridges and building structures.
More visible is the water streams flowing down towards Nallah and ultimately in Chenab river. Even a quenched can have the urge to taste the cool drops of water.The people of this region are neither so narrow in beliefs nor they have remained a geographic entity only. The life there in real sense symbolizes peaceful co-existence harmony and camaraderie. People of both the communities are simple, hospitable and share the history of peaceful co-existence which is their real strength. They also vary in their faiths but live peacefully and love to join each other on festivals and celebrations. All this is due to the fact that they have bequeathed the cultural heritage of their fore fathers. Pogal nallah originating from Malinsar lake joins another stream flowing from Paristan at Ukhraland form a huge source of water. In September 1985, the locals have seen devastating flood resulting in huge damage and losses of property and land. As a small step towards bringing on tourism map, the government has proposed to develop an environmental park in the vicinity of Higher Secondary School Ukhral.
Along the stream there are many water mills locally called as Gharat or Jandhar having their own relevance from economic and cultural point of view. The People prefer to consume the flour from these Ghartas. Representing primitive life style, they stand there to harness the power of flowing water since centuries. Since no electric mill is installed in the Tehsil, the the locals is profusely rely on these mills.The unique feature of Batroo is appearance of the sun twice a day only with gap of 1 to 3 hrs which happens due to blockade of sun rays by a high forest-covered hill facing sun on back side and Batroo on the front side. Such uncommon scenes appear very strange for visitors who happen to be there. No Just on walking distance of Thakur mohalla at Batroo, stands two storey white building, the only community hall of the village named after D.D. Thakur which serves as a common place for holding social and pubic functions including marriage ceremonies. A link road is also constructed from main road to approach this building. Parallel to it runs a off-shoot of land with uneven surface extending up to the stream. Covered by Alnus Nitida trees (called Chaamp in local language) it presents another eye-catching view for the onlookers. An ancient temple amidst trees adds to the calm ambience of the place.
Long back vast chunk of land was cultivated here by growing paddy but sudden flooding of the Pogal nallah denuded the land as well as the temples surmounting there. The beautiful view has now turned into soil-builder tree fields densely planted to avert further soil erosion.As one moves upwards from the village Danmasta, nature unfolds her lap with green meadows, grass lands and lofty snow clad hills. The sprawling meadows spread around Pogal and Paristan have huge tourism potential with their beauty and scenic attraction. But to reach such spots needs courage and patience as one has to walk a long distance on-foot from the nearest motorable roads. Gujjar and Bakerwals normally move to these areas for their survival.The popular Sarvdhar shoba yatra, one of the important religious etheos of Hindus beginning in the month of June/July passes through these areas just like other seasonal pilgrimages. Hundreds of people from district Ramban, Udhampur and Jammu visit the revered temple of Chunda mata every year located in the upper belts of Ukhral. To reach this religious destination, the pilgrims have to cover 5-6 hrs long on-foot journey.
The Thakur families at Batroo have strong faith in their Kul Devta- Marmud. One can witness their gatherings on some important occasions. Sacrifices of some selected animals are made in order to appease the holy Devta as a past practice. Some times halwa (sweet dish) is also cooked. After assembling in the Shrine prayers for peace and prosperity of the Kul (Clan) are offered. This showcases rich cultural and religious heritage passed from generation to generation which in other way serves the purpose of their unity and sense of we feeling too, the need present time.Pogali is the mainly spoken language in the entire region. Locals including less educated and high ranked feel proud to talk in their native language. All communities love to be the part of Pogali language. One has to witness unusual scene when groups of ladies in the villages are seen with bundles of grass or woods on their head gossiping in pogali. Some pogali songs are sung there as a part of their culture.Many untraced tourist sites in Batroo, Ukhral, Pogal and Paristan equipped with immense beauty and unique features need to be connected with tourist grid. These prominent places are Sargali in Pogal, Devira in Manigam, Marg, Alinbas,Googli, Sonaseri etc. Apart from tourism, Honga, the proposed place for constructing Munsif Court will be become another priority for rural masses.