Advisor to Lt. Governor, Kewal Krishan Sharma today said that the efforts are underway to bring Jammu and Kashmir on international tourist pilgrimage map as the region is replete with the historical religious sites of immense importance.The Advisor was speaking during his visit to the Buddhist site at Ambaran in the Akhnoor area of the Jammu district. He was accompanied by renowned Buddhist scholar Dhammadipa, Director Tourism, Jammu Deepika Sharma, Managing Director JKTDC Asgar Hussain and Assistant Archaeologist Ms Sonam of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and other senior officers of Administration.It is pertinent to mention that the site pre-dates to the Kushana period and is of pivotal importance viz-a-viz the artifacts and terracotta of figurines excavated from the site which are presently in different museums all over the world. The conservation work was undertaken by ASI since 2004 and is still in process. The site has also been visited by HE Dalai Lama and several other top Buddhist scholars from different parts of the world.
The Advisor said that the site is of immense importance and people need to be made aware about it so that the people, researchers and Archaeologists from different parts of the globe can come and get benefitted from the wide range of artifacts excavated from it.He said that the region of Jammu and Kashmir has innumerable pre-historic and historic sites which need to be preserved and information about their importance and relevance be propagated to the people within the state and in different parts of the country.The Advisor also directed the officers to ensure proper road connectivity to the site by undertaking the requisite developmental works, besides the required conservation measures in and around site. He also directed the tourism department for undertaking concrete measures for creating more awareness about the relevance of the historical site by suitable campaigns. The Advisor, later, visited historical “Har Ki Poudi” on the banks of the river Chenab and directed undertaking the requisite developmental works on it. He said that these types of sites or areas are a part of our historical legacy and we should collectively work for preserving these besides creating the requisite awareness among the posterity about our historical and cultural icons.