A group of young trekkers on Sunday trudged the 'Spiritual Trail' from Patnitop to the highly revered Shaivite Centre of Sudh Mahadev as part of the ongoing 'Visit Patnitop' event series. Organised by Patnitop Development Authority, in collaboration with Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University and supported by the Department of Tourism J&K, and District Administration Udhampur, the trek was flagged off from Nag Temple by Parkash Chand, BDC Chairman Chenani, Thakur Sher Singh, CEO PDA, and Nagendra Singh Jamwal, Registrar, SMVDU.
The Spiritual Trail of approximately 12 kms followed the famous pilgrimage route in use since ancient times to reach Sudh Mahadev-Mantalai pilgrimage centre.Among the Nag temples dotting the Himalayas, the Nag temple which was the starting point for the trek, is largely made of stones instead of widely available Deodar wood.
En-route, the trekkers visited Gauri Kund Temple, dedicated to Bhagwan Shiv and Mata Parvati, where Mata Parvati is believed to take her daily bath in the natural spring. Here, the trekkers savoured traditional Dogri cuisine called 'dham'.
The destination, Sudh Mahadev Temple is home to the ancient Shiv Trident, on which an inscription is engraved in Brahmi script dating back to Gupta period. This pilgrimage centre has been devotedly nurtured and developed over centuries by the erstwhile Chenani Kings.
On reaching Paap Naashni Baoli, which has exquisite stone carvings on its walls, depicting social and religious themes, the trekkers witnessed the history etched in stones. The students and faculty of SMVDU, hailing from Jammu and Kashmir, and states like Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, Punjab and Bihar, were overwhelmed as the whole experience brought thrilling views along with the mystical enigma of Bhagwan Shiv.
"The 'Spiritual Trail' passing through Nag Temple, Karlah, Gorja Mama, Gali Talai, Gouri Kund, Sudh Mahadev is a blend of adventure, trekking, nature and spiritual retreat," said Thakur Sher Singh, CEO PDA.
Nagendra Singh Jamwal, Registrar, SMVDU, said, "This enticing trek from Patnitop, does not just invite the adventure enthusiasts but also those seeking self-discovery or spiritual retreat amidst a serene setting."
The event series 'Visit Patnitop' was kicked off recently by Patnitop Development Authority in continuation of its efforts to promote the all-encompassing beauty of nature and adventure tourism potential of Patnitop Tourism Circuit.
During the trek, trekkers from SMVDU and a team of PDA collected the waste from the route under the PDA initiative ‘Carry the trash back’.Late evening, CEO PDA and BDC Chairman felicitated the participants.
They invited travellers, trekkers from all over the country and abroad to explore the beautiful landscape of Patnitop Tourism Circuit from Sanasar to Basantgarh.