Senior BJP leader Mr Devender Singh Rana today called for restoring the pristine glory of the ancient heritage temples and shrines for posterity to remain connected with their spiritual moorings and civilization. Interacting with a delegation of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji Pracheen Marg Shrine Sanstha here this evening, Mr Rana complimented the office for their relentless efforts in promoting the ancient heritage route to Shri Mata Vaishno Deviji Cave Shrine from Kol Kandoli Temple in Nagrota.
“This route will bestow an added spiritual bliss to pilgrims thronging from across the country and abroad and give renewed impetus to the Jammu economy”, Mr Rana said while responding with humility the gratitude expressed by the Sanastha for his support in bringing this route under focus. Mr Rana highlighted the efforts being made over the years for exploring this route optimally after carrying out detailed mapping by experts of all the important heritage assets like step-wells, ponds, Sarais, wells, temples and springs along the trails, which were once used and maintained by the pilgrims.
The route starts from Kol Kandoli (Nagrota) on the National Highway 1A and passes through Jagdamba Mata Kheer Bhawani Temple - Jagti, Durga Mata Temple - Pangali, Shiv Temple - Thandapani - Drabi, Shiv Shakti Temple, Raja Mandleek Temple- and Raja Nowalgarh Temple – Marh, Drabi, Kali Mata Temple - Gundla Talab, Ram Darbar, Shiv Temple- Bamyal and Oli Temple Chhapanoo-Bamyal. By reviving this route, the devotees could go back home after paying obeisance at the Durbar of the Mata with enlightenment they have been searching all their life, he added.
“Apart from spiritual aspect of the yatra, the promotion of Pracheen Marg will bring Jammu under focus and transform the economy of the peripheries from the City up to the cave shrine”, he said, adding that the pilgrim tourism has sustained the economy of Jammu and Kashmir in general and this region in particular during most difficult times.
For the past over four years, the pilgrim tourism has gained momentum, he maintained. Mr Rana called for proactive approach in execution of various projects related to pilgrim sites, saying the ancient link, passing through serene environs and spiritual ambience, offers spiritual solace and Darshan of several revered temple which used to pre-requisite before embarking on the yatra to holy Bhawan on Trikuta Hills over seven decades ago.
Prominent among those who were present included Harbans Lal President Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Paracheen Marg Shrines Sanstha Marh Bamyal(Chhapanoo), Pandit Ravi Kesar, Jagdish Raj , Ashok Thakur, Anand Swaroop Dutta , Rajesh , Neeraj Kumar, Saaransh Jalotra, Jeevan Kumar, Sahil besides Former Minister Prem Sagar Aziz, Former Deputy Mayor Dharamveer Singh Jamwal, Chairman J&K Panchayat Conference Anil Sharma, Dilbahadur Singh Jamwal and others.