One of Jammu division’s prominent forts and a UT protected site, Laddan Kotli fort is undergoing vital restoration.
Confirming to The News Now, Dr Sangeeta Sharma, Assistant Director, Archives Archaeology and Museums Jammu, and In-charge Dogra Art Museum Jammu, says, “The Laddan Kotli Fort is being restored at a budget of nearly Rs 94 Lakhs. The Phase-I work is going on in full swing for 6-7 months.”
Built by one of the later Chenani Kings with the angle of safeguarding the territorial boundary, the heritage structure was lying in ruin and neglect for decades. However, with Directorate of Tourism, Jammu as its Executing Agency for the restoration work, Directorate of Archives, Archaeology and Museums, J&K, aims to erect the walls as they were in the past, very soon.
Standing amidst Shivalik hills in Udhampur District in a decrepit state today, and overlooking River Tawi, the fort is believed to have been built in 1820s by King Dayal Chand of the erstwhile Chenani Kingdom.
Seemingly ‘L’ shaped fort is spread over nine kanals of land, with houses and farms to its eastern side, forests on the other. The abode of Jalandhara Devi, a one-of-its-kind temple in Northern India, also built by Chenani Kings for their ‘kul devi’ is in its close vicinity. Both, the temple and fort have to be reached through a hilly forest trail.
The fort, probably never witnessed a battle, but got caught between Kashmir-centric politics and apathy from its own people in Jammu division. Officially a protected site, vide SRO-323 dated:-19-10-2009, it was not even provided a signboard until recently. The News Now highlighted the issue several times, following which the restoration work was taken up.
“The restoration work of such ancient monuments is delicate and takes time. It started with removing moss and vegetation growth swathing the whole structure, moving on to repairing the cracks and collapses with surkhi bricks,” says one of the officials of Directorate of Archives, Archaeology and Museums, J&K.
“The restoration work is being done with original architectural design in consideration, even though there is a shortage of skilled manpower in Jammu which can work on such ancient structures. The thick walls, usage of chiselled stones, arches, and other elements of the structure will be maintained,” the official adds.
While Directorate of Archives, Archaeology and Museums, J&K is working on restoring the heritage monuments, District Administration Udhampur has taken a keen interest in improving the approach to them.
In November 2020, the Administration sanctioned Rs 11 Lakhs for construction of a cobbled path from Laddan Power Station Main Road to Jalandhara Devi Temple for providing accessibility to tourists.
Rajinder Chand Anthal, Retired Zonal Education Officer, says, “Beginning of restoration work of Laddan Kotli Fort is an achievement. It is one of the few surviving heritage of Chenani Kingdom which is presently in Udhampur Tehsil. The government should work towards raising awareness about the Fort and temple, promote them, and create tourist infrastructure in this picturesque destination.”
Post conservation, adaptive reuse and promotion of the Fort along with Jalandhara Devi temple, which is the domain of Tourism Department, are hoped to give the tangible heritage of Chenani, in particular, and Jammu division, in general, its due.
Also: Read my article at The News Now
Laddan Kotli Fort undergoes vital restoration
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