After decades, Jalandhara Devi temple, Laddan Kotli fort to get pathways

Once tranquil and off-the-beaten-track heritage monuments in Udhampur’s village Kotli will soon be bustling tourism destinations, courtesy, improved accessibility.

This village Kotli amidst Shivalik Hills and overlooking River Tawi is home to one-of-its-kind temple in Northern India – Jalandhara Devi Temple, and a prominent fort nearby – Laddan Kotli Fort, which had to be reached through a hilly forest trail, roughly 750 m long.

Following The News Now’s story titled ‘A temple in Jammu unheard of’ published on 20^th October 2019, Nagendra Singh Jamwal, JKAS, then Additional District Commissioner, and Mushtaq Ahmed Choudhary, ACD Udhampur, visited the twin heritage monuments last year on the occasion of Baisakhi.

Read: A temple in Jammu unheard of

Henceforth, Udhampur District Administration decided to construct a pathway for providing accessibility to the tourists wishing to visit these heritage sites.

As such, in November 2020, the Rural Development Department had sanctioned Rs 11 Lakhs for construction of a cobbled path from Laddan Power Station Main Road to the temple.

“We had surveyed the area in 2020 and found that cobbled path would be best suited. The path is now ready for use,” tells Mushtaq Ahmed Choudhary, ACD Udhampur.

He adds, “The inauguration event is most likely scheduled for 15^th April, with DDC Chairperson marking his presence.”

It has been learnt that a granite stone is being erected with description engraved on it about the twin heritage monuments for the knowledge of tourists. Moreover, a video documentary is also to be displayed at the site during the inaugural event.

Read: Laddan Kotli Fort undergoes vital restoration

One of the residents of village Kotli says, “Both of the UT protected monuments, the temple and the fort, were largely forgotten and insignificant to government and society till the time news reports about them were published, and inaccessible till the time ADC Udhampur and ACD Udhampur visited.”

Another resident, feeling joyous, says, “After all these years, we are getting a basic civic infrastructure for our village as well as the heritage tourism sites. This is a positive event and can lead to more infrastructure development, tourist footfall, and economic boost.”

He remarks, “We would no longer be living in oblivion.”

Pertinently, Jalandhara Devi Temple, enshrining the ‘kul devi’ of Chenani Kings of Chandel dynasty, is an architectural gem representing the vibrant temple building process of early medieval history. Constructed in Nagara style, the sandstone temple is valued for its ornate walls depicting scenes from Hindu Mythology and social life of Jammu. It is a UT protected site vide SRO – 281 dated 26-06-1986.

Situated in its close vicinity, Laddan Kotli fort is believed to have been built in 1820s by King Dayal Chand of the erstwhile Chenani Kingdom with the angle of safeguarding territorial boundary. A UT protected site vide SRO-323 dated 19-10-2009, the fort is presently undergoing vital restoration under Directorate of Archives, Archaeology and Museums, J&K.

The people have pinned high hopes with the District Administration that other monuments across Udhampur shall be brought back from oblivion by such initiatives that not only improve accessibility but also tourism quotient.

Also: Read my article at The News Now