Mansar Haveli gets a stunning facelift

Mansar Haveli, one of the best architectural gems of Jammu region embellished with exquisite paintings, howbeit, lying precariously for several decades, is changing and changing fast for the better.

Confirming to The News Now, Dr Sangeeta Sharma, Assistant Director, Archives Archaeology and Museums Jammu, and In-charge Dogra Art Museum Jammu, says, “Significant progress has been achieved in a year since the Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums, J&K, began the restoration work of Mansar Haveli. From reconstructing the collapsed archway to necessary stabilization, from removing the soot stains to filling the cracked walls, as part of first phase activities, have already started giving a stunning new look to the haveli.”

It may be recalled that the repair and renovation of Mansar Haveli was mooted at a budget of Rs 68.54 Lakhs under the pro-active directions of Munir-ul-Islam, JKAS, then Director, Archives, Archaeology and Museums, J&K. Rs 40 Lakhs were approved in the CAPEX budget 2020-21 to initiate the work, that is, first phase of the exercise.

The labourers working on the site since June 2020 explain how delicate and time consuming work it has been. They started with removing moss and vegetation growth, repairing cracks and collapses, plastering the walls, and used only surkhi and nanakshahi bricks, to bring alive the original structure.

View: Reading the Ruins: Mansar Haveli

One of the labourer says, “COVID19 and subsequent lockdowns affected the pace of the work at some points in time, but the concerned officials ensured that we have necessary material as and when required.”

Dr Sangeeta Sharma mentions, “We are careful of maintaining the originality of the heritage structure. It is a restoration, preservation, and conservation project, which can’t be done at one go. For the second phase, we’ll restore the miniature paintings and murals that have been spoiled with time or are missing besides stabilizing the structure. We have proposed Rs 59.36 Lakhs in the CAPEX Budget 2021-22 for the same.”

Moreover, the Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums, J&K is analyzing the shops, houses, temple, etc built extremely close to the haveli, and what remedial action can be taken with regards to these ‘encroachments’.

Kanika, a visitor, says, “I live in the nearby village and have been visiting Mansar almost every day during the evening. Never knew this old-looking structure is a haveli and a protected site! The renovation work is bringing about good results.”

View: Ignored for decades, Mansar Haveli to finally get a facelift

Pertinent to mention here that in 2018, Ravinder Kumar, the then Deputy Commissioner Udhampur had expressed concern about the condition of the haveli, following which, Arvind Kotwal, the then CEO SMDA, wrote a letter requesting the Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums, J&K to take remedial steps at the earliest to avert any untoward incident and restore it to its pristine glory.

His letter dated 16th July 2018, reveals that a Junior Engineer from the said department had been deputed already, besides the submission of a Detailed Project Report to the higher authorities on 12th April 2018.

Still further, Nagendra Singh Jamwal, JKAS, the then CEO SMDA, a zealous officer, took up the matter with Munir-ul-Islam, and got a DPR prepared on conservation of the haveli.

Arvind Kotwal, JKAS Retd, expresses delight to see the haveli being restored after decades of neglect.

“During my tenure as CEO SMDA, I lived in dread of the haveli collapsing on someone’s head because of the hedious cracks in the arches. Thankfully, it has been saved from certain ruin,” says Kotwal.

Post conservation, adaptive reuse and promotion of the monument, which are in the domain of Tourism Department, will yield breathtaking results.

Shaurya, another visitor, asserts, “The haveli has immense potential to be a point of attraction. It can be developed as a cultural site, and its lakeside location at Mansar, a tourist destination annually visited by lakhs of people, is perfect.”

Also: Read my article at The News Now