Jammu Darshan-a book on brief history of heritage sites in Jammu region of the State, by Kewal Krishan Shakir, is a compilation of general information on sites of historic, cultural and religious importance in Duggar Pradesh.
Name of Book : Jammu Darshan
Name of Author : K K Shakir
Publisher : : Sahitya Sangam Publication, Jammu
The book not only provides backdrop information on heritage sites of Jammu region but also throws light on architectural beauty of historic structures, built by Dogra and Mugal rulers during their respective regimes. These include forts, palaces, Sarais and memorials, built in this region since centuries.
Besides, some tourist spots, religious shrines, villages of historic importance and Dogra festivals also find place in this book, published by Sahitya Sangam Publication, Kachi Chawni Jammu,
In 216 page book, there are total 38 chapters on different sites, buildings and festivals. These include Amar Mahal, Mubarak Mandi, Tawi, Heritage College, Radio Kashmir Jammu, Dogra Art Museum, Kaali Janni, Bagh-e-Bahu, Basohli Palace, Basohli paintings, Ramnagar palace, Jasrota Mahal, Lakhanpur Fort, Akhnoor Fort, Devika, village Birpur, Dogra festival Rutt-Rahre, Tatta Pani, Manda Wildlife Sanctuary, Talab Tillo, Gouri Kund, Panjtirthi, Babe Da Talab, Gurdwara Baba Sunder Singh at Akhnoor, Saint Paul Church, Peer Baba Buddan Ali Shah, etc.
While important and insight information has been provided on historic and other importance places as well as buildings, the author has also taken help of folklores to throw light on the history of some places having religious significance. While going through the book, one misses photographs of the sites and places mentioned in Jammu Darshan. Photographs could have made the book more appealing though the same was understood to have increased its cost also.
However, despite these minor shortcomings, the book is worth reading for the people, particularly young generation, for getting general information about the sites of importance in Jammu. In other words, it is not inappropriate to describe `Jammu Darshan’ as mirror of Duggar Pradesh in words.
Jammu Darshan is the third book by K K Shakir after his earlier two works `Jammu Ke Prachin Mandir and `Jammu Ke Dharmik Sthal’. So far, Mr Shakir has written 11 books in Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi and Dogri. He retired as Senior Lecturer from the Government Education Department in 1994 and has been active in writing since then.
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